The war was won, the occupation a disaster. Aside from what was wrongly thought about the military (hi-tech whiz-bang push-button Nice, Kleen new warfare without ground forces that were needed to seal the borders and pacify Iraq) it was also unrealistic to expect to have been loved and for other nations to become suddenly modern and more democratic.

And should this have been a surprise? Macgregor, a critic of “transformation,”

http://www.comw.org/pda/fulltext/0704macgregor.pdf

in his earlier, well-known work about transforming land power (reorganizing the Army, not trying to do things lightly or cheaply, though he did identify billions in potential savings in the military) he said that the enemy we would likely face would try to flght us at close range and conduct a war of attrition on our forces to break our will at home, which is what we have seen.

According to Krauthammer himself, Maliki “clearly believes that the Iraq war is won” I am sure Krauthammer agrees with that (or at least that the war is being won). Because the war is won, or being won, Maliki agrees with Obama's troop withdrawal plan. Now, Krauthammer has to either agree or disagree with Maliki.

If he agrees, then he must also agree with Obama's plan. If he doesn't, then he doesn't think that the war is being won, or he doesn't trust Iraq's democratic leader (which he apparently does), or he doesn't trust McCain–who now is also talking about a 16 month troop withdrawal plan–, or Krauthammer must have some other ulterior motives.

If anything, Krauthammer is saying that McCain's plan will protect the long-term strategic interests of the US in the region better than Obama's.

The post didn't say that Krauthammer is agreeing with Obama's plan. Just that he has to admit…kicking and screaming.

Is Iraq a sovereign nation?

Does a sovereign nation have the right to kick foreign troops out, now or in 16 months?

Is Malik Iraq's Prime Minster?

Does Krauthammer say that Malik endorses Obama's U.S. withdrawal plan?

Does that make Obama right?

Or, are the right wingers going to continue to claim that they know what is best for a Democratic nation? Doest that make them right?

Maybe these presbyopic orbs are failing me, but I didn't read Krauthammer as agreeing with Obama's plan. Please cite the passage(s) where Krauthammer says that Obama's plan is “right.”

But we should only maintain troops in Iraq if the Iraqis want us there.

We need to balance the Budget and pay down the debt. Iraq and Afghanistan will not allow us to do that.

I would perfer to see the US maintain 25k worth of troops in Iraq and a couple Military installations for the next 5-8 years with flexibility on that schedule for the sole purpose of keeping Syria and Iran out of the country until she finally is able to maintain her own stability and settle upon her own form of government.

The US needs a commitment from Iraq. 6 year deal. After 6 years the USA is gone. Something like that to satisfy all people.

We cannot afford to fight a war with this nation on a spending binge. GWB and friends were idiots and it is why the GOP has been knocked into the dirt. They are staggering around the political ring, bloodied, bruised and incoherent.

They are not out but they are very damn near to having the fight stopped. Unless Bush understands that America does not want this war. His own party does not want this war and the world does not want this war and does something about it……..TODAY….then the GOP will suffer devestating losses at the polling booth come november.

The die is cast. Bring all the troops home from both countries, pull out of South Korea, Japan and Germany, cut the Military and war budget by 400 Billion dollars…..Balance the Budget and pay down the debt.

Nothing else matters right now.

Thank you Dorian.