On Thu, 05 Feb 2009 07:44:12 -0500, Eisboch wrote:


My guess is that Petraeus and Gates feel Iraq's government is still too
fragile and more time is needed.
You can debate the reasons for being there, but we totally transformed
Iraq's politics.
It would be terrible to leave Iraq in chaos or to see lives lost in
vain.

It's my understanding that it took a year to hammer out the Status of
Forces agreement, mainly because the Iraqis wanted us out quicker than we
wanted to go. Petraeus and Gates have done a good job, but perhaps the
Iraqis also know something about Iraq.

So, there must
be good reason for them to advise against too early of a pull out in
Iraq.

Maybe just being conservative? I mean that in a good way. ;-)