The Prime Minister of Iraq was at the conference and he said that US troops should be able to leave by the end of next year. Very soon now, Iraq's security services will up to 75% capacity and by the end of the year, they will be fully trained up and capable of doing the job themselves, he said.
I think that is the US position as well.
I'm sure the terrorists will be fully taken out by that time as well.
The question remaining is what kind of permanent military footprint do we have in Iraq starting in 2007. A few good airbases, a few good army and marine bases would be about right.
Perhaps a major base in each major region of the country, away from populated areas. We could get it down to 3 or 4 large hubs easily. From there, we could provide the Iraqi military and police with all the air, intelligence, logistics, and training they'd ever need.
It's a win/win scenario for everyone. We'll stop taking casualties and the Iraqis will get their country back. The insurgents, on the other hand, will be stuck in rebellion against an Arab government, not a foriegn army.
Looks to me that the Iraqis will be at 75% sometime in the summer of 2006 and no sooner. Someone have reference to anything more optimistic than that?
"The question remaining is what kind of permanent military footprint do we have in Iraq starting in 2007. A few good airbases, a few good army and marine bases would be about right."
Sounds about right. Special opps to stay imbedded in the Iraqi army and gather intel, mess with Syria and Iran a bit.