A BELATED RESPONSE

...to this Time blog post by Joe Klein from Monday:

...it's possible to have been against the war and to hope for the best in Iraq. I'd bet that the overwhelming majority of Americans who now oppose the war are praying for a turn for the better in Iraq. Listening to the leftists, though, it's easy to assume that they are rooting for an American failure.
And so a challenge.... Can you honestly say the following:

Even though I disagree with this escalation, I am hoping that General Petraeus succeeds in calming down Baghdad.

Does the thought even cross your mind? ...

OK, here's a scenario for you, Joe.

A kid, inspired by Superman, throws a bedsheet over his shoulders as an imitation cape, climbs onto the roof of his house, and jumps off.

What are you thinking, Joe, as you watch this kid jump? Are you thinking the following?

I am hoping the laws of nature are repealed and the kid sprouts wings and begins to fly.

No, you aren't. It would be miraculous and wonderful if that happened, but it just isn't possible. So it never even crosses your mind. You're not "rooting for failure." You're just acknowledging reality. So as you watch the kid jump, all you feel is horror.

Well, that's how we feel watching Bush conduct Iraq policy. He's like the kid -- he has the same dangerous naivete -- except that the kid's only going to break his own neck (and his parents' hearts). Bush is doing untold damage to America and to global peace and stability.

It's not an exact analogy because Bush is not jumping off the roof -- he's pushing people off the roof. Over and over and over again. And nobody can stop him.

And you want us to say, "I hope wings sprout"? Sorry, I don't think so.