Where some see mistakes, others see opportunity that should be nourished.

The first view is backward-looking and the glass is half full.  The second view is forward- looking and the glass is half full and can be made entire full.

The first view is consistent with the attitude that a mistaken pregnancy should aborted.  Quit and leave.  No responsibility.

The second view is consistent with the belief  that a mistake is meant to become something wonderful and good.   Stick with it and see it through.  Take responsibility.

Whining over how you got yourself into a situation has little to do with taking stock of where you are, what you have, and what you can make out of it.   When 3M made a mistake in searching for a particular adhesive and ended up with a tacky gooey one, they didn’t whine and mewl about how they got there; they turned it into Post-It® notes.

The point in Iraq is now that we are there, what can we make out of it? 

I know there are those who are psychologically disposed to see every glass as half empty.  Who always want someone else to do something, to fix something, to create something, to handle the problem for them.  But real men and women do it themselves.   And to those winners smart enough to see every glass as half full, I posit that Iraq is an opportunity to show that:

• We are worth having a friends.
• We are trustworthy.
• We will stick it out with them for their benefit.
• We are dependable.
• We are loyal.
• We keep our word.
• We don’t abandon people when the going gets tough.
• We don’t get people into a mess and then leave them in it.
• We are a good partner.