Via
The Next Hurrah:
UK, US to withdraw Iraq forces by early '07:
[Link] The United States and Britain are planning to pull all their troops out of Iraq by the spring of 2007, two British newspapers reported in their Sunday editions, quoting unnamed senior defense ministry sources.
The Sunday Telegraph said the planned pull-out followed an acceptance by the two governments that the presence of foreign troops in Iraq was now a large obstacle to securing peace.
Hard to say if this is accurate. But a complete bail out a year from now--a full blown cut and run stampede as opposed to a facade draw down timed for the upcoming midterms this November--is consistent with what several military experts on various cable news channels have opined for some time now; that the US can't sustain the troop levels and mix of specialties in Iraq for much longer. Not without a significant change in recruiting numbers or military commitments elsewhere. Or a draft.
Two observations if this does play out: 1) Murtha was right, 2) The Republicans Lost the War. Remember that last point when the GOP/Rove machine cranks up to blame the ensuing chaos in Iraq on Democrats or administration critics. It really says it all.
And of course, if Iraq is the central front in the War on 'Terra' as the brigades of chicken hawks and legions of screaming harpies have been howling for three years now, then the Republicans Lost the War on Terror. Hopefully, future progressive and moderate candidates won't be afraid to say it that bluntly.