An idea whose time has gone.
By The New York Times

"WASHINGTON, April 22 - Leaders of the Senate Armed Services Committee have urged Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to seek a formal invitation from the new Iraqi government for American troops to remain until domestic security forces are capable of fully defending their country.

A letter on April 18 from Senator John W. Warner of Virginia, the Republican committee chairman, and Senator Carl Levin of Michigan, the ranking Democrat, argued that the initiative could "substantially reduce the daily threats to U.S., coalition and Iraqi security forces.""

Is it just me or does this sound deeply out of touch with reality? What they should be doing is formally declaring the U.S. has no territorial or oil interests in Iraq to start with. That might help take the wind out of the insugency's sails a little.

A formal invite from the Iraqi "governemnt" will be seen for the empty gesture it would be. That's like Karzai asking us for a security pact. Or the Sudaten German's asking for Hitler's help against the Chechs. [We want no Chechs!.]