Democrats to finally unite to bring the troops home.

After months of trying unsuccessfully to develop a common message on the war in Iraq, Democratic Party leaders are beginning to coalesce around a broad plan to begin a quick withdrawal of US troops and install them elsewhere in the region, where they could respond to emergencies in Iraq and help fight terrorism in other countries.

The concept, dubbed ''strategic redeployment," is outlined in a slim, nine-page report coauthored by a former Reagan administration assistant Defense secretary, Lawrence J. Korb, in the fall. It sets a goal of a phased troop withdrawal that would take nearly all US troops out of Iraq by the end of 2007, although many Democrats disagree on whether troop draw-downs should be tied to a timeline.

Yes! This is the winning strategy! And those Democrats who do not want to have a timeline need to have the shit slapped out of them. Americans want an end to this war. They want their loved ones home and they want to know that we are protected here at home. Period.

But the Democrats have to stay focused on this goal. They must not let the Republicans undermine their resolve or to cause internal friction by using the tactics of name calling and attempting to the blame problems which will occur in Iraq on bringing the troops home. Those problems are coming to Iraq no matter what we do now. The blame for all of Iraq's current difficulties rest on the shoulders of the Bush administration. Democrats must not allow the Republicans to shift the blame to them. It is a tried and true tactic of Karl Rove to refuse to accept responsibility for screw ups and to find a scapegoat. Democrats need to stay on message and call Rove on his bullshit every time he trots it out.

Americans are tired of this war. They doubt it was necessary and they can surely see that it was conducted in an amateurish manner without anybody understanding what the long term problems would be. Democrats must present themselves as once again cleaning up the mess left by the Republicans. Just like Clinton paid down the huge deficit created by Reagan and virtually untouchd by the first President Bush. The children are done playing their games and it is time for the grown ups to pick up the pieces.