With slightly more dignity than we exited Vietnam via helicopter from the roof of the US embassy in Saigon, the US officially declared Victory and left Iraq.  Well, in part.  This week the 4th Stryker Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division,  was the final U.S. combat brigade to be pulled out of the country, fulfilling the Obama administration's pledge to end the U.S. combat mission by the end of August. But about 50 thousand U.S. troops will remain in Iraq, mainly as a “training force”.   "Operation Iraqi Freedom ends on your watch!" exclaimed Col. John Norris, the head of the brigade.  "Hooah!" the soldiers roared.  Look out Iran:  Here we come!

In the end, it's always the resources roiling under the rhetoric that are at the wheel...