Mr. Bush continues to argue that we must stay the course in Iraq in hopes that our military might will force the insurgents to quit before the American public decides otherwise. "Stay the course" is a nautical term describing the direction a ship should take to reach its destination. The problem with the analogy when talking about Iraq is we don't seem to know where we are going. I read a post a day or two ago talking about why we are fighting in Iraq. This is an excellent, unanswered question, because once that is answered we will know our destination and when we have arrived. At present, I have no idea when we will know we can leave Iraq. Call it exit strategy, call it a plan, call it whatever you like, but the reality is that Mr. Bush has never detailed how we will know when we can leave Iraq, assuming that is what he wants to do. Mr. Bush says he doesn't want Americans to die in vain, and I would agree with that statement, but he hasn`t yet told us - two and a half years in - what they are dying for, or at least hasn`t given a reason that rings true.