The Democrat candidates have lost the initiative on Iraq. Saul Alinsky's Rule 5 didn't work and they forgot about Rule 7. A solution for Iraq is too difficult and none of the candidates know how to deal with it, therefore they compartmentalize it and attempt to move the focus toward something not remotely connected and that they have experience with. Issues like homeland defense, border control, immigration, and foreign policy (nuclear Iran) are off the table because they can be remotely connected to Iraq. Triangulation does not work on complex issues because the level of uncertainty only offers short forsight horizons. You have to have a strategy, a plan and they don't, all the Democrats have provided to date is blame.