Noticeably absent from his comments was any assertion that defeating the insurgency is one of the conditions for an American withdrawal.

In Rumsfeld's view, shared by top U.S. commanders in Iraq, it must be left to the Iraqis to overcome the insurgency. Likewise, the Iraqis must be prodded to take the lead in other areas of their struggle to rebuild.

It's interesting that just before reports that approval of the War in Iraq have dropped to around 38% we see more solid plans for withdrawing from Iraq. Rumsfeld has previously stated we would likely be in Iraq until 2009, but now it could be sooner. Here's the kicker, if we stay in Iraq the media will condemn it. If we leave, they'll blame the President again. I don't envy that job, it's a lose/lose situation.

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