An excerpt from my new book Strip Mall Patriotism

As the 2008 presidential election draws near, it is impossible to form a clear vision of the future for Iraq if we don’t have some collective understanding of how we arrived at the present day. If 2008 is to be a change election; the primary change must be one that is internal rather than external.  Whatever policies are presented, if there is not an accompanying self-examination that helps us to understand how we, with few exceptions, were let down by our political leadership as well as the press that assumed the role of cheerleader rather than the central component of doubt that ensures a healthy democracy.

The seemingly unanswerable question before us is: Where do we go from here? The sad truth is, there are no good answers, at least none that meet with the approval of a majority of the electorate. Political rhetoric notwithstanding, the American people appear to be looking for the leader who will guarantee immediate troop withdrawal while simultaneously assuring victory. Neither goal is realistic at the moment.

After more than four years critiquing the policy of “stay the course,” I have reached the conclusion, as have many others, that our failure to do anything further is based on politics and hubris.

The politics of Iraq means that any president who withdraws troops before the so-called mission is completed will be tainted, along with his or her party, with having lost the war. Because Democrats are still licking their wounds over Vietnam—the reason Republicans have maintained a two-decade advantage on national security issues—they cannot be the party that leads the troop withdrawal effort, lest they risk being perceived permanently as weak on defense. Therefore, Republican leadership would be the more logical choice to bring this war to an end; yet they are content to wear flags on their lapels and begin their statements with “I support the troops,” without possessing the courage to do what needs to be done.

Hubris, the classical Greek concept of excessive pride leading to a tragic end, has been the dominant theme post 9/11. America has shown all the signs that point to the end of an empire. Iraq has become the unfortunate gold standard for America’s overextension, moving the praxis of the country much closer to the rhetoric it reserves for its enemies.

Since 9/11, we have methodically surrendered small pieces of our democracy for the illusion of safety. We have acquiesced as more and more power was concentrated in the executive branch. The understandable post-9/11 fear caused the nation to rationalize actions that conservatives and liberals alike would have abhorred in other circumstances. In short, hubris blinds us to the immorality of our actions.