That has to be one of my least favorite euphemisms. When Obama and Hillary say that, they mean “lose the war in Iraq.” There is no way to end American involvement in 2009, as Obama promised last night, without losing. Ultimately, we all favor ending the war in Iraq. The difference is that hawks — through defeating al Qaeda and the worst elements of the Shia militias, while creating sustainable security — want to end it on strategically favorable terms. And really end it — if we’re successful, there will continue to be a diminishment in violence. The Obama “end of the war” will lead to more violence in Iraq and the forfeiture of important strategic goals. Again, he’s not talking about ending the war so much as losing.