U.S. pullout of Iraq cities marked with Iraqis' celebration, fireworks

min0 lee · 06-30-2009, 08:05 AM

U.S. pullout of Iraq cities marked with Iraqis' celebration, fireworks

BAGHDAD - Iraqi forces assumed formal control of Baghdad and other cities Tuesday after American troops handed over security in urban areas in a defining step toward ending the U.S. combat role in the country.
A countdown clock broadcast on Iraqi TV ticked to zero as the Monday midnight deadline passed for U.S. combat troops to finish their pullback to bases outside cities.
"The withdrawal of American troops is completed now from all cities after everything they sacrificed for the sake of security," said Sadiq al-Rikabi, a senior adviser to Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. "We are now celebrating the restoration of sovereignty."
The Pentagon did not offer any comment to mark the passing of the deadline.
Fireworks, not bombings, colored the Baghdad skyline late Monday, and thousands attended a party in a park where singers performed patriotic songs. Loudspeakers at police stations and military checkpoints played recordings of similar tunes throughout the day, as Iraqi military vehicles decorated with flowers and national flags patrolled the capital.
"All of us are happy - Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds on this day," Waleed al-Bahadili said as he celebrated at the park. "The Americans harmed and insulted us too much."
Al-Maliki declared a public holiday and proclaimed June 30 as "National Sovereignty Day."
Midnight's handover to Iraqi forces filled many citizens with pride but also trepidation that government forces are not ready and that violence will rise. Shiites fear more bombings by Sunni militants; Sunnis fear that the Shiite-dominated Iraqi security forces will give them little protection.
If the Iraqis can hold down violence in the coming months, it will show the country is finally on the road to stability. If they fail, it will pose a challenge to President Barack Obama's pledge to end an unpopular war that has claimed the lives of more than 4,300 U.S. troops and tens of thousands of Iraqis.

U.S. pullout of Iraq cities marked with Iraqis' celebration, fireworks

min0 lee · 06-30-2009, 08:28 AM

Is it too early?

**Prince** · 06-30-2009, 08:45 AM

about fucking time we stop wasting our money and resources over there.

**IainDaniel** · 06-30-2009, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prince

about fucking time we stop wasting our money and resources over there.

Still 2 more years of that... at least.

**Prince** · 06-30-2009, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IainDaniel

Still 2 more years of that... at least.

I know, 2011, but at least we are going to start.

busyLivin · 06-30-2009, 09:16 AM

How about some appreciation from the Muslim world???

I won't hold my breath.

Thanks W for not letting us leave in defeat as Obama suggested.

busyLivin · 06-30-2009, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prince

about fucking time we stop wasting our money and resources over there.

absolutely.. liberating Iraqis & overthrowing a genocidal dictator..complete waste of money.

Now Obama can waste more money here.. if thats even possible.

**Dale Mabry** · 06-30-2009, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by busyLivin

How about some appreciation from the Muslim world???

I won't hold my breath.

Thanks W for not letting us leave in defeat as Obama suggested.

You have a better chance of seeing God than getting a thank you. But, how did W have anything to do with leaving in defeat or not? Wasn't the choice, at the end of the day, completely Obama's? I think an immediate pullout was a bad idea, but then again, I thought going there was a big mistake too. I am interested to see where Iraq will go over the next few years. What do you think will happen?

min0 lee · 06-30-2009, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by busyLivin

absolutely.. liberating Iraqis & overthrowing a genocidal dictator..complete waste of money.

Busy, getting rid of a maniac that we helped put in there is fine.....but he's not the only nut job out there.
To me N. Korea is a bigger threat.

busyLivin · 06-30-2009, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dale Mabry

You have a better chance of seeing God than getting a thank you. But, how did W have anything to do with leaving in defeat or not? Wasn't the choice, at the end of the day, completely Obama's? I think an immediate pullout was a bad idea, but then again, I thought going there was a big mistake too. I am interested to see where Iraq will go over the next few years. What do you think will happen?

Bush stuck to his guns in Iraq & got the job done in the face of all the objections. Obama just led the anti-war, leave now, the surge isn't working crowd & was wrong. Obama unfortunately will be looked on as the one that got us out of Iraq, when he had nothing to do with it. By the time Obama took office, the violence was way down & he had no really tough decision to make.

