Did McCain Start The Iraq Fighting?

Did anyone notice that shortly after John McCain went over to Iraq a few days ago the Shi'ites all started fighting each other? Coincidence?

Not that McCain has anything to gain by renewed Iraqi fighting. Indeed, a sustained increase in Iraqi internecine warfare could significantly damage his presidential bid by exposing the "surge"--which McCain vigorously supported--as an inadequate and unsustainable policy.

Even with the apparent--but tenuous--success of the surge over the past few months, Americans have overwhelmingly indicated a desire to get their troops home. Nor have many been persuaded that somehow the war was worth it.

We think most Americans sense, as we do, that Iraq remains a volatile tinderbox, one that could explode at any time, and that short of staying there for decades there's not much we can do about it. If it turns out that the surge only delayed the inevitable factional fighting in Iraq, rather than creating the environment needed for a permanent political resolution, then we might just as well have left long ago.

As the economy continues to sour--a direct result of numerous misguided Bush administration policies--we hope Americans won't fall for the standard Republican playbook of fear of terrorism. Do you really think McCain and the GOP are going to make the country safer? Look at Osama bin Laden: after seven years as the world's most wanted criminal, he's still at large, mainly because the Bush administration hasn't seriously pursued him.

Indeed, we think it's willful. Bush, Cheney, McCain--they all NEED Osama so they can play the fear card at every turn.

Now, if only the Democrats could unite behind a single candidate (or ticket) for November.