Published: July 03, 2009 07:20 am      

Other View: The beginning of the end

The withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq's cities ... was the beginning of an end scheduled to be completed by 2012, when all American forces must leave that country.

It's hard to see that happening now, with the situation tenuous. ... But it will have to get a lot worse to alter the timeline for withdrawal. The American public is ready to quit Iraq, and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki wants to prove he's his own man before facing an election. ...

The Iraq/Iran relationship must keep President Obama focused on achieving a regional solution to the area's volatility. Iran President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad lashed out at Obama for criticizing the fraud in Iran's recent presidential elections. But Obama shouldn't give up on someday finding a way to gather the region's nations for a conference.

Meanwhile, Americans will be hoping as much as the Iraqis that U.S. troops won't have to be invited back ...

Philadelphia Inquirer