Iraq update

There’s no denying that the downing of an American helicopter was tragic victory for the Baathists of the Sunni Triangle. Coming on the heels of the missile attack in Baghdad, it’s put new pressure on the Bush administration to regain control in Iraq (and renewed criticism on the “Mission Accomplished” speech). But as William Safire points out today, we should steel our resolve because there is no other way: “We will help Iraqis win the final war against Baathist terror. Failure is not an option.”