Troops in Iraq forever (or at least until Bush leaves)

We all knew this was coming.

The Bush administration is sending strong signals that U.S. troop reductions in Iraq will slow or stop altogether this summer.....

The indications of a likely slowdown reflect concern by U.S. commanders that the improvement in security in Iraq since June... is tenuous and could be reversed if the extra troops come out too soon.

Two points: 1) How successful has "the surge" been if bringing out even 3,500 soldiers would jeopardize it? (Don't I remember something about somebody "standing up?")

2) We all knew this was coming because it pushes any post-"surge" collapse onto the next president's record.