Not likely, at least not quickly.

granted it's an exaggeration (hyperbole technically).

Dave Schuler:

Tlaloc, I think that “fueled by” is fair comment. IMO “only exists” is over-reaching a trifle.

Fair enough. Put it this way: The group that became AQI already existed before our invasion but they were nobodies. They had no clout, no power, no influence. Now they are somebodies because they can paint themselves as "the heroic resistance against foreign occupation." Take away that huge PR factor and they pretty quickly will go back to being nobodies. The Shia will hand them great steaming hunks of their own butts. The Sunni will make some common cause with them but only in those places where the SHia dominate (which we already covered). Where the Sunni dominate they will kill AQI themselves.

The only thing giving them any degree of power or latitude is our presence.

I think that focusing our attentions on what's in our national interests to pursue makes good sense and distinguishing what is from what isn't isn't completely obvious.

Tlaloc, I think that “fueled by” is fair comment. IMO “only exists” is over-reaching a trifle.

“When people say that they want to end the war in Iraq, I always want to ask them which war they mean.”

For that matter, whenever someone says they want to win the war in Iraq, we should also ask them which war they mean.

I mean it's not like five second after we pull out AQI will be lined up against a wall or anything...

Oh wait, no that's exactly what will happen.

Not likely, at least not quickly. So long as the Sunni groups are afraid of Shia government deathsquads, they will use AQI as a source of weapons, training, and people. So AQI won't be routed until the Sunni/Shia conflict is resolved. Of course, once that conflict is resolved, you will have Sunni vs. AQI and/or Sistani vs. Sadr conflicts. That's not even mentioning the problems we'll have with the Kurds and whomever comes out ahead in the Sunni/Shia conflict. Or the Kurds and Turkey for that matter.

Most likely that cause would be inadvertantly causing a war, or at least low-level conflict, between the U.S. and Turkey, emboldening religous elements there against the secular government.

An American family that lost a son or a daughter in the defense of free Kurdistan or in the struggle against AQM could console itself that the death was in a worthwhile cause.

Because dying to give the terrorist PKK a base of operations from which to destabilize Turkey and Iran is sooooo worthwhile.

Similarly dying to destroy a group that only exists due to our continued presence (AQI) is also worthwhile, I mean it's not like five second after we pull out AQI will be lined up against a wall or anything...

Oh wait, no that's exactly what will happen.

“When people say that they want to end the war in Iraq, I always want to ask them which war they mean.”

If Hitch would cut back on the gin, that double-vision thing would calm right down...