Syria, Iraq, Iran Deal

In less than a year, the number of U.S. forces in Iraq has grown from 126,000 to more than 140,000. The increase was supposed to be temporary. It was to be dedicated to pacifying Baghdad.

The results have been unsatisfactory. Iraq's capital is a human slaughterhouse. Still, a further expansion of American military personnel is said to be under serious consideration. Tell us it isn't so, President Bush.

Mr. Bush has refused to rule out sending more troops. He said this week he will decide after he receives recommendations from Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who is reviewing U.S. policy on Iraq. Also in the works are recommendations from the bipartisan Iraq Study Group led by former Secretary of State James Baker.

According to numerous news reports, the Pace report is set to recommend three options to Mr. Bush: "Go big, go long or go home." This translates into: Expand our forces substantially, cut back to about 70,000 soldiers and stay for many more years, or prepare to leave over the next year.

Although expansion should be out of the question, Sen. John McCain of Arizona vows to push for it. Meanwhile, Gen. John P. Abizaid, who heads the U.S. Central Command, suggested to Congress last week that an extra 30,000 or so American trainers working with the Iraqi Army could help. The trainers would remain only until the government in Baghdad takes effective charge.

In other words, the way out of Iraq is to beef up our military presence in the short term.

The Democratic majority in Congress would be short-lived if it bought into this ride. Americans have clearly expressed their preference for a change of course, not for more of the same.

Much to Americans' discomfort, one emerging way out may be through Damascus, Tehran and Baghdad. The option arose after Syria and Iraq restored full diplomatic relations this week for the first time in 24 years. Leaders of both countries are expected to take up Iran's offer to meet in Tehran shortly to explore how stability might be restored in Iraq.

Surely that's a goal most Americans would welcome, notwithstanding a healthy dose of skepticism about an Iraq-Syria-Iran deal. British Prime Minister Tony Blair says it's worth exploring. How about it, Mr. Bush?