War,  is a constant.  Peace,  an illusion created by wishful thinking utopians who design the world as they wish it was;  surely, not as it is or has ever been. History has documented: The people of the world are not rational; sensibility is often trounced by stupid actions; nation states are dedicated to the furthermost safeguard of their perceived interest; the only tangible of relevance is power.  Either a nation state is the most powerful or it is less than the most powerful.  If one is less than the most powerful, one is dependant on the power of the most powerful for its people’s sovereignty or one is fearful of the most powerful for its people’s survival.  If a nation state decides or the circumstances of history dictate that it (as in the United States) is going to be and maintain a position as the most powerful nation on earth; that nation must be prepared to pay for that position with blood and treasury. 

America has many enemies; within the Middle East two nations are particularly hateful to American interest:  Syria and Iran.  In the geographic middle, distanced between our most strident enemies is Iraq; a country strategically positioned in case a military retaliation or a first strike is required in Syria or Iran.  Why in the name of sensibility (as long as the threat exists) would America ever want to leave Iraq?  The World Wide distribution of American armed forces are essential to world order and Iraq is surely of prime pointed inclusion of such a deployment of forces.