According to the New York Times, yesterday “President Obama declared an end… to the seven-year American combat mission in Iraq, saying that the United States has met its responsibility to that country and that it is now time to turn to pressing problems at home. ”

Did every major media outlet completely miss that itty bitty part that “the United States would continue to play a key role in nurturing a stable democracy” in Iraq, and that “some 50,000 US troops will remain until the end of 2011 to advise Iraqi forces and protect US interests”, and that “the Obama administration is planning a remarkable civilian effort, buttressed by a small army of contractors, to fill the void.”

We’re not out of Iraq. Not by a long shot. And now with the buildup in Afghanistan looking like the unwelcome sequel to the “lookin’ for tarr’ists” wars, I just don’t see US troop deployment truly “drawing down” anytime soon.

This is nothing more than another “Mission Accomplished” PR stunt, but this time, by the Democrats.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. This is not what I voted for. This is a shell game with human lives at stake.

Chris Matthews of Hardball on MSNBC summarizes my thoughts on this ongoing lunacy far better than I can. (I wonder if his slip-up at 1:25 was intentional?)

Oh, and please forgive the hack Photoshop job, but it is what I thought of when I watched President Obama’s speech last night.