Reply #4: He does not care for us. We know that. His 'legacy' is his goal. [View All]

[rodeodance]

It would disregard key recommendations and warnings of the Iraq Study Group, however, and provide little comfort for those fearful of a long, open-ended U.S. commitment in the country.

James Dobbins, a former U.S. diplomat and adviser to the Iraq Study Group, said many Iraqis think U.S. forces put them in danger, rather than improve security. "The American troop presence is wildly unpopular in Iraq," Dobbins said. "Any effort to double our bet will lead to ever more catastrophic results."

Only 12 percent of Americans would support a troop increase, a Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg poll has found.

Such a proposal, military officials and experts caution, would be a gamble.

"I think it is worth trying," said a Defense Department official, using the gamblers' term for doubling a bet. "But you can't have the rhetoric without the resources. This is a double down."