At least this way there will be a transition period, it won't be cold turkey.

There will be violence, though. Al-Quaeda will want to take credit for forcing us out, but they really want us to stay as long as possible. It gives them an excuse to recruit more fighters, make propaganda points, kill Americans, and avoid getting overwhelmed by the Shiite majority. The last thing they really want is for us to leave. The Shia will be happy to be free of American restraint, and be free to oppress the Sunnis and the Kurds.

Hopefully, American forces in desert bases will provide some time for things to settle down and prevent genocide. The question is, do the Iraqis want us to leave? Even the ones who don't reflexively hate us? The answer is yes. We need to go home.