Surprise!

Because we never said "told you so:"

American combat troops will be needed in Iraq at least into 2009 to battle a resilient al-Qaida and still vibrant insurgency, the top U.S. diplomat to Iraq told The Associated Press on Friday.

Ambassador Ryan Crocker said he would lead Washington's negotiations with Baghdad on an agreement that will govern the U.S. presence there with that in mind, although the next president may "reset the conditions" for troop withdrawals.

The "need for combat operations" in Iraq will be there "certainly into next year, but how far I couldn't say," he said in an interview at the State Department.

Except we did. Again and again and again until our heads hurt and our faces turned blue.

Note the most excellent use of al-qaeda to refer to anyone and everyone we're fighting. Beautiful.