When it comes to comparing Iraq today to the Revolutionary War, well, there's a little something for everyone. If you just keep looking, I'm certain that you, too, can find an analogy that confirms your opinion.

The real inference to be drawn is that the American colonies were as well-fit for a democratic union as any society in human history—and they took more than a decade to get their act together. Today's Iraq enjoys almost none of their advantages, so how long will it take to move down the same path—and how long will we have to stay there to help?

Philadelphia 1787 vs. Baghdad 2005