We need to take stock of our national interest, and proceed accordingly.

1) Immediately start a national effort to obtain energy independence. I see raising CAFE standards, promoting nuclear power, promoting alternative fuels, etc. All of it, right now.

2) Tell the Iraqis we will begin pulling out our combat troops by December. Rather than using deadlines, fixed residual troop levels, etc. tell the Iraqis the end state will be determined jointly as we proceed, but that the intent is to disengage from combat operations no later than the end of 2008. Our military presence in the area would be primarily naval, possibly with some ground combat forces in Kuwait, and a Marine force afloat.

3) Go to the UN and tell the UN that we are leaving Iraq but that we will fund a reconstruction effort in Iraq to the tune of XX billion a year, some of this funneled through UN agencies, if the UN engages as we leave.

4) Convene a regional conference to try to get a regional consensus on measures to support Iraq. Invite everyone. Indicate that money will be made available to assist Iraqi refugees, money that can even go to Syria contingent on constructive participation in Iraqi stabilization/peace efforts.

5) At the Iraqis' request, a residual troop presence for training and/or SF to help suppress AQ types would be possible.

6) Engage Iran, without preconditions. We would address Iranian security concerns, they would address our concerns about Iranian support for armed non-state actors in the region.

7) Engage Saudi Arabia. Tell the House of Saud that the propagation of anti-Christian, anti-Western values are a strategic threat to our country and that if continued will result in a riposte. Tell Saudi Arabia that the export of young military age males for jihad will not be tolerated - they might as well be exporting weapons. Name specific individuals engaged in these practices and demand that they be suppressed. Tell the Saudis that the new relationship must be predicated on mutual respect and tolerance, and if they aren't capable of that our relationship cannot be friendly.

Iraq has ceased to be a country. The Sunnis have left the "government", which couldn't agree on anything important anyway, and couldn't govern.

Don't let the term "failed state" scare you anymore: we're there. Ordinary Iraqis cannot agree on anything that matters and Iraq is incapable of governing itself.

The respite for our forces obtained by arming local militias is almost certain to be temporary.  There is no respite for ordinary Iraqis, in spite of what is being said now.  Think about it:  one hate killing in the US makes national news for a week.  In Iraq, we're talking about a decrease from many 10's to a few 10's a day.  In fact, by arming local power centers over the objections of the central government, it can be fairly said that we are simply hastening or validating (take your pick) the disintegration of Iraq-the-country.  

The policy wonks don't get it:  facts must dictate policy, and the relevant facts in Iraq change.  Anyone who is providing the same policy prescription now that they touted in 2003, or for that matter 2006, is doing the country a disservice. 

 Some facts:

-- A Viceroy didn't work

-- Democracy (elections) didn't work

-- A focus on training the Iraqi security forces didn't work

-- Nothing economic has worked

Maybe someone out there smarter than me understands why we think 160,000 of our soldiers can change this dysfunction, because I sure don't understand it. 

Our country really has to think about this at a more serious level. There are a lot of complaints about the proposed Saudi arms deal, but nobody is pointing out that a far, far more serious issue is the ocean of money we send the Saudis and other folks for oil.

We are the strategic armorer of the jihadis.

Do you suppose for one second that Saudi Arabia and Iran would have the prestige they have in the Middle East if it didn't have the means to arm, train and fund myriad Hezbollahs, Hamas and other rejectionist organizations, and crazy people in Pakistan?

I am not too worried about the Saudis having JDAMs. I am very, very worried about giving people that don't like us trillions of dollars.