On 9/5/14 8:36 AM, Mr. Luddite wrote:

“I know some in Washington would like us to start leaving Iraq now. To
begin withdrawing before our commanders tell us we are ready would be
dangerous for Iraq, for the region, and for the United States. It would
mean surrendering the future of Iraq to al Qaeda. It would mean that
we’d be risking mass killings on a horrific scale. It would mean we’d
allow the terrorists to establish a safe haven in Iraq to replace the
one they lost in Afghanistan. It would mean increasing the probability
that American troops would have to return at some later date to confront
an enemy that is even more dangerous.”

George W. Bush - July 12, 2007


If you leave it entirely up to "commanders," we'd never leave anywhere,
because overseas deployments mean billets for officers and continued
military employment.