The Iraqi government is quite satisfied that President Barack Obama will not make any dramatic moves to withdraw troops in 2009, in spite of his campaign promise to have all American troops out of the nation within 16 months of taking office.

“We are sure that the policy of President Obama would be one of continuity,” Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said at a news conference today. Zebari says he believes “the stakes are too high for the United States, for Iraqis, for the region, for everybody,” and therefore “we are safe I think for 2009.”

Zebari echoed the sentiments of top US military officials, that any potential US pullout should be dependent on the results of the elections to be held later this year. Domestic indications are that Obama’s promised 16 month pullout timetable may already be dead. Zebari’s comments point to what is likely to replace the promise of change: continuity.

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