We were in Germany, Japan, and Korea for 50 years because of the Soviet Union and no other reason. We were not there to protect the local populace from their government. If that is our purpose in remaining in Iraq then sooner or later we're going to be caught between the two.
But the hard core reality is, if progress keeps happening from the grass roots up, The present “Iraqi Government” is going to be bypassed and made a laughingstock in even the eyes of their own “tribes”, if they don’t get off their “no” saying butts,and start making things work for the Iraqi people. They will “no do” themselves, right ourt of any power they think they have right now. New elections can send them right back where they came from, in disgrace.
I don't think that protecting the local populace from their government is why we will stay in Iraq. We'll be in Iraq because Iran is right next door. Iran is the THE PROBLEM in the Middle East and if we want to contain the spread of the "Religion of Peace" with it's death squads of Jihad-warriors then we are going to have to contain Iran. 50,000 troops and air bases in Iraq would be a good start. Pull them out of Europe where they are not needed and send them to Iraq.