They keep saying they want to bring the troops home immediately -- but then outline plans that will keep us in Iraq for years.

Even as they call for an end to the war and pledge to bring the troops home, the Democratic presidential candidates are setting out positions that could leave the United States engaged in Iraq for years.

John Edwards, the former North Carolina senator, would keep troops in the region to intervene in an Iraqi genocide and be prepared for military action if violence spills into other countries. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York would leave residual forces to fight terrorism and to stabilize the Kurdish region in the north. And Senator Barack Obama of Illinois would leave a military presence of as-yet unspecified size in Iraq to provide security for American personnel, fight terrorism and train Iraqis.

These positions and those of some rivals suggest that the Democratic bumper-sticker message of a quick end to the conflict — however much it appeals to primary voters — oversimplifies the problems likely to be inherited by the next commander in chief. Antiwar advocates have raised little challenge to such positions by Democrats.

As i look at these positions, I see a big problem (besides the duplicity) -- in addition to eschewing victory, each involves drawing down the force in Iraq to the point that it cannot defend itself and accomplish the mission for which it remains behind. If the Democrats REALLY believe that the mission in Iraq is hopeless and that troops killed there are dying in vain, why are they prepared to leave a force that is more of a target and less ready? Are the lives of those soldiers somehow less valuable than those whose sacrifices they are politicizing in the name of surrender?

Well, except for Bill Richardson, who proved he learned something while at the UN. Unfortunately, he took French lessons, and so proposes a strategy could be drawn from the French Defense ministry.

Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico stands apart, having suggested that he would even leave some military equipment behind to expedite the troop withdrawal. In a forum at a gathering of bloggers last week, he declared: “I have a one-point plan to get out of Iraq: Get out! Get out!”

In other words, "Throw down you weapons and run, boys!"

Of course, with the Surge working, I wonder how many of these Democrats will embrace it as their own invention in the coming months, just as they did the original use of force in 2003. After all, the only victory they care about is their own political victory -- and winning or losing in Iraq doesn't matter to them at all.

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