When asked what he’d do if America attacked Iran, Ahmad Batebi, a dissident who escaped to America from imprisonment, beatings, and his own impending execution by the Iranian government said he’d return to Iran and join the fight against us. Are you sensing there is some nuance to the way the world really works?

We just can’t see past our own SUVs, but we don’t have to as long as “win”. Right?

Come on, you dorks!! Violence is subsiding, things are more stable, the Iraqis are rapidly learning that they DO have the power to control their own security and future. We are getting closer to being able to leave that country, and leave it in a better situation that we entered it. You should be happy that we can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

But, alas, if we would’ve pulled out a few years ago and left the country in shambles, you could’ve railed against President Bush for decades and been able to blame him for each and every bad thing that would’ve happend over there.

HOW DARE HE TAKE THAT AWAY FROM YOU!!!

It is what it is, we can try to talk about it in AP reports or blogs or comment-blurbs, but it is what it is despite whatever words you use to describe it. So…whatever.

I mean, did anybody honestly believe for a moment that al Qaeda would be running the Iraqi government?

If we pulled out unconditionally in 2006 or 2007, as so many people have suggested, do you honestly think there would be a functional and effective Iraqi government, the way we see one now?

Certainly huge swaths of territory were once under control by Al-qaeda as well as Shiite militias. Would they have become weaker or stronger if we pulled out then? So yes, I would say that Iraq would be fractured and completely disfunctional with Al-qaeda effectively governing territory and training and arming terrorists there, if we pulled out.

The “war” is breaking the terrorist stranglehold on the population, interrupting their recruitment and closing revenue streams thereby marginalizing if not outright starving the organization to death.

Since these competing organizations have been marginalized, Iraq has become increasingly stable allowing for projects which further improve the ability for the government to protect and serve it’s population with less assistance. The US role is becoming increasingly one of a consultant, though I imagine in a few more years that role will also diminish.

No, because we have essentially won the war.

Hmm, how does a country win a war against terrorists when terrorists weren’t running the country…hmmm…

Listen, this has always been a situation where the Iraqis will need to fight their own fight eventually. If you feel that staying in another year helped us “win” the war, then so be it, but this hasn’t been a “war” for a long time. In fact, one of the biggest failings of this administration was its inability to couch this post-war cleanup in terms that were much more realistic and accurate. I mean, did anybody honestly believe for a moment that al Qaeda would be running the Iraqi government?

In the end, we’ve been witness to a botched attempt at nation building, and one that has cost us much more than a trillion dollars. Iraq will do what Iraq wants to do now, and hopefully they’ll be a friend. Fingers crossed, but I’m not holding my breath.

The actual pullout of all troops would occur across 2-3 years afterwards, and the Iraqis insist that no permanent base–one that could be used to launch aggressive acts against Iraq’s neighbors–be installed.

Now, whether this initial framework is the one that gets finalized or not, different question….

There, I just took care of the posts for all of my GOP friends who have been screaming these cliches for years now….oh, wait, Bush is making this deal?

What the heck?

Uhm, crap, now what do they say?

I was against withdrawl before I was for it?

So, will this plan embolden the terrorists? Will it create more violence in Iraq? Will it completely destabilize the Middle East?

No, because we have essentially won the war. Nobody will say it directly because they don’t want to put up the “Mission Accomplished” banner, for obvious reasons. However, this “timetable” is basically an administrative one based on estimates of how long it will take to complete the construction of Iraqi security infrastructure, and to move out American heavy armor – without enemy resistance since the resistance has been almost completely destroyed.

Its like the “timetable” that was set to withdraw forces from Berlin after the furerbunker was destroyed, or after the Japanese aristocrats finished their pleasure cruise on the USS Missouri.

So much for this “unwinnable war” with “no end in sight.”