HOW LONG TO 'STAY THE COURSE'?

The article discusses the public opinion in the U.S. regarding America's commitment to its Iraq mission. With Saddam Hussein in jail and Iraq's potential as a haven for weapons of mass destruction neutralized, both parties willingly backed an open-ended troop commitment to install a stable, democratic government in Baghdad and, in Bush Administration dreams, throughout the Islamic world. While White House and Pentagon officials show no sign of wavering, lawmakers and foreign policy experts are starting to debate whether the Bush team's poorly managed war effort can achieve its goals--or whether those hopes would be out of reach for even a savvier operation. In the vision that's starting to emerge, Christmas, 2005, could signal the start of a major drawdown. By that point, Iraq is supposed to have an elected government, a new constitution, and a trained military and police force in place. The U.N. would presumably be playing a much larger role in helping to develop new governing institutions. And if Iraqi resentment of the U.S. presence hasn't quieted by then, Washington would face a strong temptation to declare victory and get out. Renewed fighting in Fallujah and Najaf and shocking revelations of U.S. troops' abuse of prisoners have inflamed Iraqis and escalated the cycle of violence. Support for a prolonged U.S. mission in Iraq is waning at home, too. Approval of the President's handling of the war collapsed from 61% in January to 41% in early May, according to a CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll. Even among Republicans, a Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll shows those favoring troop withdrawal within 18 months rose to 37% in early May, from 27% in March.