With due respect, the situation on the ground in Iraq is a mess of religious strife, tribal allegiances and the settling of old scores. This has nothing to do with Republican or Democratic foreign policy. The State Dept. is somewhat non-partisan and that is where these ideas are coming from. It also appears these are the same players and situations from Clinton's presidency. Blaming Republicans for all the world's ills doesn't make sense.

Bush has said that we will stay until the job is done - _as long as the Iraqis want us there_.

Maliki has stated that he thinks his government can take over security by June 07.

His essential parlimentary ally, al-Sadr, wants us out as soon as possible. and has the forces that he could claim would enforce security.

Study Group is pushing for us to be mostly out within a year, as are Dems.

Everyone, both Dem and GOP wants this essentially over by 08, because no one wants it to be the focus of the presidential campaign, nor does any future president want to have to deal with this mess.

In that context, this Sunni dumping idea seems to be a way to gracefully (thats a joke) turn over the country to, what essentially will be the al-Sadr forces.

Maybe it will all work out for the best. Maybe the Iranians will be so grateful, that they will voluntarily give up their nukes.

Can someone explain to me how it would be possible, at any time over the next few generations, for someone to argue that the Republicans have any sort of natural affinity for, or competence in foreign or military affairs?

No. They don't.

This has been another edition of Simple Answers to Simple Questions.

We support the Shiites who are tied closely to Iran and Syria.
We are mortally opposed to Iran and Syria, and some want war.
We support the Kurds who really want independence.
A key component of our bedrock alliance, Turkey, is absolutely opposed to Kurdish independence.
We will toss the Sunnis overboard.
Our dealer, the Saudis, will arm and protect the Sunnis if needed.

Can someone explain to me how it would be possible, at any time over the next few generations, for someone to argue that the Republicans have any sort of natural affinity for, or competence in foreign or military affairs?

Laura Rozen's sources tell her that Cheney's office, plus NSC elements, are the Shiite fans. Which to me suggests why it was that the Saudis summoned Cheney to Riyadh.

They're fighting for their way of life. There's no other way they can restore the privileges they've come to expect. And they can always dabble with the political process during the day and set carbombs at night.

This problem of incentives has been there since the beginning. Partition won't solve it.