"Petraeus said the health of U.S. ground forces was a "major strategic consideration" in his recommendation and will continue to be a factor in his assessments. The Bush administration is expected to announce this week that combat tours will be reduced from the current 15 months to 12 months, regardless of the 45-day pause in troop withdrawals."

In other words, al-Qaeda and al-Sadr have fought the US military under George Bush as CinC to a standstill, a draw. The US has no more forces to commit and worn out the forces we have, the people and the materiel. Even the level of violence is dependent upon al-Sadr. He can jerk the US chain at will. It was genius pitted against folly - fly our own planes into our own buildings and cost the US $3 trillion, and that's ignoring the human costs. Has to be the most successful, cost-effective military operation in history.

A disgrace to the individuals who have volunteered their time and lives in the cause of freedom and democracy. It looks a lot like betrayal.

Arf