I continue to hear people ask, “What is the standard by which we can declare victory in Iraq? What needs to happen before we can bring the troops home?” The intent of the question appears to exert the viewpoint that the United States is in a war of which we cannot escape, and thus the only reasonable thing to do is to set a date of withdrawal by which the Nation of Iraq will be held accountable in terms of becoming self-sufficient. 

E.J. Dionne introduced the subject once again this week, writing:

“But the administration's critics (and even some of its sympathizers) see the current policy as the equivalent of constructing a very expensive road, under hazardous conditions, even though those building it can't explain exactly where the road will lead…The road becomes an end in itself. The point is to keep building it in the hope that it will eventually arrive at some lovely destination.”

Let me tell you where the road leads, for the definition of success in Iraq is simple: Victory has been achieved when Iraq is a self-sufficient democracy capable of protecting its citizens and promoting democratic ideals throughout the Middle East.

Dionne then writes:

“The administration and its supporters talk incessantly about winning but offer no strategy for victory, no definition of what it would look like, no concrete steps to get us there, and no real sense of where "there" is…Tell me again: What does success look like?”

I disagree. General Petraeus this week offerred a clear strategy for winning: continue to recruit and train Iraqi security forces and slowly reduce our troop levels as their capabilities allow them to take over. Furthermore, he indeed offer concrete steps to get us there.

First, temporarily pause troop reductions for a 45-day period so as ensure the gains achieved over the past year are not lost. Despite democratic objections, this is a step to victory. 

Secondly, Petraeus offered numerous examples of gains which have been made, each of which are steps to victory we have already taken. In 2007, Iraq added 100,000 soldiers and police to its security forces. This is a step to victory. Additionally, 91,000 Iraqis, some former insurgents, some Shia and some Sunni, have joined local security forces known as “Sons of Iraq” which have resulted in more weapons and explosive caches discovered in 2008 than were found in all of 2006. This too is a step to victory.

That Dionne can ignore these advances just illustrates how those on the left have positioned themselves politically such that their investment lies in Iraqi failure.