Reality is a hassle

And so the move to the center continues...

It's good news, though. Americans want a President who understands the situation on the ground and reacts according to facts rather than gut feelings or ideological prejudices... Right?

No matter how you slice it, America is going to have combat troops in Iraq for quite some time, assuming the central government works out some sort of security agreement - and maybe even if it doesn't. Iraq is too important to turn into a talking point either way. Our gains in the surge are fragile, which means we need to leave in a far more sensible manner than we entered the country. Given Iran's current interests in the country, Turkey's incursion, and Saudi Arabia's pledges to intervene in the absence of US troops, we have a taste of what could come in Iraq. If the situation on the ground necessitates an American presence, then that's probably what should happen.

Besides, even if Obama did stick to his 16 month pledge, it's not hard to skirt - what are combat troops, exactly? Do we keep advisors? A force to protect the embassy? A rapid reaction force in case the country destabilizes? Special forces units to assist the Iraqi government in counterterrorist operations? These troops could be stationed in Iraq and still be under threat of IED attacks or assassinations without it strictly being "combat" as the administration wishes to choose it.