US 'must suspend' Iraq withdrawal

Who says the US is still stuck in Iraq with no end in sight? This man:

The top US military leader in Iraq Gen David Petraeus has recommended a suspension of troop withdrawals after July to protect gains in Iraq.

Gen Petraeus praised "significant" but "uneven" improvements in security and said troop levels would need a period of evaluation in the summer.

Petraeus even admitted that two insurgent groups the war-bloggers claim have been defeated, the Shiite militias, and al-Qaeda in Iraq, still have the capability of resisting both the US and the feeble Iraqi puppet government. And who was the winner, and who was the loser in the recent show-down between the Iraq government and the Shiite militias? Petraeus didn't even hesitate:

Mr Levin also asked Gen Petraeus whether the recent Iraqi-led operation against militias in Basra was adequately prepared.

Gen Petraeus admitted that this was not the case.

Iraq sent thousands of troops to Basra in a failed attempt to force the Shia Mehdi Army militia into submission. Hundreds died in heavy fighting.

Nevermind, responded Insane McCain. The deaths of an additional 500 Americans in Bush's surge means "there was now a genuine chance of success in Iraq."

A chance?

Then McCain added:

"Our allies, Arab countries, the UN and the Iraqis themselves will not step up to their responsibilities if we recklessly retreat," he said.

And what will the cost be if we recklessly remain?