how would Jed Bartlet have handled Iraq?

At first, this just seems like a fanfic question. But an article on openDemocracy.com (one of my new favorite sites) seriously asked the question shortly before the war began. The author, Paul Hirst, proposes a number of creative solutions that never made it into the pre-war debate, including a list of NATO demands and establishing diplomatic ties with Iran as leverage against Iraq. I identify with those who call themselves "Jed Bartlet Democrats," tho I haven't watched enough of the show to try to make any coherent statements about how Bartlet's party philosophy is different from our own. But what strikes me about this article -- and what today's left activists need to remember -- is that the decision to use diplomacy means a lot more than just playing nice. It means using all of our resources to create leverage and making creative sacrifices to avoid the more tragic sacrifices we are making now.