Bush told us all along that the War on Terror wouldn't be easy or simple, and sure enough, it isn't. We now have an open-ended commitment to stand in Iraq and take on all comers. There is no milestone to justify our departure except the end of the fighting. Of course, other nations, recognizing our inflexible resolve, naturally will rally to our side to funnel their own blood and treasure into this noble effort.

What can this mean? It means that America is no longer on the offensive -- we are on the defensive, indefinitely, on the far side of the world. And we are going to stay there either until our enemies decide to stop attacking, or until we're bled white and our last friends have deserted us.

This speaks volumes about the character of the President of the United States. Tonight we heard the words of a man determined to bring about the ruination of his presidency and the humiliation of his nation before conceding any error or reassessing his course of action.