Like This is a Surprise; Surge Edition

Troop levels will not be reduced below pre-Surge levels once the additional forces go home.

All those who are surprised by this news, please clap.

[sound of crickets.]

That this was going to happen has been clear for months and months, now. The "if we send a lot more troops now, we can reduce them after the Surge ends" rationalization has always been just that: a rationalization. There has been no meaningful reconciliation between the parties in Iraq, the "Anbar Awakening" has been based on our Army paying the insurgents not to kill our soldiers.

The whole "rah, rah, go team, go war" platform has been set upon a house of cards and the foundation is set in quicksand. It may all work out in the end, but if you had to bet the farm on it, you'd be a damned fool to do so.