Good Riddance Iraq

The lead article in today’s New York Times, “Last U.S. Soldiers to Exit from Iraq in 2011, Obama Says,” represents a welcome break from past military adventurism as promoted by the Bush administration.

At a cost of 4,400 American lives, it’s time to finally cut our losses and leave well enough alone. The Iraqis must determine their own future, and we’ve done just about all we can for them. President Obama has finally fulfilled his campaign promise, largely responsible for his victory over Hillary Clinton, and given us more breathing space to focus on rebuilding at home.

Of course, 95,000 troops remain in Afghanistan, but with the increasing effectiveness of our drone technology — responsible for derailing Muammar Qaddafi’s motorcade as well — they are largely superfluous. As Vice President Biden has advocated, we need to focus more on counterterrorism than counterinsurgency.

The complete withdrawal comes as somewhat of a fluke, though. Military planners were negotiating with the Iraqis to keep a force of 3,000 to 5,000 troops in the country as a check against future violence. But the Pentagon, in its usual arrogant manner, insisted on immunity for those soldiers, so they wouldn’t be held to the law of the land, and the Iraqis refused. It was just one bridge too far for them to cross. So, all the troops will be home for the holidays.