I’m with TmjUtah on this one: Some deputy assist undersecretary is trying to float his or her’s trial balloon, but I dont see any chance the administration is going to cave on this one. Their position has been clear: a long and messy war, but focus on the outcomes; support for the Iraqi interim government and for their successor after elections; stay in Iraq until the Iraqi government asks us to leave; and not one day longer than necessary.

I dont see how the president could back down on that position (s). The one thing I do admire him for is his consistency–and the American public, I think, do as well.

And…there are a lot of excellent geopolitical reasons to keep forces there for as long as practicable.