History will place the Iraq attack by Americans in perspective

“No senior Iraqi government officials showed up for the event, though the name tags attached to two chairs in the front row indicated American hopes that they might. One was labeled for Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, the other for President Jalal Talabani.

The only prominent Iraqis to attend were a former defense minister and three generals who have worked closely alongside U.S. forces and have often expressed hopes that they will remain.

It was a reminder that for all the declarations of progress, the troops are leaving now primarily because most Iraqis wanted them to go, despite the massive uncertainties lingering over the capabilities of the Iraqi security forces and over the country’s still precarious political balance.”