The Iraq war is a prime example of the mistaken course charted by the Bush Administration in the Middle East and beyond since September 11th. The war has taken an enormous toll on America's military, economy, regional influence and international standing - all of which will have to be re-built over the coming years. Not only are both the United States and Israel less secure, but Al Qaeda has strengthened and expanded its reach, not only into Iraq, but into Jordan and the Egyptian Sinai as well.

J Street believes the United States must withdraw responsibly from Iraq, displaying the diplomatic prowess and willingness to work multilaterally so lacking in the lead-up to the war. Successful withdrawal requires working with all of Iraq's neighbors and with a broad array of internal Iraqi political actors to maximize political stability as US forces depart.

The "Iraq International Support Group" and "New Diplomatic Offensive" recommended by the bi-partisan Iraq Study Group but never adopted by the Bush Administration, should belatedly be pursued. A comprehensive approach to the region, focusing on real security threats and maximizing possible alliances, is the only way to combat those, such as Al-Qaeda, who pose a real security threat to the United States, who truly menace our safety.