US could withdraw up to 50,000 troops

[GAsux]

Yeah. I liked it better when it was called "Vietnamization". Since that plan worked so well, I'm 110% sure that this will as well. IMO if you remove 50,000 by years end, it will only further imperil the 100,000 or so left, and increase the opportunity for insurgents.

bin Laden and the Al Qaeda types are well versed. Not to say that the insurgency is entirely bin laden driven, but with success in Somalia and Spain, they've come to believe that even with limited resources, if they just keep slowly bleeding the life out of the U.S., they'll eventually grow tired and leave.

The jihadists did it to the Soviets in Afghanistan and they intend to do it again to the U.S. in Iraq.

I don't see there being any easy answer at this point. Stay and bleed to death or pull out concede the largest victory every awarded the jihadists. Pretty lose-lose if you ask me.