And also notice that nearly every other nation that sent troops to Iraq to form the "coalition" (spit) has now withdrawn.

Nobody supports the occupation, and the entire world is holding it's collective breath, hoping some sanity might return to the US government by next January.

But if you are looking at the two likely candidates for the gig, sanity prevailing in US policy in the Middle East isn't looking too good. In fact, more and more each day BOTH candidates keep moving closer and closer to the Bush administration's positions on nearly every issue regarding the Middle East, including Iraq.

Withdraw in 16 months is not a realistic plan. Staying for a 100 years is not a realistic plan.

Immediate withdrawal from Iraq and Afghanistan is the only viable option for the US and it's allies, yet it is the one option the presidential candidates refuse to consider.

That is known as a political stalemate. In the case of Iraq, it is a virtual gridlock.