Iraq: After American Soldiers Are Gone

Republican candidates are roasting President Obama for leaving Iraq too soon, but it was George W. Bush who negotiated withdrawal by the end of this year. Out of 170,000 US troops that have been to Iraq in the past nine years, 4500 Americans died and 32,000 were wounded. In three weeks, the 6000 that are left will be gone too. The dollar cost was $823 billion. Tomorrow, at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, the President will give thanks for the sacrifices that have been made for what he once called "a dumb war." Have both administrations been more concerned about domestic politics than policy in the Middle East? Did the deaths of 100,000 Iraqi civilians mean US troops had to go? Can Iraq's armed forces keep the peace? Is Prime Minister Maliki another strong man?