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As to Mr Buckleys views the corner at the NRO website had this on Saturday.
http://corner.nationalreview.com/06_02_19_corner-archive.asp#090989
"William F. Buckley Jr. has been skeptical about the Iraq venture for some time. Two years ago he said that if he had known before the war that Saddam Hussein had no WMD, he would have opposed the war. The mosque bombing appears to have been the final straw for him. He now says that it is beyond doubt that "the American objective in Iraq has failed." It is time for an "acknowledgment of defeat."

This is a refinement and extension of Bill's position in response to new circumstances. It's not a case in which a full-throated supporter of the war turned on it and came out for an immediate withdrawal. He wasn't a full-throated supporter of the war, and he hasn't (yet?) come out for immediate withdrawal. Still, his pronouncement strikes me as important (even allowing for the bias that comes from working in the House of Buckley).

I myself think that Bill's conclusion is premature. It could very well be vindicated by events, although obviously I hope it won't be.

Posted at 06:01 PM

So like he says take this into account as to Buckly

"William F. Buckley Jr. has been skeptical about the Iraq venture for some time. Two years ago he said that if he had known before the war that Saddam Hussein had no WMD, he would have opposed the war.

As they say, hindsight is 20/20. The truth is, neither Bill Buckley nor anyone else in the West could know what Saddam Hussein was hiding. The president had to make a decision based on the best available intelligence.

The mosque bombing appears to have been the final straw for him. He now says that it is beyond doubt that "the American objective in Iraq has failed." It is time for an "acknowledgment of defeat."

Suppose, for the sake of argument, that we go along with Mr. Buckley and acknowledge defeat in Iraq. Then what? Do we withdraw our forces and leave Iraq to burn? Do the US forces stay and install some kind of puppet dictator, a kind of "Saddam lite"? Do we partition the country? Perhaps we allow the the Iranians to step in and take over?

Unfortunately, Mr. Buckley offers no solutions. I am glad he was not in charge in 1941, and I am glad he is not in charge now.