Democratic failure has been that they have not focused on the large number of very large issues not dealt with by grand gestures, but pragmatic efforts.

Clark is right about the concerns over Irainian influence. However he seems to have ignored the fact that the new Iraqi government has made extensiive trade agreements, promised that Iraq would not be used for attacks and even been forced to cancel a military training pact. So our ability to implement this program or even if accepted to seal borders is questionable.

Indeee I would suggest that the success in the west may be less than he indicates so while the problem is real the proposed solution is at best partial.

Once again knowing what to do is difficult and even the best informed people are making educated guesses though they may hold to these strongly.

One foort to watch is the British in Basra. They are evidently tring to purge Sadrist elements from the police and have dispatched a chief constable with experience in N. Ireland to enact reforms. I think this is a good program, I am skeptical that it can succeed.

A “realistic” policy would also congratulate Bush on admitting that most of the insurgency is local and that economic progress is uneven. These are the kind of details necessary for … I would like to say success, but… at least less undesirible results or a bit more hope.