All Aboard

The generals have a new plan for Iraq: US is seen in Iraq until at least ’09 (NYT).

The gist is that troops will remain in Iraq through 2009. The report does not guarantee success or troop withdrawals before that time. The basic assumption is that the warring factions in Iraq will accommodate a political solution during that time.

This is no big surprise if that really is what is in the plan. It sounds like a long shot gamble.

President Bush probably finds it reassuring. He conveniently is not running for election in 2008.

The question is what the Republicans running for Congress will actively support and publicly admit. How many will jump on the train? The train most likely will leave the station at less than full capacity.