I have no idea what will happen in Iraq.

min0 lee · 06-30-2009, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by busyLivin

Thanks W for not letting us leave in defeat as Obama suggested.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dale Mabry

Wasn't the choice, at the end of the day, completely Obama's?

This is where the blame and appreciation game starts, the economy started to tank way before Obama was even in the picture yet it was his fault.
Now we don't know who to thank.

9-11 was during Bushes watch yet it was Clintons.
Reagan blamed Carter.
Reagonomics is the cause of our poor economy.
It's FDR and the new deal who screwed us today.

**IainDaniel** · 06-30-2009, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by busyLivin

I have no idea what will happen in Iraq.

Iran will attack and conquer Iraq cause there is no threat of a loony with WMDs to keep them at bay

min0 lee · 06-30-2009, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by busyLivin

I have no idea what will happen in Iraq.

I do.
It will be USA east....not.

Some crack pot dictator will take over, kill a religious group that he doesn't belong to, try to arm itself and fight against Iran.

busyLivin · 06-30-2009, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by min0 lee

Busy, getting rid of a maniac that we helped put in there is fine.....but he's not the only nut job out there.
To me N. Korea is a bigger threat.

Every intelligence agency in the world said Iraq had nukes. If they were right, Iraq was the bigger threat. Let's not start a WMD debate, but that's why we went there... we thought they were the bigger threat.

N. Korea could be stopped immediately if we weren't pussies.

Bush had no support to pick his nose, much less do anything to N. Korea, and Obama is weak, plain & simple. N. Korea knows it.

min0 lee · 06-30-2009, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IainDaniel

Iran will attack and conquer Iraq cause there is no threat of a loony with WMDs to keep them at bay

You thief!

busyLivin · 06-30-2009, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IainDaniel

Iran will attack and conquer Iraq cause there is no threat of a loony with WMDs to keep them at bay

If Obama allows it, which his record so far dictates that he will.

**Prince** · 06-30-2009, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by busyLivin

absolutely.. liberating Iraqis & overthrowing a genocidal dictator..complete waste of money.

you're right, we should invade every communist country and kill the leader, great idea.

busyLivin · 06-30-2009, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by min0 lee

This is where the blame and appreciation game starts, the economy started to tank way before Obama was even in the picture yet it was his fault.
Now we don't know who to thank.

9-11 was during Bushes watch yet it was Clintons.
Reagan blamed Carter.
Reagonomics is the cause of our poor economy.
It's FDR and the new deal who screwed us today.

I don't even hear Rush Limbaugh excusing W for the economy. Obama is just making it worse.

min0 lee · 06-30-2009, 09:38 AM

[quote=busyLivin;1909861]

Quote:

Every intelligence agency in the world said Iraq had nukes. If they were right, Iraq was the bigger threat. Let's not start a WMD debate, but that's why we went there... we thought they were the bigger threat.

Hussein claimed he didn't think the U.S. would invade Iraq over WMD; FBI agent says Hussein lied about having WMD to intimidate Iran
It's pretty interesting, he was actually more scared of Iran than the US. When you mean the world your not saying the UN right? They were against it.

Quote:

N. Korea could be stopped immediately if we weren't pussies.

Bush had no support to pick his nose, much less do anything to N. Korea, and Obama is weak, plain & simple. N. Korea knows it.

What do you expect, they really picked the wrong fight and like morons they quickly left the Presidents side....why support something so important and then bail out *cough* Hillary.

Biden was right when he said Obama will be tested....he should have kept that to himself.
I have seen Obama swat a fly dead, and let me tell he's a mean m***

min0 lee · 06-30-2009, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by busyLivin

If Obama allows it, which his record so far dictates that he will.

Like past Presidents have with other dictators.
It's easier said than done.

**Dale Mabry** · 06-30-2009, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by busyLivin

Bush stuck to his guns in Iraq & got the job done in the face of all the objections. Obama just led the anti-war, leave now, the surge isn't working crowd & was wrong. Obama unfortunately will be looked on as the one that got us out of Iraq, when he had nothing to do with it. By the time Obama took office, the violence was way down & he had no really tough decision to make.

