Why we should negotiate with Iraqi insurgents

It's pretty simple. If you believe that 1) war creates an irresistible dynamic of reciprocal violence, in which the political aims of each side are doomed to fail so long as killing is the only accepted means of communication, such that 2) to stop the killing each side must acknowledge the political suffering that led them to choose killing in the first place, then 3) each side must shed its delusions of innocence and choose to stop the killing by negotiating the other's right to non-violent self-determination.

So we should call Kofi Annan, acknowledge that we made a grave mistake in seeking to conquer and remake Iraq, apologize from the bottom of our hearts to the families of the dead on both sides, cede any presumed right to interfere without provocation in the Islamic world, and invite the United Nations to administer a democratic transition of power there and everywhere else.  We would maintain our sovereignty, our right to veto any Security Council resolution incompatible with our values, and reaffirm our conviction that all nations have the right to self-determination.

That's not cutting and running.  It's called leading.  Being the best we can be.  It would secure our future from serious terrorism - and enhance our geo-political power - for posterity.