re: And when it's time to leave
The Americans will leave the country in the same way as the Soviets left Afghanistan: with the Iraqi guerrillas jeering at them.
Not true. Everyone in Afghanistan wanted the Soviets to leave. When we leave Iraq, we will leave a small group of guerillas facing twenty million Iraqis who do NOT want to see them back in power, and a few hundred thousand Iraqi troops who will enforce that.
Even if the Islamic Republic were overthrown, the new government in Tehran would surely follow the same nationalist line as its predecessor. A nuclear Iran would most likely be followed by a nuclear Turkey. Next would come a nuclear Greece, a nuclear Saudi Arabia and a nuclear Egypt. Welcome to the Brave New World, Mr. Bush.
And if America had stayed home, and ignored the Middle East, the outcome would be different exactly how? It should be noted that Iran's nuclear program long precedes Bush. In fact, nobody has started a brand new nuclear program since Bush became president.
And of course, for the writer of the article, the most horrible possible outcome might occur: Iraq could become a free nation, followed by others in the Middle East.