So, the biggest thing that has bugged me over the “date of withdraw” controversy is that the GOP has a list of reasons why it’s a bad idea, but no one (that I have seen) has really asked them: “Then when is the right time? At point do we withdraw? What is success?” It’s all been about why a timeline is bad rather then what the GOP thinks the right way is. Now, maybe I have just been missing it, but I did (finally) catch what McCain believes the definition of success is on Meet the Press this morning:

“Now what’s success? Economic political and social progress, which can only be obtained in an environment of security. Neighborhoods in Baghdad are safer. They are not safe. But they are safer than they were before. And the government has to function more effectively and then the Iraqi military police take over those responsibilities as we gradually withdraw. That’s the recipe for success.”

But the problem is, this still isn’t anything hard. How do you measure “progress?” Everyone for the war says there has been progress. If you listen to the GOP, we have been making progress every year since we’ve been there. So, where is the line? We will NEVER get a time where there are no acts of suicide bombing. We will never get to a point in which there is no crime, no poverty, no unemployment. So, where is that line? When has progress happened and is not just happening? If anyone has heard or seen anything by the GOP that lays this out, please let me know.