I have no idea what will happen in Iraq.

IMO, Obama had nothing to do with Iraq, I would give credit to where we are to Bush, but I would also give him the blame. As for the economy, I don't blame Bush for that, it is the way business has been done for years, and it is the way business will be done going forward, which is why I believe we are in a lot worse of a situation than anyone realizes.

busyLivin · 06-30-2009, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by min0 lee

Like past Presidents have with other dictators.
It's easier said than done.

N. Korea is threatening to bomb us, nuke us & "wipe us off the earth", and we are allowing them to continue to build nukes & transport weapons.

Blow up his nuke facilities & board his ship... something, anything other that sit there with your thumb up your ass saying "please stop". Yes, Obama is being tested & he looks weak.

**Dale Mabry** · 06-30-2009, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by busyLivin

N. Korea is threatening to bomb us, nuke us & "wipe us off the earth", and we are allowing them to continue to build nukes & transport weapons.

Blow up his nuke facilities & board his ship... something, anything other that sit there with your thumb up your ass saying "please stop". Yes, Obama is being tested & he looks weak.

They were doing that 4 years ago.

**dg806** · 06-30-2009, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dale Mabry

I am interested to see where Iraq will go over the next few years. What do you think will happen?

Down the drain, and we will be right back in there.

min0 lee · 06-30-2009, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by busyLivin

N. Korea is threatening to bomb us, nuke us & "wipe us off the earth", and we are allowing them to continue to build nukes & transport weapons.

Blow up his nuke facilities & board his ship... something, anything other that sit there with your thumb up your ass saying "please stop". Yes, Obama is being tested & he looks weak.

Come on Busy, you know well we have been tested before.
We were in a war before this.

Bush welcomes North Korean move on nuclear program

Quote:

North Korea handed over its long-awaited nuclear program declaration to officials from China on Thursday.

His intelligence people were dumb.

busyLivin · 06-30-2009, 10:09 AM

The Troop Drawdown Could Be Costly for Iraq - WSJ.com

Today is a milestone in Iraq. Under the terms of the Strategic Framework Agreement, U.S. troops will withdraw from Iraqi cities. In retrospect, however, June 30 will likely mark another milestone: the end of the surge and the relative peace it brought to Iraq. In the past week, bombings in Baghdad, Mosul and near Kirkuk have killed almost 200 people. The worst is yet to come.

While the Strategic Framework Agreement was negotiated in the twilight of the Bush administration, President Barack Obama shaped the final deal. He campaigned on a time line to withdraw combat troops from Iraq, and his words impacted the negotiation.

Iraq has shown us time and again that military strength is the key to influence in other matters. Just look at the behavior of Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani, Iraq's most influential Shiite cleric.

Under Saddam, Mr. Sistani was an independent religious mind, but he was hardly a bold voice. Like so many other Iraqis, he stayed alive by remaining silent. Only after Saddam's fall did he speak up. Though he is today a world-famous figure, the New York Times made its first mention of the ayatollah on April 4, 2003, five days before the fall of Baghdad.

Mr. Sistani is as much of a threat to Iran as he was to Saddam. In November 2003, he contradicted Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei when asked what night the holy month of Ramadan would end, a determination made by sighting the moon. Mr. Sistani said Tuesday, Mr. Khamenei said Wednesday.

To the West, this might be trivial, but it sent shock waves through Iran. How could the supreme leader claim ultimate political and religious authority over not only the Islamic Republic but all Shiites and be contradicted?

Perhaps this is why Iran bolstered its support for militias. When I visited Najaf in January 2004, I saw dark-clad militiamen on the streets outside Mr. Sistani's house. Mr. Sistani quieted until the following year, when U.S. forces retook the city.

Militias are not simply reactions to sectarian violence, nor are they spontaneous creations. They are tools used by political leaders to impose through force what is not in hearts and minds.

Because of both ham-fisted postwar reconstruction and neighboring state interference, militia and insurgent violence soared from 2004 through 2006. The fight became as much psychological as military.

