As Iraq votes, a new tone from the White House...

0 Comments | USA TODAY, December, 2005

Today's topic: Democracy in the Middle East

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U.S. policy in Iraq -- or at least the explanation of it -- has followed a wandering path since the invasion 1,000 days ago: First came blind optimism, symbolized by

the premature "Mission Accomplished" ceremony in 2003. Then, as the insurgency deepened, U.S. casualties mounted and the reasons for going to war were discredited, President Bush tried to avoid or change the subject.

When that didn't work, Bush and other administration officials tried denial, insisting that everything was going according to plan. The resulting gap between reality and rosy portrayal eroded public support for the war and Bush's approval rating.

Now comes a recalibration. In the days leading to Thursday's assembly...