Iraq is not a political issue

Common sense would say that the best way to bring the troops home would be to complete the mission as quickly and efficiently as possible. It isn't going to happen tomorrow, but the "surge" operation prescribed by General Petreaus is, by all accounts, working toward that end. Iraqi troops are being trained in US military units, the Iraqi government is allowing and encouraging former Sunni insurgents to become involved in the peacekeeping process, and the insurgent groups are breaking up.
Both the Iraq Study Group (ISG) report and Gen Petreaus have suggested that military force alone will not resolve Iraq's problems--diplomatic means have to be a part of the process. The Iraqi government has responded to diplomatic pressure by the United States, budgeting ten billion dollars toward reconstruction, working toward peace initiatives between the Sunni and She'ya factions, mingling Iraqi troops with the coilition forces for training, becoming involved in regional talks with neighboring countries, and working out fair distribution of oil wealth. Iraq is on its way to becoming an independent, democratic nation, while its new government is gaining strength, and working to make a society that is fair to all its different factions.
There is still much work to do. Iraq does not yet have a strong enough military force to stand on its own. The presence of Baathist and foriegn militant forces is still felt in a violent fashion daily. If the coilition was to withdraw from Iraq before the democratic government is solidly established and in control of the country, all indications of the result forcast a much more widespread and deadly war. The Saudis have vowed to support Sunni militants in Iraq, if the coillition leaves, while Iran has supported and will support She'ya factions. This would amount to conflict over Iraq between the two Arab nations, which would most likely escalate into a world war. It is about oil, not Oil, and until modern society can do without oil from the Middle East conflict over the precious commodity will ensue. Most experts believe that energy independence will take twenty to forty years to achieve--until then, oil is a necessary evil.
So why do some politicians in the United States want to stop US involvement in Iraq? It is simply that they are politicians. Their agenda does not include a peaceful world and the future does not concern them unless it involves keeping their jobs. They do not want to see success in Iraq, because it would indicate to the voters that the policy they opposed was the correct policy. They will twist public opinion factors to justify their actions--such as interpreting the call for a change in direction in Iraq as meaning that we should withdraw right now. Every American wants to be able to call our troops home from Iraq, but not if it leaves a battleground which will be exploited in a way which will cause devistation to our economy. It is more likely that the ideology of these politicians will increase the violence in the Middle East, rather than decrease it. When politics become involved in a military operation, and in the movement of troops, defeat is often snatched from the jaws of victory.