Burning Bush

Illustration by Bob Aul"Do we go in deeper, or do we cut our losses and look for the nearest exit? How much blood and treasure are we willing to invest in democracy in Baghdad, and for how long? Is a democratic Iraq vital to our security? What assurances are there that we can win this war?"

—Patrick J. Buchanan, two-time candidate for the Republican presidential nomination and founder ofThe American Conservative magazine, in recent questions to his readers. Buchanan argued against invading Iraq last year, saying the U.S. should use military force only to defend its vital interests.