Good point. So we are never leaving I guess and the politicos won't tell it to our face - they wink at us and treat us like childern. I feel sorry for future soldiers deployed to Iraq when it is pacified if ever - at least in Europe and Japan there is some off base RR that soldiers can enjoy. Where can a GI go for beer in Iraq?
Who else is going to protect our property - that is, the petroleum - against the 15th century savages of the Middle East?
American politicians and the average American citizen both live in a comical circle of unreality.
It's our oil, and we'll be here for the next 30 years, minimum.
I'm not joking.
Not right after WWII .. Europe didn't just become a resort area because Germany surrendered
IMO .. I think once the Iraqis get things under control and they can protect their own country
Then majority of US troops will be pulled out ... but we will keep a small base somewhere there to remind the bad guys not to try a take over