Democrats are licking their lips over comments by the duly-elected Iraqi government regarding the withdrawal of international forces from the country. They see the call for a pull-out by 2011 as a sort-of victory for their side, as if the Iraqi government is vindicating their long-time demands.

Except that a gradual withdrawal after stability has not been the Democratic argument. Withdrawal regardless of stability has.

Democrats didn’t begin calling for our troops to begin coming home after stability has been accomplished due to massive improvements on the ground. They were calling for a retreat when we were arguably losing and the terrorists were gaining ground. Whether or not Iraq fell to our enemies wasn’t a concern of theirs.

Ed Morrissey has a perfect analogy:

It’s the difference between discussing withdrawal timetables from Europe in 1944 and 1946.

Indeed. Bush has long said he wanted to stay until stability is reached. By 2011, that will be the case. By March 2008, it wasn’t.