The problem is that if you cut it short, if you pull the plug to early and the Iraqi's aren't ready yet, they will implode despite all the progress made. These sort of missions take years! We're still in the Balkans a decade later. It took Germany a good 7-10 years before they were ready to go. Korea, Japan.......... We're talking about creating systems and structures of self governance and security. A justice system, with police, army, air force, intelligence services, Parliament, all the ministries to run certain governmental functions, etc etc etc. The bureaucracy and operating systems to run a country and to get it in place to where they stick takes years to make happen, and we're leaving awfully early.
Take the training wheels off before the kid is ready to ride, and he'll get hurt. Obama will simply blame Bush, but the implications to us in terms of national security, for the future of Iraq, our reputation, our economic interests in that region long term......... all that is sacrificed for the short term goal of ending a war based on popular but distorted opinions. If Iraq collapses and Iran gains power, the stage is set for a war in the middle east of unimaginable magnitude in the future.
...Sorry to sound so flippant, piper, but I’m with yer.