Earlier this week, Colin Powell expressed doubts that weapons of mass destruction would ever be discovered in Iraq. The secretary of state, who offered a "conservative" estimate before the war that Hussein possessed between 100 and 500 tons of chemical weapons agent, now explains: "I think it's unlikely that we will find any stockpiles." The top U.S. weapons inspector in Iraq went a step further today. There were no stockpiles of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, says Charles Duelfer, the top U.S. weapons inspector.

The primary cause for war--a menacing Hussein sitting on stockpiles of weapons of mass destruction--has been undermined by the American ouster of Hussein. The notion prior to the war that Hussein possessed WMD certainly was not implausible. After all, he had used them against Iranians and the Kurds. But now that the issue of stockpiles of WMD in Iraq is settled, why are we still there?

One reason is that in solving the problem of Hussein, we have created new problems. Foremost among them: the danger of fundamentalism replacing one of the more secular governments in the region. Another reason is the idea that after liberating the Iraqis from Hussein, we owe them the favor of giving them billions of dollars and ensuring their safety with the lives of our soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines. Haven't we already done enough for people who refuse to do for themselves?

So you want to haul ass like the French?

I think it is not so much that the Iraqi's refuse to help themselves as they don't really know how to. Many Iraqi's are stepping up to the plate, but, with so much chaos being created by the Islamists, it's hard to make a difference.

Within five years after we leave (which should be as soon as possible), another guy with Saddam's sparkling credentials will likely take over and Iraq will revert back to what it was just less than a year ago.

If that guy becomes a threat, we go back in and take him and his out.

Until then, we cut an oil deal, protect our interests and get the heck out!

The McLaughlin Group seemed to be in universal agreement that Bush will be trying to get us out within the next year, regardless of what he says in public.