The New York Times is nothing if not consistent in its inconsistency.

Five weeks ago, the New York Times insisted that the US must leave Iraq immediately, despite the potential for chaos and bloodshed.

It is time for the United States to leave Iraq, without any more delay than the Pentagon needs to organize an orderly exit.

Today, on the other hand, the New York Times insists that the chaos that would follow a US withdrawal is reason enough to stay in Iraq -- and to keep troop levels high.

The United States cannot walk away from the new international terrorist front it created in Iraq. It will need to keep sufficient forces and staging points in the region to strike effectively against terrorist sanctuaries there or a Qaeda bid to hijack control of a strife-torn Iraq.

But there should be no illusions about trying to continue the war on a reduced scale. It is folly to expect a smaller American force to do in a short time what a much larger force could not do over a very long time. That’s exactly what the British are now trying to do. And the results are painfully plain to see.

Now wait just a minute -- In July you said that such chaos was no reason to stay, and it was a part o the reason for leaving. Now you say it is the reason to stay? Why the reversal?

Oh, and the editors give a signal about how little the New York Times values our troops. They make it quite clear that they believe the US has failed in Iraq -- but insist that more American soldier must die to continue that "failed mission". I wonder -- will they ever consider giving success a chance? Well, perhaps the wind will have changed to that direction by September.

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