Last week, President Obama ceremoniously announced that U.S. combat
operations had ended in Iraq. As Democrats face an uphill battle in
the upcoming midterm elections, Obama felt he had to make good on his
campaign promise to move the fighting from Iraq to Afghanistan. But
while he has escalated the killing in Afghanistan, it’s business as
usual in Iraq.

The United States, with its huge embassy in Baghdad and five large
bases throughout Iraq, will continue to pull the strings there. Last
week, Vice President Biden delivered a power-sharing plan to the
Iraqis, who have been unable to form a government in the six months
since the March election resulted in a stalemate. “We think that’s
better for the future of Iraq,” Biden declared. The New York Times
speculated about whether “the Americans can close the deal.” But the
United States will continue to do a lot more than simply make
suggestions about how Iraqis should share political power.

The timing of Obama’s announcement that combat troops are leaving Iraq
is based on the status of forces agreement (SOFA) the Bush
administration negotiated with the Iraqis in 2008. It calls for U.S.
combat troops to leave Iraq by August 31, 2010. The SOFA also requires
the Pentagon to withdraw all of its forces by the end of 2011, but
this date may be extended.