Pimp my protest

Much has been made about the recent rally for "peace" in Washington, D.C.\nAccording to the group organizing the event, United for Peace and Justice, the rally drew more than half a million people. According to news reports celebrities including Susan Sarandon, Sean Penn and Tim Robbins were there. \nWow. I guess President Bush ought to be intimidated.\nWhat do these lefties propose we do? Here is a sampling from the Web site of the group that hosted the protest:\n"We are demanding that Congress use its power to end the war and occupation in Iraq, to bring the troops home and to take care of them when they get here, and to make restitution for the destruction of Iraq."\nI guess that's it, folks. The protestors want us to pull out of Iraq. Better call the Pentagon and make it happen.\nAll kidding aside, I hope Congress and Washington policymakers are not intimidated by these protestors. They have no real policy solutions. They beat their chests and yell loudly, but that is as far as it will go. If I have learned one thing from six years on this campus, it is that the liberal sea of power is wide but not very deep.\nIf you want to have a discussion about serious solutions in Iraq, that is a different story.\nOne of the solutions proposed by House Democrats is to cut funds for the war.\nRep. John Murtha, D-Pa., who oversees the House defense spending committee, said he wants to place restrictive conditions on the war's funding. Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wis., said he wants to eliminate the war budget after six months.\nThat's an option, but not a smart one.\nThe problem is that those options are more about making a political statement than determining the actual needs of the military. Over the last few years liberals criticized the president on many occasions for not funding the war properly, but look at them now.\nThe cut-and-run lefties in Congress are behaving like children who have found their fathers' guns. They have a powerful new weapon, but they do not know how to use it.\nAnother solution, proposed by the Iraq Study Group, is direct talks with Syria and Iran.\nThat is a bad idea. Everyone knows Iran and the United States are not on the same page when it comes to Iraq. A number of Iranian agents have been detained in Iraq and are likely assisting in attacks on American forces. \nAs for the Syrians, they cannot even get their own country under control. What makes us think they can help us get Iraq under control?\nIraq will not be won by negotiating with our enemies or preventing our troops from getting the funds they need. The only solution is for the Iraqi government to get off its butt and stop letting terrorists run their country.\nAs for the protesters, let them say what they want. Once they are done shouting like maniacs, the adults can get back to running the country.