Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani, the most influential Shi'a leader in Iraq, and long thought to be a silent partner of the U.S.

Who considers him a silent partner? Nobody. Unless you mean partner by simply not speaking out against the US.

It's also been clear since April that Sistani will not accept a long term military troop prescence in Iraq. Anyone who knows anything about Iraq knows this means that there will not be large US military bases in Iraq.

Why does the Iraqi leadership "want the terrorists to win"?

Why does the Iraqi leadership "want the terrorists to win"?

I think the appearance of such a desire is merely an artifact of the U.S. government's careless use of the word "terrorist".

The Shi'ites are well in control, and are well supported by Iran, so it's time for us to get out and leave the oil control of the Mideast for the foreseeable future to them.

Mission accomplished.

The Shi'ites are well in control, and are well supported by Iran, so it's time for us to get out and leave the oil control of the Mideast for the foreseeable future to them.

That's something our alleged commander-in-chief should have considered before he invaded Iraq. Instead, the arrogant fool ignored everyone who wasn't saying what he wanted to hear, and now we have the present predicament.

Is it any kind of shock that as the situation on the ground begins to become slightly more stable that the powers that be in Iraq would like us all to kindly head home?

What I find reassuring in this is that rather than being smart, and declaring victory, and saying the surge worked let's go home, McCain & Bush are still pushing the 100 years war?

WTF? Not that I'm not glad they're taking such a bad political stance, but peace with honnor was just handed to you and you don't sop it up with a biscuit?

Well it just makes Barrak look that much better when he takes office in January and gets to declare victory in a happy ceremony on the deck of some carrier with the primeinster of Iraq thanking him for liberating his nation.

Sure they'll be some problems after we leave, but let's face it it's the middle east, if there weren't a few suicide bombers running around you might actually forget where you were.

If Isreal can survive and even thrive with 50 years of not no violence, so can Iraq, and it's about time we gave them the space to start building their national story on their own.

Fun Fact on Iran.

They aren't arabs, they are persians.

What does that mean?

It means that when a bunch of Americans are busteling around the store and breaking stuff, Iraq and Irand might band together as Shia against the crusaders, but after we leave, the age old cultural differnces that seperated the two in the first place will likely raise their head.

Remember it was fear of Iran that allowed Sadam to seize and hold power in the first place. While we're there we force an alliance against us by these two. Once we leave, Iraq will not likely trade an American Master for a Persian one, and will likely unite against this new commone enemy.

Re: "It means that when a bunch of Americans are busteling around the store and breaking stuff, Iraq and Irand might band together as Shia against the crusaders, but after we leave, the age old cultural differnces that seperated the two in the first place will likely raise their head."

Very true.

However, as long as the US maintains its 100-year presence, the Christian Crusaders will keep the Shia allied against us.

They want to be the region's fourth superpower. First the Ottomans, then the Brits, then US, then Iran. They want control over Iraq the same way that they extend control over Lebanon through Hezbollah and over Syria similarly. The Saudis and Gulf states are very unhappy about that but they're too busy building solid gold 3,000 ft tall hotels. Don't worry Salon, 2012 the latest Iran will achieve political and military supremacy over the whole region and begin to officially spread their Islamic Revolution into neighboring states and the Caucuses. They'd like to see permanent anarchy in Afghanistan so that will remain untouched. But the Jordanian Saudis and Syrian Alawites are finished as are the Kurds. Lebanon will cease to be a single organized political entity around 2013. Iran will see that it is cut up and shared among the Syrian army, who needs it for revenue, and Hezbollah which is looking to create their own quasi-state.

ITYS! How about 193 days, Mr. Maliki? It would suit me, that's for sure!