I have a hard time believing that Senator John McCain's argument for his election -- that the war in Iraq is a good thing -- will actually help in November. The surge in Iraq -- or more accurately, the escalation of U.S. forces in combat in Iraq -- has stabilized the war-town country, however a U.S. study "concludes that security remains fragile and terrorist groups remain capable of initiating large attacks."

The election is seven months away. Will there be such a sharp improvement in progress where the troops can actually begin returning home, as promised by the president? We are in the sixth year of this war. Maybe McCain has forgotten that. If McCain's "tax-happy democrats" campaign arguments stand -- and they may, they always have -- his stance that the U.S. troops should not recede from Iraq is an out-and-out loser.

The American people as a whole believe it was a mistake to go into Iraq, and that we are better off out of the region altogether. Unfortunately, John McCain doesn't agree. And that will be why he loses, if he in fact does.

Labels: 2008, iraq