Still, Iraq should about now be getting up to the challenge of carrying its own weight. And it is!
Two months ago, Maliki ordered the Iraqi army to take Basra, and in general defeat the Mahdi "Army". Gen Petraeus, who was in the USA testifying before Congress at the time, said he wasn't fully informed of the Iraqi plan but he was all for it, nevertheless.
The end result is this. Basra is fully under control. Sadr is hiding out in Iran, and his Mahdi “Army” is stating they will lay down their arms if the Iraq army stops killing them! Basra the OIL Port, can now start shipping Iraqi oil in large quantities, finally, after 5 years of fighting and 17 years of oil embargo. The Iraqis will start paying for themselves, and I do believe there will be something in it for the USA.
Problem is much of the country obeys rules,laws, religions that date back hundreds of years. Bringing any of these countries into the 21st century cannot always be a accomplished in a few months. I am guessing sometimes tribal laws in Iraq may trump all else.
It's gotta be a zoo to even try and rule that place, I know could never do it.
Times will change in the mid-east just look at Dubai, the UAE, and other areas. Evolution is possible. It probably won't happen over night however.