Where's the Center in the Iraq debate?

I consider myself a Centrist. However, I find myself writing Blogs about the Iraq debate, much more Left than in the middle of the debate between Republicans and Democrats. Is the Centrist position to stay the course in Iraq for the long haul, supporting the military's tactics and waving the flag or is it advocating an immediate withdrawal from Iraq and bringing all the troops home?

It appears that the Democrats have found a new middle ground and are staking it out. It is to ensure the well being of our troops by ensuring that they spend as much time at home with their families as they spend in Iraq. This Amendment to the funding Bill is being put forward by Sen. Webb D-VA. Yesterday on Meet the Press Sen. John Kerry D-MA argued for a change in mission there to training the Iraqi Army, fighting al Qaeda and securing the borders of Iraq. It looks as though the Democrats have found the middle and are trying to stake out this middle ground and bring along some Republicans with them.

Being a Centrist it was difficult arguing for the exact middle of previous arguments between Republicans and Democrats because the American people had moved away from the Republicans to the point where over 70% wanted the troops home. This middle ground seems more reasonable and balanced and should garner enough support for Moderate Republicans to leave President Bush with his unyielding position, to join Democrats. Let's hope we can bring along the American people with this Centrist position. We may lose some Democrats on this issue but that might not be a bad thing if a more reasonable course of action in Iraq would emerge.

The missing element in this entire Iraq equation was articulated yesterday by Senator Kerry. He asked, "Where's Condi Rice?" I had posted a topic on her whereabouts back on July 9th in a piece titled, "Where's Condoleezza Rice? " Here's that post:

"With all the talk that we can't win militarily in Iraq and that we need a diplomatic solution, where's Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice hiding? Has anyone seen her in the past 30-45 days? Could it be she went back to Stanford to teach summer courses, or is she taking a long needed vacation with the Iraqi parliament this summer?"

With the Congress ready to bring up some Amendments to the funding of the war Bills to include endorsing the Iraqi Study Group recommendations for a diplomatic push to involve Iran, Syria and other neighbors of Iraq, Condi isn't to be found anywhere. But then again, she has had plenty of time to get those parties to the table to discuss diplomatic solutions to end the violence. We may need someone other than Condi for this as she is reminding me daily of FEMA's 'Brownie'."