Quote of the Day

The prospect of a low intensity civil war and a de facto division of Iraq is probably more likely at this stage than a successful and substantial transition to a stable democracy.

Even the lowered expectation of President Bush for Iraq - a government that can sustain itself, defend itself and govern itself and is an ally in the war on terror - must remain in doubt.

William Patey, Britain's outgoing ambassador in Baghdad, on the liklihood of civil war in Iraq. Despite all this, Patey thinks that any premature withdrawal would make the situation worse. So let me get this straight. Patey thinks there's probably going to be a civil war yet continues to maintain that the most prudent course for the U.S. and UK would be to make sure we're right in the middle of it? Given the terrible news that keeps coming out of Iraq, I'd argue exactly the opposite.