The Meaning of "Power"

Consider this. The Iraqi people want us out of Iraq. See also here. Here are my favorite grafs in the WaPo piece this morning:

At Sadrain Square, Abdul Razaq al-Nadawi, a Sadr spokesman, walked onto a stage and declared to the crowd: "A few days ago the father of evil, Bush, went out and said: We are staying in Iraq until the mission is accomplished according to the authorization of the U.N. and the request of the Iraqi people. So what would you answer?"

"No, no, America. Get out, get out, occupier," protesters yelled.

A clear majority of Americans has decided that the Iraq war was a mistake and want, at minimum, clear timelines for withdrawal. The father of evil's approval on Iraq is 28% in that most recent poll.

So, the Iraqis want us out, and we want out. But we aren't coming out any time soon. Not only that, but on the tv, the view that the U.S. should withdraw from Iraq as soon as possible is almost never heard. Most Democratic politicians won't express this view, either.

That's power. The administration has the power to not only continue a war supported by General Kristol and a small band of WarHawks . . . but also to control the terms of the debate here in the United States. Despite the lack of support for the war, here or in Iraq.