Iranian and insurgent media declared the United States to be a paper tiger lacking staying power. The Baker-Hamilton Commission report underscored such perceptions. Al-Jazeera broadcast congressional lamentations of defeat throughout the region. Iranian intelligence told Iraqi officials that they might like the Americans better, but Iran would always be their neighbor and they best make an accommodation. Al Qaeda sounded similar themes in al-Anbar.

Then came President Bush's announcement that he would augment the U.S. presence. The surge was as much a psychological strategy as it was a military one. It proved our adversaries' propaganda wrong. Violence dropped. Iraq received a new chance to emerge as a stable, secure democracy.

By telegraphing a desire to leave, Mr. Obama reverses the dynamic. In effect, his strategy is an anti-surge. Troop numbers are not the issue. It is the projection of weakness. Not only Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki but Iraqi President Jalal Talabani and Kurdish leader Massoud Barzani have also reached out to the Islamic Republic in recent weeks.

In Cairo, Mr. Obama said the U.S. had no permanent designs on Iraq and declared, "We will support a secure and united Iraq as a partner, and never as a patron." Indeed. But until the Iraqi government is strong enough to monopolize independently the use of force, a vacuum will exist and the most violent factions will fill it.

Power and prestige matter. Withdrawal from Iraq's cities is good politics in Washington, but when premature and done under fire it may very well condemn Iraqis to repeat their past.

**dg806** · 06-30-2009, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by min0 lee

Come on Busy, you know well we have been tested before.
We were in a war before this.

Bush welcomes North Korean move on nuclear program

His intelligence people were dumb.

So they lied all along.....they had nuclear capabilities at the time and did not reveal it. That is all the more reason not to trust them.

**Dale Mabry** · 06-30-2009, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dg806

Down the drain, and we will be right back in there.

I agree.

Quote:

Originally Posted by busyLivin

The Troop Drawdown Could Be Costly for Iraq - WSJ.com

Today is a milestone in Iraq. Under the terms of the Strategic Framework Agreement, U.S. troops will withdraw from Iraqi cities. In retrospect, however, June 30 will likely mark another milestone: the end of the surge and the relative peace it brought to Iraq. In the past week, bombings in Baghdad, Mosul and near Kirkuk have killed almost 200 people. The worst is yet to come.

While the Strategic Framework Agreement was negotiated in the twilight of the Bush administration, President Barack Obama shaped the final deal. He campaigned on a time line to withdraw combat troops from Iraq, and his words impacted the negotiation.

Iraq has shown us time and again that military strength is the key to influence in other matters. Just look at the behavior of Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani, Iraq's most influential Shiite cleric.

Under Saddam, Mr. Sistani was an independent religious mind, but he was hardly a bold voice. Like so many other Iraqis, he stayed alive by remaining silent. Only after Saddam's fall did he speak up. Though he is today a world-famous figure, the New York Times made its first mention of the ayatollah on April 4, 2003, five days before the fall of Baghdad.

Mr. Sistani is as much of a threat to Iran as he was to Saddam. In November 2003, he contradicted Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei when asked what night the holy month of Ramadan would end, a determination made by sighting the moon. Mr. Sistani said Tuesday, Mr. Khamenei said Wednesday.

To the West, this might be trivial, but it sent shock waves through Iran. How could the supreme leader claim ultimate political and religious authority over not only the Islamic Republic but all Shiites and be contradicted?

Perhaps this is why Iran bolstered its support for militias. When I visited Najaf in January 2004, I saw dark-clad militiamen on the streets outside Mr. Sistani's house. Mr. Sistani quieted until the following year, when U.S. forces retook the city.

Militias are not simply reactions to sectarian violence, nor are they spontaneous creations. They are tools used by political leaders to impose through force what is not in hearts and minds.

Because of both ham-fisted postwar reconstruction and neighboring state interference, militia and insurgent violence soared from 2004 through 2006. The fight became as much psychological as military.

Iranian and insurgent media declared the United States to be a paper tiger lacking staying power. The Baker-Hamilton Commission report underscored such perceptions. Al-Jazeera broadcast congressional lamentations of defeat throughout the region. Iranian intelligence told Iraqi officials that they might like the Americans better, but Iran would always be their neighbor and they best make an accommodation. Al Qaeda sounded similar themes in al-Anbar.

