Retreating from Iraq

Cut and run is well underway.

First, let's begin with something directly from the White House's November strategy for winning in Iraq (their emphasis):

How will these efforts help the Iraqis -- with Coalition support -- defeat the enemy and achieve our larger goals?

The rebuilding of Iraq's infrastructure and the provision of essential services will increase the confidence of Iraqis in their government and help convince them that the government is offering them a brighter future. People will then be more likely to cooperate with the government, and provide intelligence against the enemy, creating a less hospitable environment for the terrorists and insurgents.

Efforts in the reconstruction realm have significant implications in the security realm when they focus on rebuilding post-conflict cities and towns. Compensation for civilians hurt by counterterrorism operations and the restoration of some economic vibrancy to areas formerly under terrorist control can help ease resentment and win over an otherwise suspicious population.

Today's Washington Post ledes with:

BAGHDAD -- The Bush administration does not intend to seek any new funds for Iraq reconstruction in the budget request going before Congress in February, officials say. The decision signals the winding down of an $18.4 billion U.S. rebuilding effort in which roughly half of the money was eaten away by the insurgency, a buildup of Iraq's criminal justice system and the investigation and trial of Saddam Hussein.

This may be the clearest sign yet that the Bush administration intends to leave but a skeleton force in Iraq. That force will probably be the highly technical and the highly trained -- bombers and special forces. This force would also work closely with the sectarian military and police formations of the Iraqi government, which could be a Shiite-Kurdish tyranny of the majority over the Sunnis.

This is how George Bush's Iraq war will end, with a bang and a whimper.