Concerning Iraq, many administration officials seem willing to define victory down to allow a faster withdrawal.

We've tried to define victory, and we are now eagerly going to try to achieve it.

"He defined victory as having Clinton cry uncle," said a pal.

In fact, we have neither defined victory nor established any real goals.

Mr. Rumsfeld this week struggled to define victory for a war in which the other side could hardly be expected to sign surrender papers.

The war on terror has had no discernible trajectory, and, unlike other military conflicts, it's almost impossible to define victory.

It suits the administration to define victory in a way that makes victory achievable.

"I can't define victory for you," she said during a briefing at the White House.

One question was how the United States would define victory.

"How do you define victory when there's no candidate?"