Reality Check as Tony Pulls Out

The so-called coalition forces in Iraq may not be falling apart, but they are surely diminishing.

Britain's Tony Blair, under political pressure at home for some time, is withdrawing 1,500 troops from Basra, the first stage of bringing Brits out of harm's way. Are they going north to Baghdad to reinforce President Bush's so-called surge?

Surely you jest, for they are going home to England.

References to "coalition forces" by the Bush team have always been misnomers and exaggeration. This is our war with Iraq, with precious little help from the outside. Years ago Bush did not help matters by ripping into opponents in Europe for their unwillingness to help him.

Vice President Cheney, never at a loss to provide an implausible response, claims the withdrawal by the British is a sure sign things are going well in Iraq. Cheney has been so wrong in the past with his assertions and predictions that you can safely add this latest one to the list.

Some Republicans in Congress do not share Cheney's rosy scenario. They recognize that the timing makes the case for Bush's surge look bleaker. The GOP-ers in the House face re-election next year, while Cheney will be moving into a cozy retirement.

The Australian prime minister, John Howard, provided another fanciful statement in recent days. He criticized Illinois Democratic Sen. Barack Obama for calling for a deadline for U.S. troops in the war zone. The Aussies have 550 in Iraq, compared with 140,000 from the United States, so the math doesn't look too strong for Australia.

Also, Tony Blair will be leaving office soon. The war has tarnished his standing with his Labor Party and voters at large.

A final word from Cheney: He has the gall to call a Democratic strategy to challenge Bush's plan a "policy of defeat." But he in effect praises Blair and the Brits who are withdrawing.

Very few are listening seriously to this vice president anymore.