Iraq momentum "not reversible"

USA Today:

Security in Iraq continues to improve even after the withdrawal of nearly 25% of U.S. combat brigades, increasing the prospects of further cuts in American forces.

Although U.S. commanders are cautious about predicting further withdrawals, interviews with military experts and recent official statements indicate growing optimism about the potential to pull out more forces.

"I believe the momentum we have is not reversible," said Jack Keane, a retired Army vice chief of staff who helped develop the Iraq strategy adopted by President Bush in January 2007.

There will be "significant reductions in 2009 whoever becomes president," said Keane, who regularly consults with Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq.

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki echoed Keane's optimism Saturday by declaring that "we defeated" the terrorists in Iraq. U.S. commanders remain cautious.

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The average number of weekly attacks in Iraq has dropped to 200, an 80% reduction since June 2007, according to Multi-National Corps — Iraq. U.S. and Iraqi casualties have also dropped significantly.

The State Department said in a recent report that Iraq has met 15 of 18 congressional benchmarks designed to measure progress in Iraq.

The improved effectiveness of Iraq's security forces will make it easier to withdraw U.S. troops, said California Rep. Duncan Hunter, the top Republican on the House Armed Services Committee.

"I think it might surprise some people how fast we can come out of Iraq as the Iraqi army matures," Hunter said. "I think we passed the tipping point as far as the Iraqi army maturing."

The Iraqi army still needs to develop its logistics capacity. It could be that the forces left behind will be "in the rear with the gear." There will also still need to be trainers and advisers.

With the success of the surge and the counterinsurgency strategy there will be some disappointment among Democrats that they could not impose a loss in Iraq, but they will never be honest enough to admit they were wrong or what the strategic consequences would have been had we accepted their bad policy positions on Iraq.

President Bush is unlikely to call them on their desperation for defeat, but Republicans should nver let voters forget it.