Marc Lynch reads the tea leaves on the eve of the American pull back in Iraq:
I don't actually think it's that big a deal. American forces have been drawing down in line with the Status of Forces Agreement expectations for months now — it's not like tomorrow all of the Americans will suddenly click the heels of their ruby slippers and vanish in a puff of smoke. Tomorrow's deadline is far more important symbolically than practically. And here, the Obama administration and General Odierno's team deserve a lot of credit for their careful, rigorous, and publicly affirmed adherence to the agreement.
His whole post is worth a read.
–PA
The Dish 