Iraqis want us out of their country (and how Bush will spin it)

How would you feel if foreign military forces invaded your country, bombed it to bits, and stuck around for years further destroying property and harming innocent people? Your infrastructure has been destroyed, and you have very little security, electricity, or clean water. How would you feel? You'd want the invaders to leave, right?

Well, that's how the Iraqis feel about us. We've done enough damage there.

Today the British newspaper The Independent reports:

Senior Iraqi officials want a major reduction of the US military footprint in Iraq as soon as the UN Security Council mandate approving their presence expires at the end of the year. Iraqi officials also want US forces confined to barracks unless the Iraqis ask for their assistance. Emboldened by recent successes by Iraqi security forces, many officials want the US troops to leave altogether.

Now here's the rub:

President Bush, who is on a farewell tour of Europe, wants a new agreement sealed by the end of next month so he can declare a military victory in Iraq and say his 2003 invasion has been vindicated before he leaves office.

I should have seen it coming.