An interesting moment in last night's debate (see question 18) was the seemingly authoritative response by Hillary and Biden to Richardson's claim he'd have all the troops out of Iraq in 6 months. Clinton said it simply cannot be done so quickly, citing brigade-by-brigade draw-down schedules, and Biden said a complete and rapid pullout would doom thousands of civilians left in the Green Zone.

Anyway, none of those folks is in charge, and the current plan "foresees a significant American role for the next two years," according the NYT.

"Sustainable security" is to be established on a nationwide basis by the summer of 2009, according to American officials familiar with the document.

The detailed document, known as the Joint Campaign Plan, is an elaboration of the new strategy President Bush signaled in January when he decided to send five additional American combat brigades and other units to Iraq...It anticipates a decline in American forces as the “surge” in troops runs its course later this year or in early 2008. But it nonetheless assumes continued American involvement to train soldiers, act as partners with Iraqi forces and fight terrorist groups in Iraq, American officials said.

The goals in the document appear ambitious, given the immensity of the challenge...