She went discouraged, came back with hope.

Can you recall anyone who has actually gone, spent time and come back "hope"less? I don't.

Even most journalists who fly in, fly out, while acknowledging a mega-amount of problems, are struck by the desire and enthusiasm of the average Iraqi for this new form of government to work. Their one big worry? That the US will pack up and go home; leaving them at the mercy of the thugs, criminals, insurgents, and sectarian violence that would bring a blood bath onto all who chose to believe us.

Arm us and troops can go, Maliki tells US

"The United States could dramatically and quickly cut its troop presence in Iraq if it provided enough weapons to the country’s security forces, Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has said."

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007%5C01%5C19%5Cstory_19-1-2007_pg4_1

That sounds good and maybe should be considered. However, I'd want to see a little more time go by and Maliki's government do a little more cleaning of the slums, more comprehensive dealings with the sectarian problems, and a stronger stance against Iran and Syria. I don't think it's wise to load up a country with weapons and then just leave. In whose hands do those weapons go and who is accountable for them?