For what it's worth, and I hate to disappoint DU, the presidential candidate who can articulate the

[jerryme1]

following will likely win the 2008 election:

1. The U.S. will not abandon Iraq (the idea that the U.S. will immediately remove all troops from Iraq is unrealistic)

2. However,the U.S. will significantly reduce the number of troops in Iraq.

3. Remaining U.S. troops will be pulled back to Iraq's borders to prevent al qaeda from entering the country (remember to always cite al qaeda).

4. Remaining U.S. troops will no longer be patrolling Iraqi streets. But instead will be used to train Iraqi forces and to quelch al qaeda in Iraq.

I don't mean to sound smug, but this is the way it is likley to play out unless the Iraqi government asks the U.S. to leave beforehand. Any ideas? Thoughts?