illustration, Capt. T. Patriquin

We're being showered with stories about the Surge's success. In Al-Anbar Province, deaths are down. In the Democrats' America, waffling statements are up. Surely something is working somewhere. Is the Surge succeeding?

That depends on how you define its mission. Is the Surge supposed to create the physical safety needed to support political change and stabilization, so that the U.S. can withdraw and leave a viable Iraq? If so, it's failing. Or is...