Then came President Bush's announcement that he would augment the U.S. presence. The surge was as much a psychological strategy as it was a military one. It proved our adversaries' propaganda wrong. Violence dropped. Iraq received a new chance to emerge as a stable, secure democracy.

By telegraphing a desire to leave, Mr. Obama reverses the dynamic. In effect, his strategy is an anti-surge. Troop numbers are not the issue. It is the projection of weakness. Not only Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki but Iraqi President Jalal Talabani and Kurdish leader Massoud Barzani have also reached out to the Islamic Republic in recent weeks.

In Cairo, Mr. Obama said the U.S. had no permanent designs on Iraq and declared, "We will support a secure and united Iraq as a partner, and never as a patron." Indeed. But until the Iraqi government is strong enough to monopolize independently the use of force, a vacuum will exist and the most violent factions will fill it.

Power and prestige matter. Withdrawal from Iraq's cities is good politics in Washington, but when premature and done under fire it may very well condemn Iraqis to repeat their past.

No matter when we withdraw, they will use propaganda to call it weakness. This doesn't matter if it happens today, or in 50 years.

min0 lee · 06-30-2009, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dg806

Down the drain, and we will be right back in there.

Go back....do we have to?

**Dale Mabry** · 06-30-2009, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by min0 lee

Go back....do we have to?

No, and unless they pony up some of that oil money, we better not.

06-30-2009, 08:05 AM	#1
min0 lee Senior Member Elite Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: The Bronx, NYC Posts: 38,735 Photos: 542	U.S. pullout of Iraq cities marked with Iraqis' celebration, fireworks U.S. pullout of Iraq cities marked with Iraqis' celebration, fireworks BAGHDAD - Iraqi forces assumed formal control of Baghdad and other cities Tuesday after American troops handed over security in urban areas in a defining step toward ending the U.S. combat role in the country. A countdown clock broadcast on Iraqi TV ticked to zero as the Monday midnight deadline passed for U.S. combat troops to finish their pullback to bases outside cities. "The withdrawal of American troops is completed now from all cities after everything they sacrificed for the sake of security," said Sadiq al-Rikabi, a senior adviser to Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. "We are now celebrating the restoration of sovereignty." The Pentagon did not offer any comment to mark the passing of the deadline. Fireworks, not bombings, colored the Baghdad skyline late Monday, and thousands attended a party in a park where singers performed patriotic songs. Loudspeakers at police stations and military checkpoints played recordings of similar tunes throughout the day, as Iraqi military vehicles decorated with flowers and national flags patrolled the capital. "All of us are happy - Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds on this day," Waleed al-Bahadili said as he celebrated at the park. "The Americans harmed and insulted us too much." Al-Maliki declared a public holiday and proclaimed June 30 as "National Sovereignty Day." Midnight's handover to Iraqi forces filled many citizens with pride but also trepidation that government forces are not ready and that violence will rise. Shiites fear more bombings by Sunni militants; Sunnis fear that the Shiite-dominated Iraqi security forces will give them little protection. If the Iraqis can hold down violence in the coming months, it will show the country is finally on the road to stability. If they fail, it will pose a challenge to President Barack Obama's pledge to end an unpopular war that has claimed the lives of more than 4,300 U.S. troops and tens of thousands of Iraqis. U.S. pullout of Iraq cities marked with Iraqis' celebration, fireworks How To Do The Perfect Bench Press Rep Bodybuilding and Lifting Weights, the Difference ironmagazine-frapper

06-30-2009, 08:28 AM	#2
min0 lee Senior Member Elite Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: The Bronx, NYC Posts: 38,735 Photos: 542	Is it too early? How To Do The Perfect Bench Press Rep Bodybuilding and Lifting Weights, the Difference ironmagazine-frapper

