minds on vacation

one of the clearest signs we've taken leave of our senses—or, at least, of common sense—is that advocating withdrawal from iraq is now commonly described in the media as an "extreme" position.

that, of course, implies that keeping the war going is moderate.

nobody should need reminding that war is extreme. it's understood whenever anyone says going to war should be a last resort only after all reasonable alternatives fail.

war is unreasonable. it's filled with horrific events. it causes the innocent to suffer and die. it leads to abuse of prisoners and civilians. if you know of a war that had no such outrages, it's a rare example indeed.

that's why preemptive war is a corrupt doctrine and why we must rectify the atrocious situation we've created—but that's not to say we have to stay in iraq.

clever clichés to the contrary notwithstanding, we don't own it, but we broke it, so we owe for it.

none of that gives us the right or the obligation to decide the next thing to do, however. we don't have standing, either legal or moral. we have unprecedented power, but let's face it: we lack objectivity and understanding.

we have to let the international community decide the course of action, and we must agree in advance to abide by the decision, whatever it may be.