There’s an outstanding piece in the New York Times today by two scholars at the liberal Brookings Institution. Michael O’Hanlon and Kenneth Pollack recently returned from Iraq and wrote the piece, “A War We Just Might Win,” describing why the surge is working and why Congress shouldn’t abandon it now.

Here is the most important thing Americans need to understand: We are finally getting somewhere in Iraq, at least in military terms. As two analysts who have harshly criticized the Bush administration’s miserable handling of Iraq, we were surprised by the gains we saw and the potential to produce not necessarily “victory” but a sustainable stability that both we and the Iraqis could live with.

It’s particularly noteworthy that Pollack signed his name to the op-ed. He wrote a book, “The Threatening Storm: The Case for Invading Iraq,” only to later lose faith in the Bush administration. The fact that he’s now observing progress is a hopeful sign. Unfortunately, liberals will probably ignore the op-ed (there’s no mention on Daily Kos or Firedoglake).

UPDATE — 5:37 p.m.: I’m watching a debate between O’Hanlon and Brian Katulis of the Center for American Progress on “Hardball.” It’s amazing listening to Katulis’ defeatist attitude. Meanwhile, Think Progress has declared war on its liberal friends.