Ace:

I ripped Andy a new one the other day. Check it out.

"Iraq occupation has not gone as we'd all hoped"

Compared to what? Some fantasy of wrapping everything up in 13 weeks so as to not compete with the summer reruns on the WB? Every deadline that has been made months in advance (for example, the handover of power to the interim gov't, or yesterdays's election) has been carried out on or ahead of schedule. The problem was listening to people like Excitable Andy who had unreasonable expectations in the first place, and now letting him set the terms of the discussion.

We'd all hoped? I hoped Saddam and Osama would be vaporized together on live TV on day 1. What we expected? I at least expected a range of outcomes, of which the current situation isn't anywhere near the "bad" end.

In fact, given the simple visceral understanding of democracy displayed by those "too Islamic to vote" folks yesterday, I'd say the fundamentals are pretty damned good.

If it makes you feel any better, Ace, I first came to your blog for Paul Anka but I stayed for the gratuitious Sullivan bashing. You will always be an OG Sully Hata in my eyes.

With regard to the Iraq Occupation, I anticipated that it would be much worse than it has turned out to be. For all the whining in the press, and elsewhere, from reading history I honestly thought the 'resistance' would be much better organized and competent than it was.

As for admitting mistakes...well, half of what the left is calling mistakes weren't. They were judgement calls that time has shown not to be the right decision - and that's Monday Morning Quarterbacking. The way to deal with that sort of 'mistake' is to analyse why the decision was wrong, and what clues might have helped you avoid the decision. Carping and screaming "NO WMD's!" is not helpful. So trying to discuss it openly hasn't been too easy.

The other half come under the heading of politics, and the best you're ever going to get in that field is a determination not to repeat the mistakes.

Unless, of course, you're a Democrat discussing education or social policy, in which case, you will say, "Well, that didn't work, so let's do it some more!"

SWlip's post on Andy really does tear him a new one. And he makes a point that I keep repeating:
Liberals are cowards. Because they have no faith in God, they are scared of life. If this life was all there was, it would make sense to try to hold on tight to it, and screw everyone else. And to cover up their cowardice (especially to themselves) they turn on the daddy figure who won't slap them silly when they kick him in the shin. They really have allowed the terrorists to "get into their heads" and are, well, terrified of the future.