Today’s bombing of an Italian base, which killed 25 is exhibit A on why the United States can’t just “hand over” the Iraq mess to somone else.

Hopefully, the Italians, who lost 17 of their own in the bombing, will not pull out as a result of this, but it’s sure not the kind of thing that will dissuade other European nations from keeping their troops out of harm’s way (a novel idea, I know).

Folks like Andrew Sullivan will tell you that the very point of these attacks is to drive the United States and its allies out of Iraq. But we can’t do that, he says — we must show resolve.

Showing resolve is a lot easier to do when all it means is not having to admit you were wrong. When you’re on the battlefield it means you don’t know when or where or how the next attack is coming, it’s kind of hollow.

At this point, the danger to American lives of occupying Iraq far outweighs the danger to American lives of quickly returning sovereignty to the Iraqi people.