I don't agree with your two possibilities Ed. What we have here is a candid opinion piece based on the observations of some good soldiers and NCOs. It is a good look at what's been going on in the 82nd's area of operations. Whether or not that can be generalized to the rest of Iraq is another question. I can point you toward the blogs of other grunts on the ground in Iraq who think that things are getting better. Again, they are giving their candid opinions about matters in their own unit's area of operations.

I do think your last sentence (not counting the zinger) is accurate. We'll probably end up keeping some US presence in Iraq for decades to come. I just hope it can be brought way down to something around 20,000 logistics troops, with the tip of the spear being made up of troops from other Gulf states.