The war hasn’t gone according to plan. We all know this, and last Wednesday night, the one person everyone is blaming admitted it too.

President Bush took full responsibility for the war, and said the situation is “unacceptable.” Americans have demanded change, and that’s what’s happening – change.

Bush has ordered another 21,500 troops to Iraq. The decision has resulted in criticism, and even some praise, on both sides of the fence. This decision isn’t exactly ideal, but the fact is, something must change.

Bush said it: A failure in Iraq would be a disaster for America. This is when some will argue that the situation in Iraq has already turned into a disaster. We’ve started an “unjust war,” driven by power and a thirst for oil.

Terrorists and insurgents roam the streets in Iraq, and we’re having trouble securing them. Iraqis are dying. Freedom to them hasn’t come free and some argue we shouldn’t even be the ones pushing that belief onto them.

And of course, there are our soldiers, who are putting their lives at risk and dying because of it.

But, the reality is, we don’t have another option. If we cut off funding for the war, like some Democrats have threatened, our sources won’t be sufficient enough, and indeed, we will lose this war. If we pull our troops, Iraq will be left in a disaster even larger than what they are in now.

Violence will swell, and Iraqis won’t have enough gains to defeat Al Qaeda or Sunnis. Civil conflict will ensue. The Iraqi citizens that want their democracy won’t be able to get it because the terrorists’ power is incomparable to theirs.

We have a situation similar to the Vietnam conflict. Although Gerald Ford vetoed Congress’ Foreign Assistance Act in 1974, halting troops and funding for the effort, the act passed, and America left Vietnam in a mess that we helped to create.

We either leave, or we stay. Most likely, both options continue years of suffering in Iraq (and subsequently, a divide between the American people). But, we have to work to finish the job we came to do, or at least solve some of its civil conflict.

Iraq’s civil conflict is more than a fight between those who want democracy and those who don’t. There are terrorists that want to take over the security of civilians. Their goal is to create chaos, pursue nuclear weapons and depose moderate governments.

We saw what kind of damage they’re capable of on Sept. 11, 2001 – which is similar to what some of these foreign regions are constantly seeing. So do we sit back and not do anything to stop this destruction?

America’s past efforts haven’t worked. Let’s at least give credit to Bush for admitting this. He knows he isn’t well-liked, and it’s not throwing him off. He has leadership capabilities and strong ideals that he honestly wants to see enforced.

It’s not acceptable for the U.S. to exhaust our sources, troops and finances – and not secure our own people, or those who suffer daily in Iraq. Congress is severely divided, and so are our American people. The war is not helping to mend this divide.

Democrats: pulling out is not an option. This decision will only create a bigger divide between us – as well as boost terrorist confidence.

We must stay committed, and we must stay on track. If not for Iraqi freedom, then for each of our fallen soldiers – they’ve already sacrificed their lives. We owe it to them to have something come out of that sacrifice.