There are a number of little books of wisdom on the market, including What Would Jesus Do? and What Would Buddha Do?

Over dinner tonight, I was thinking about the present Republican Party, comparing it and its leaders to that and those which have come before.

And then the question hit me. What would Barry Goldwater do about Iraq?

If youre too young to know, Mr. Goldwater was a proud, self- proclaimed conservative, a U.S. Senator from Arizona, and the Republican Presidential nominee, in 1964. As craggy in appearance as the driest desert, lean and a little severe looking, he aroused mostly two responses in people: love or hate.

There was no being indifferent when it came to this gentleman.

And he spoke his mind. When it came to Vietnam, his policy was simple: do everything it takes to win, or leave.

He was accused, falsely as history will probably conclude, as a warmonger. Memorable TV ads paid for by his opponents showed innocent little girls picking flower petals while a nuclear bomb prepared to blast in the background.

I think the Senator would have us do two things:

(1) Fortify our military and political presence in friendly Middle Eastern countries; and

(2) Pull our troops out of Iraq, as soon as possible.

These endeavors are related, theyre rational, and they preserve and protect our assets, while enabling us to stage military initiatives when a suitable crisis calls.

Doing these things would send a signal that were willing to revise tactics, yet we stand by our commitments to Israel, Egypt, Jordan, and any other friendly regimes.

At the same time, we wouldnt be cutting and running, to borrow the often used, and derided phrase.

The current batch of Republicans, including Presidential aspirant, Senator John McCain of Arizona, would do well to channel Barry Goldwater every now and then.

It would offer a good lesson in leadership and in the pragmatics of conducting a war.