[Avenger]

Vice President Dick Cheney, who said the Iraqi insurgency will end "in the months immediately ahead."

Did he really say that? Wow. I hope they're not actually operating as if that's true..

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I think if things go as planned (i.e. the political process and the training of Iraqi forces), the terrorists in Iraq will no longer be a serious threat to the government of Iraq, and this shift could happen in a matter of 6 months. However, you can bet that there will continue to be fairly regular terrorists attacks in Iraq for many years to come.

[DHerion]

I think you are correct. Once the Iraqi Constitution and new government are in place in January 2006 there will be a huge push by Shiite and Sunni leaders for a fast withdrawal of Coalition forces. It will be less intense from the Kurds but they will probably want us out as well so they can begin to emigrate back into traditional Kurdish areas like Kirkuk (leading to some violence with the Sunnis there). I predict most Coalition forces will be out of Iraq by the end of next year whether their security forces are completely ready or not.