After reading this article I began to wonder if I’d missed the 2008 election.

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton prodded the Pentagon Wednesday to plan quickly for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq — even as she refused to say how she plans to vote on a critical war spending bill.

“We’ve been hearing that there is either no or very limiting planning for withdrawal. Withdrawal is very complicated. If they’re not planning for it, it will be difficult to execute it in a safe and efficacious way,” the Democratic presidential candidate said.

“I want our surrender plan now,” is what I hear her saying.

Clinton now wants the Pentagon to brief lawmakers on their withdrawal contingency plans.

“If no such plans exist, please provide an explanation for the decision not to engage in such planning,” Clinton wrote to Gates.

Of course it’s hard to say what she really means, even if you’re a member of her own party.

Last week, after voting to advance a bill that would force withdrawal by March 2008, Clinton said she would not commit to supporting that deadline. Hours later, she said she would in fact support that deadline, prompting one Democratic challenger, Sen. Christopher Dodd of Connecticut, to question what her position actually is.

I know this will be lost on the presumptive front-running democrat candidate, but wouldn’t it be wise to start by achieving victory? I’m just asking.