Mike Levin: “I think it is more likely that the Government will succeed if they recognize that they are the ones who have to succeed…”

“I think it is more likely that the Government will succeed if they recognize that they are the ones who have to succeed and we can't do it for them. The gamble that we are now taking is greater, which is continuing on a course of action which is failing. You know, the first argument which was used to go to Iraq was there were weapons of mass destruction. That was the first argument which was used. That didn't work out as the basis for the policy. The next one was we are going to promote democracy in Iraq. Now the argument is there were no weapons; we are not doing very well on the democracy side since that democratic Government is supporting at least one terrorist and probably two terrorist groups, in Lebanon and in Gaza, so the democratically elected Government is giving substance and support to what we believe is terrorism. So now there is a third argument used for this policy, that our leaving will create a huge problem. First it was weapons of mass destruction. Then it was we were promoting democracy. Now it is we cannot leave because look what will happen if we leave. Look at what is happening because we are staying in an open-ended way because they don't see that stark choice they face because they are relying on Uncle Sam's security blanket. That is what must be changed.…”