06-30-2009, 08:45 AM	#3
Prince IronMagLabs Owner Administrator Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Colorado Posts: 37,274 Photos: 356	about fucking time we stop wasting our money and resources over there. IronMagLabs 1-ANDRO Rx Pro-Hormone - BUY 2 GET 1 FREE SPECIAL! BOARD SPONSORS: MassNutrition.com - Discount Supplement Superstore AlltheWhey.com - Bulk Protein Powders CEMProducts.com - Research Chemicals & Supplements MusclesProd.com - Steroids, Bodybuilding, Fitness & Training Blog. Maximizer.com - Maximizer Strength for Maximum Performance Befriend on Myspace Follow on Twitter

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06-30-2009, 09:16 AM	#6
busyLivin Senior Member Elite Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Chicago Posts: 4,333	How about some appreciation from the Muslim world??? I won't hold my breath. Thanks W for not letting us leave in defeat as Obama suggested.

06-30-2009, 10:09 AM	#26
busyLivin Senior Member Elite Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Chicago Posts: 4,333	The Troop Drawdown Could Be Costly for Iraq - WSJ.com Today is a milestone in Iraq. Under the terms of the Strategic Framework Agreement, U.S. troops will withdraw from Iraqi cities. In retrospect, however, June 30 will likely mark another milestone: the end of the surge and the relative peace it brought to Iraq. In the past week, bombings in Baghdad, Mosul and near Kirkuk have killed almost 200 people. The worst is yet to come. While the Strategic Framework Agreement was negotiated in the twilight of the Bush administration, President Barack Obama shaped the final deal. He campaigned on a time line to withdraw combat troops from Iraq, and his words impacted the negotiation. Iraq has shown us time and again that military strength is the key to influence in other matters. Just look at the behavior of Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani, Iraq's most influential Shiite cleric. Under Saddam, Mr. Sistani was an independent religious mind, but he was hardly a bold voice. Like so many other Iraqis, he stayed alive by remaining silent. Only after Saddam's fall did he speak up. Though he is today a world-famous figure, the New York Times made its first mention of the ayatollah on April 4, 2003, five days before the fall of Baghdad. Mr. Sistani is as much of a threat to Iran as he was to Saddam. In November 2003, he contradicted Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei when asked what night the holy month of Ramadan would end, a determination made by sighting the moon. Mr. Sistani said Tuesday, Mr. Khamenei said Wednesday. To the West, this might be trivial, but it sent shock waves through Iran. How could the supreme leader claim ultimate political and religious authority over not only the Islamic Republic but all Shiites and be contradicted? Perhaps this is why Iran bolstered its support for militias. When I visited Najaf in January 2004, I saw dark-clad militiamen on the streets outside Mr. Sistani's house. Mr. Sistani quieted until the following year, when U.S. forces retook the city. Militias are not simply reactions to sectarian violence, nor are they spontaneous creations. They are tools used by political leaders to impose through force what is not in hearts and minds. Because of both ham-fisted postwar reconstruction and neighboring state interference, militia and insurgent violence soared from 2004 through 2006. The fight became as much psychological as military. Iranian and insurgent media declared the United States to be a paper tiger lacking staying power. The Baker-Hamilton Commission report underscored such perceptions. Al-Jazeera broadcast congressional lamentations of defeat throughout the region. Iranian intelligence told Iraqi officials that they might like the Americans better, but Iran would always be their neighbor and they best make an accommodation. Al Qaeda sounded similar themes in al-Anbar. Then came President Bush's announcement that he would augment the U.S. presence. The surge was as much a psychological strategy as it was a military one. It proved our adversaries' propaganda wrong. Violence dropped. Iraq received a new chance to emerge as a stable, secure democracy. By telegraphing a desire to leave, Mr. Obama reverses the dynamic. In effect, his strategy is an anti-surge. Troop numbers are not the issue. It is the projection of weakness. Not only Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki but Iraqi President Jalal Talabani and Kurdish leader Massoud Barzani have also reached out to the Islamic Republic in recent weeks. In Cairo, Mr. Obama said the U.S. had no permanent designs on Iraq and declared, "We will support a secure and united Iraq as a partner, and never as a patron." Indeed. But until the Iraqi government is strong enough to monopolize independently the use of force, a vacuum will exist and the most violent factions will fill it. Power and prestige matter. Withdrawal from Iraq's cities is good politics in Washington, but when premature and done under fire it may very well condemn Iraqis to repeat their past.