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In essence, we have given the Iraqis an enormous gift, but they don't seem to be seizing the opportunity

Well, it would be nice if Iraq turned around because of this, but that is not the primary goal. The primary goal is to protect the long term health of Americans, in which the military has been highly successful.

And this American (kidd) is highly grateful.

Iraq doesn't have the cultural framework to accept the gift of democracy. After-war assistance should have been done in the style of WWII Japan.

The way we've done it is like giving a free college education to a 5 year old. Great intentions, but total failure the only outcome.

we have given the Iraqis an enormous gift, but they don't seem to be seizing the opportunity

I don't recall Bush ever making a "one year boots on the ground pledge". I do recall military staff talking about a one year rotation cycle.

Rotation, in the manner it was done, was a mistake in Vietnam in the sense that no soldier could feel the "mission accomplished feeling" and returning units entitled to honor didn't happen all that often, soldiers dribbled home.

The first Gulf War had a, "Ii'm here till the mission is won," attitude that we are missing here, even though there was some rotation of units there to a mocest degree.

No one wants to see the load of danger and sacrifice thrust too extensively on particular units, but I think this feeling being allowed to develop is a mistake of Secretary Rumsfeld, despite my feeling he is great Sec Def.