An anything but unsignificant presence of american troops is to be maintained anyway, even beyond the end of 2011. It is a force reduction but not a withdrawel. and as the Onion ironically indicated, the original mission objectives declared before the war have not been acchieved in substance.
But these days you already are satisfied and celebrate "victory" when a temporary superficial shine allows you to get out while keeping at least good part of your face saved - making use of the opportunity, so to speak.
