DON’T TELL ME HOW THIS ENDS: Michael Totten on Iraq. “The uptick in violence following America’s partial withdrawal shouldn’t shock anyone. If you scale back security on the streets, more violence and crime are inevitable. The same thing would happen in the United States if local police departments purged the better half of their officers. That does not mean, however, that Iraq is doomed to revert to war.” I certainly hope not. I still think we’re pulling back more quickly than is optimal.