Shhh ... Here's how to get out of Iraq

The prize in Iraq is being able to brag that was able to kick the US out. This neighborhood is not kind to benign governments. The present government will never survive unless it is able to demonstrate strength against the occupiers.

So... its time for the US to take one for the team. What needs to be done is a bit of secret collusion with the Iraqi government to stage a way for that government to tell the US to leave, and that Iraqis will take care of Iraq. It needs to be a big production, full of indignation and resolve.

Remember Vietnamization? We attempted to do in Vietnam what are are suggesting in Iraq. But despite all of our efforts, the South Vietnam government could not produce the political juice of what it would take to survive.

If the US decides to leave (even if things appear to be stable), this government will fall, and the country will become a haven for terrorists. If the US is told to leave by the elected government, it may be possible for that government to generate enough enthusiasm to sustain it. It won't be pretty, and Iraq will have to slog it out for a while, but we may get a decent result from all of this grief. They should even have a national holiday for the day when the occupiers left.

But don't tell anyone!