Victory in Iraq? That's Sooo 2003.

According to Eli Lake at the New York Sun, a "Mission Accomplished" banner is the closest we'll ever get to a smashing victory in Iraq.

A commission formed to assess the Iraq war and recommend a new course has ruled out the prospect of victory for America, according to draft policy options shared with The New York Sun by commission officials.

Currently, the 10-member commission -- headed by a secretary of state for President George H.W. Bush, James Baker -- is considering two option papers, "Stability First" and "Redeploy and Contain," both of which rule out any prospect of making Iraq a stable democracy in the near term.

The commission isn't supposed to report until after the midterm elections, which makes political sense. Except, you know, for the fact that its sorriest conclusions are getting leaked.

It's not much of a link unless you have a subscription, but here's James Fallows' Atlantic essay on how to declare victory in the war on terror - slightly different subject, but relevant here.