This is remarkably and admirably candid of the White House to spell out, but the political reaction is likely to be swift and vituperative:
President Bush would like to see the U.S. military provide long-term stability in Iraq as it has in South Korea, where thousands of American troops have been based for more than half a century, the White House said Wednesday.
White House spokesman Tony Snow told reporters Bush believes U.S. forces eventually will end their combat role in Iraq but will continue to be needed in the country to deter threats and to help handle potential crises, as they have done in South Korea.
The United States has kept forces in South Korea since war erupted with North Korea in 1950 and currently has about 30,000 troops there.