Last night President Obama formally announced the withdrawal of all combat troops from Iraq, bringing that sorry adventure closer its end, whatever that may be. Perhaps the fledgling Democracy, against formidable odds, will take root and flourish. Perhaps not. Al Qaeda and other disaffected parties may well be able to undermine the struggling government and an unproven army, bringing a new era of chaos and terror to an already traumatized people. There’s no point in rehashing the strategic errors, deranged assumptions and questionable motives that led George W. Bush to commit this country to the long, agonizing, expensive struggle. We can only hope that somehow, someday, the Mission Accomplished banner will fly without irony over a free and democratic Iraq.

Topics: cartoon, combat troops, Iraq, Mission Accomplished, Obama, opinion, withdrawal