Speaking at the Naval Academy, President Bush laid out a timetable for the return of U.S. troops in Iraq: "When our mission of defeating the terrorists in Iraq is complete, our troops will return home to a proud nation... We will stay as long as necessary to complete the mission."

To those seeking specific dates, James Phillips cautions, "A politically driven pullout would be a disaster."

To be sure, writes Phillips, "U.S. efforts to build a stable and democratic Iraq will be a long and costly enterprise." But "the costs of a premature exit are greater."

"The U.S. military presence should be based on the situation on the ground inside Iraq, not Washington's political calendar," concludes Phillips.

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Read Firm and Patient Realism in Iraq by James Phillips

Also
Peter Brookes: Planning to Win
James Carafano: In Iraq, Fear Shouldn't Be Our Guide
Helle Dale: Iraqis Look to the Future

The Iraq debate in Washington has been caught in a time warp for several months now. How did we get into the war? Did the president "mislead" Congress about weapons of mass destruction? What did Scooter Libby, Karl Rove and assorted reporters know about CIA operative Valerie Plame? All of these questions invariably lead to: How soon can we leave Iraq?

American soldiers are risking their lives all over the globe defending America's interests and defending the freedoms that many of us take for granted.

Do you take soldiers for granted?

Backstage at the Country Music Awards, celebrities provided messages of thanks to soldiers around the globe as part of the launch for Thank a Soldier Week, which begins December 19th.

During Thank a Soldier Week (December 19-25), Townhall.com is encouraging Americans to stop for a moment and give thanks to the men and women risking everything for us.

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Start Right Now! Go to: www.thankasoldierweek.com