THE U.R. VS REALITY:

Campaign Promises on Ending the War in Iraq Now Muted by Reality (THOM SHANKER, 12/04/08, NY Times)

On the campaign trail, Senator Barack Obama offered a pledge that electrified and motivated his liberal base, vowing to “end the war” in Iraq.

But as he moves closer to the White House, President-elect Obama is making clearer than ever that tens of thousands of American troops will be left behind in Iraq, even if he can make good on his campaign promise to pull all combat forces out within 16 months.