The extremes of any political ideology are repellent to mature and intellectually-sophisticated individuals because of one essential quality--moral absolutism. In young people its a forgiveable sin due to their inexperience. In older people its a sign of emotional dysfunction, a liar, or both.

Most people know this, which is why politicians love to characterize their opposition as "extreme", in an effort to discredit their participation in the debate...an extremist tactic of course.

The left's rhetoric on the Iraq question will go down in history the same way their defense of slavery did in the 19th century--as a source of shame and embarrassment--but perhaps not everyone on the left.

The U.S. is an empire and the Iraq debacle is evidence of 21st century imperialism, no doubt. I still don't think we should be here. But that debate became passé six years ago. Now it's a question of how soon the U.S. gets out and what happens before and after it does. I've met too many good and decent people here to write this place off, smart and hard working Iraqis that want and deserve a first-world existence.

I don't agree with the empire bit, but can acknowledge that its at least a reasonable position with an argument that can be made, but considering the character of left-wing rhetoric, the pragmatism of this statement is almost shocking.

It gets better though (or worse, depending on your perspective...)