Andrew Exum asks what the neocons outraged by the upcoming Iraq withdrawal would have done differently:
Iraq is a sovereign nation, right? By our design, right? Well, if you are going to bust the Obama Administration's chops for not staying in Iraq, you then have to explain to me how we were supposed to stay in Iraq over the objections of the Iraqis themselves. My stance on staying in Iraq has always been that it was worth discussing — so long as Iraq's leaders were willing to explain our continued presence in Iraq, in Arabic, to their constituents on live television. Anything else would be perceived as a continued occupation, exposing remaining U.S. troops to continued violent attacks.
They were waiting and hoping for a Dolchstoss moment. He deprived them of it. This is their pathetic pale echo of the old party line.
The Dish 