Teribus--

Perhaps, like Mr. McCain, you don't understand the difference between Sunni and Shiite.

From the WSJ today: "Tens of thousands of Iraqis rallied against a proposal to keep US troops in Iraq after the UN mandate expires."

These protesters appear to be followers of al-Sadr. So tell me, how many are al-Qaeda?

Face it--if "kudos" are to be shared for driving the US "prematurely" from Iraq, al-Qaeda, which is nominally Sunni, will have to share them with this group--which is Shiite.

And as for your theory that because the majority of Islam is Sunni, they will make common cause with al-Qaeda: how popular is al-Qaeda with the Saudi regime? With the Egyptian regime? Etc.

Sounds like you still need to make that trip to your local library. After researching how propaganda works, you can study up on Islam. Then perhaps you'll start to make sense.

The situation in Iraq is not just a rivalry between Sunni and Shiite--perhaps you're unaware. In fact al-Qaeda has been relegated to the status of a bit player. Why? Because of the way they treat their fellow Moslems, trying to enforce their brand of Islamic Puritanism, as I said earlier. Do you need graphic examples?

As a result, they are hated throughout the Islamic world--and there is no chance they can take over in Iraq. Your scenario therefore fails to even start to meet the plausibility test.

Therefore there is no reason for US combat troops to remain--as potential targets--in "rump Iraq".

And you have given no good reason why they should.

Nice try.   

But you still need an actually plausible scenario.