This NYT article has some very interesting background: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/22/world/middleeast/united-states-and-iraq-had-not-expected-troops-would-

This NYT article has some very interesting background: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/22/world/middleeast/united-states-and-iraq-had-not-expected-troops-would-have-to-leave.html?rref=collection%2Ftimestopic%2FStatus%20of%20Forces%20Agreement http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/22/world/middleeast/united-st... After reading the article and learning some of the intricacies I really don't feel ready to blame anyone in particular. It seems to be a "system outcome" of the interactions and the (local) conditions. Let's not forget a lot of Irakis wanted the US to leave, fully and completely: > Possibilities being discussed are for some troops to return in 2012, an option preferred by some Iraqi politicians who want to claim credit for ending what many here still call an occupation,... That "some" is about the politicians, the mood in the streets wasn't just "some" people who wanted all foreign soldiers to leave, if I remember anything from the news we heard at that time.