Demagogue

Sen. Jim Talent (R-Mo.) is in a tough fight for re-election. This exchange is from Sunday's Meet the Press:

RUSSERT: When you voted for the war in 2002, did you believe 145,000 troops would be still on the ground in October 2006?

TALENT: No. I think, I think at the time, the administration and many underestimated the time it would take to stabilize the central part of the country.

RUSSERT: Including you?

TALENT: I did not think it would take this long, no.

RUSSERT: Knowing what you know today, knowing what you know today, that Saddam did not have the weapons of destruction that our intelligence agencies thought he had, if you knew that today, would you still vote for the war?

TALENT: Well, yeah, I mean, I think...

RUSSERT: You still would?

TALENT: ... it was the — I think it was the only possible strategic choice.

Huh? There was at least one other strategic choice — not invading.