gbaikie said:

"I don't think an immediate termination if you are speaking of within one or two years is likely- because we just spend a considerable amount tax payer funds getting the Shuttle ready to fly"

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No, I said: "...plus we have the commitment having to do with ISS [involving various nations]."

If ISS falls from the sky, the Shuttle is gone. The Shuttle's only hope is tied to it's usefulness regarding ISS. And the Shuttle program will end before the ISS program ends. If ISS ends abruptly for whatever reason, the Shuttle at most would have 2-3 flights before being sent to a museum- but more likely have no flights. Or if ISS expands into a mega complex and lasts for centuries, the Shuttle will still be terminated by around 2010.
With only about 5 years left, the Shuttle program is basically already done, it's in the "extended mission" stage at this point. Ironically, I think in the next 5 years, the Shuttle will probably do some really significant things [it will probably shine gloriously] but this isn't intended nor will it extend it's duration beyond 2010. I think one of the reasons for this is that the Shuttle program will shed it's deadwood, and only those the really love this bird will stick it out to the end.