They were so oversold on the benefits of democracy. They were led to believe that the day after the election or within a relatively short period time all their woes would go away. The casting of the ballot was to bring about some kind of miracle, a panacea.
We in the US have learned from experience that the results of democracy are not always a great success. To wit: the election of FDR, Johnson, Carter, and Clinton. It takes years for a public to be educated to the proper use of the franchise and in some countries I am not sure it ever comes about.
My first realization as to the gratitude of these people was when their olympic soccer team which we rescued from Saddam and his terrorist thug of a son and then encouraged to train for the competition shouted insults at the US during the Olympic games. We should have known then if we did not learn from the past that nation building was not going to work.
All we can do is give them a start. You see where Russia is today after fifteen years of democracy. Democracy is not easy. Just ask the Palestinians.
They will suffer through it and succeed IMHO. However, if we leave prematurely, they are certainly doomed.
I don't expect our nation to tuck its tail and run because we are tired of IRaq.