"The Democrats' quandary on Iraq"

Robert Caldwell thinks the Democrats' have both a tactical and a strategic problem with Iraq policy:

The tactical problem is glaringly obvious. Democrats are deeply divided on Iraq. Thus, they cannot unify around an alternative policy to President Bush's determination to persevere long enough to ensure that the American mission in Iraq succeeds.

The Democrats' strategic political problem is less immediately obvious but more ominous for their long-term prospects to reclaim Congress and the White House. If Democrats cave to their anti-war base constituency (the left-leaning MoveOn.org wing of their party), they would validate Republican charges that they are becoming the party of "retreat and defeat."

I dunno… the strategic problem looks pretty obvious too, from where I’m sitting.