I think we first need to define what it means to win, and have a measurable way to determine if we are or not.
I think we should define winning as a functional interior police force, growth in the Iraqi GDP, expansion of the Iraqi middle class, unemployment dropping from current rates of 40% to 10%, less than one moderate terrorist attack a month and one major attack a year, and finally complete withdrawal of all combat troops. Peacekeeping troops with police duties would also eventually be withdrawn as Iraq becomes stable.
Let's pretend for a moment that we have a "dream team" in the Whitehouse starting tomorrow. We have a plan. We have the resources. Can we win?
I think I know how to win, but short of a dream team I don't believe it will occur. First, we must create Iraqi jobs. Without jobs, there is no hope. This administration has allowed large non-Iraqi government contractors to rebuild. They have outsourced everything - thus stealing hope.
The outsourcing of hope has resulted in billions of dollars that can't be accounted for and the further enrichment of people who are already rich. In short, the hundreds of billions of dollars intended to rebuild Iraq aren't going into the Iraqi economy and creating Iraqi jobs. We needed that money to kick start the Iraqi economy and reduce the violence.
It never happened. These free traders (or should I call them traitors) in our government have done long term harm to our prospects for peace and global security.