Act IV, Scene 1

Petraeus' recitation contained few surprises and little drama, beyond the question of "Who sabotaged the mikes?" The Bushite Scourge will be over by next summer; no plans to go much beyond that during the current administration. Funding commensurate with these planned troop levels will be forthcoming and an approved Congressional resolution to change the timetable from Petraeus' recommendation will not.

The one thing that I heard that was most disappointing is that Iraq's government does plan to authorize "the Coalition" to stay through 2008. That is the one source of potential influence it may have (demanding the withdrawal of foreign forces, or posing a threat to do so), but they don't intend to use it. Worse, I think there will be an agreement for long-term basing of U.S. forces there. To me, that's the equivalent of the government's suicide statement. In Act IV, Iraq will once again be portrayed by a puppet.

What I am most interested in hearing at this point, without giving away too much "freedom of action", is what the Democratic candidates for President will plan to do with the situation that they can clearly anticipate they would inherit:
o) 50-75,000 U.S. troops in Iraq;
o) Ground forces staying mostly in their bases and the Green Zone;
o) Sufficient air resources to take any action needed in the theater;
o) A desperately bad situation in Pakistan and Afghanistan;
o) The Army and Reserve totally depleted, and consistently falling short of recruitment targets;
o) Ethnic cleansing pretty much complete in Iraq; and
o) No political progress.

For that matter, what the Republican candidates would do in that situation, too--maybe they'll have some sort of idea. I doubt it, though.