Do Benchmarks Mean We Stay or Go?

I forgot: were the benchmarks for the Iraqi government supposed to be incentives to get the U.S. to stay, or to leave?

If the goals were met:

- that proves the American military strategy is working and therefore we must stay and maintain the new stability, or
- we've won and it's time to go home.

If the goals were not met:

- that proves all the more that we need to stay and finish the job, or
- it just goes to show that the Iraqis are pathetic and no longer deserve our help; we must pull out.

Somehow or other, I think President Bush will manage to find a reason to stay. If the next President pulls the troops out, Bush and his die-hard supporters can blame him or her for the "defeat."