Barbara!

Got an email from Boxer:

Yesterday, I spoke in San Francisco about Iraq and Darfur -- two important foreign policy issues that weigh heavily upon me and all Americans. I'm extremely frustrated by the Bush Administration's inability to resolve either conflict, even in the face of tremendous human suffering.

It's time for real leadership and some fresh ideas to break the Bush Administration's gridlock. That's why I'm speaking out -- and I hope you'll join me.

In Darfur she's calling for the children of Martin Luther and Coretta Scott King to become special envoys, who would "focus the world's attention" on Darfur and the killing there. I don't know what this would practically do; the pressure needs to be put on the UN and the Sudanese government, not the world community (although the world community could put the pressure on the other two groups, but that's a step removed). Sen. Murkowski of Alaska has joined her on this proposal, and I don't think it could hurt, but it leaves me wanting somehow.

However, on Iraq she's stepped up to the plate:

After three long years, the deaths of more than 2,467 American troops, more than 18,000 wounded, and the deaths of more than 40,000 Iraqis, it's beyond time to bring our mission in Iraq to a close.

The Bush Administration misled us into an elective war that we didn't have to fight. But our brave men and women in uniform have performed admirably, successfully meeting every goal that was set for them -- from capturing Saddam Hussein and freeing the Iraqi people to training Iraqi security forces and fostering the creation of an Iraqi government. Now it should be up to the people of Iraq to decide what kind of future they want.

That's why I'll be introducing a resolution when the Senate returns to Washington next week, calling for U.S. forces to be redeployed from Iraq within 6 months or earlier, if practicable. My resolution also calls for a quick-reaction U.S. force and an over-the-horizon Marine presence to be deployed in the region.

It is completely unacceptable to me to see our government paralyzed over a failed policy -- a policy that is bringing so much pain to so many. The Bush Administration's open-ended commitment in Iraq is not only causing death and destruction to our brave troops, it's also serving as a catalyst for further terrorist recruitment.

It's time to change course. That's why I'll be introducing my resolution in the Senate, which is very similar in impact to Congressman Jack Murtha's House legislation, when Congress reconvenes next week.

Eventually, the legislators are coming around to go where the people want them to go. Murtha was way out in front, as was Feingold, but I'm not going to split hairs about the right thing to do for our troops. Chris Bowers made the point yesterday that the Bush Administration's move to add troops in Al Anbar province represents a radical, fringe opinion supported by almost nobody. Arguably less people than support additional troops think that Iraq can now be won militarily. So why continue the military presence? Why not a force that can rapidly respond to help the 250,000 Iraqi soldiers I keep hearing about?

We're beyond any good ideas or good outcomes in Iraq. But let's focus on what we can salvage rather than re-fighting the same war we didn't need to fight to begin with.