I think Lugar is inviting the president to make proposals to Congress that the president does not want to make. The president wants to stay the course because he still believes in the basic PNAC philosophy that prompted the Iraq invasion in the first place, namely the idea that everyone hungers for the type of government and society we have, and will sieze the opportunity if we present it to them. One certain, eternal truth in this philosophy is that we don't have to do nation-building because the Iraqis (or whatever nation we choose to invade) will insist on doing it themselves. Lugar sees the obvious flaws in the PNAC theory, but the president and his circle of chickenhawk advisors still embrace the whole pathetic, disproven pack of lies.

Lugar probably figures Congress has the power to drag a weak, unpopular, lame duck president in the right direction whether or not the president wants to go that way. If so, it would be the first time anyone ever got the president to listen to good advice that doesn't fit with his ideological preconceptions. I would say Lugar's chances are slim to none, but more power to him for struggling against the odds. His third way tactic is probably right in line with what we should be doing to save Iraq from four years of idotic American bungling, if anyone even cares about saving iraq anymore.