will demand greater support from Germany on the international stage, especially in Iraq
I think Spiegel is off base here. While predicting U.S. misactions in the Mid East cannot be underestimated, the practical options for Obama seem perhaps two:
Yes, this goes against bi-partisan U.S. foreign policy of long standing, but when you've failed so spectacularly, your options are reduced.
A withdrawal would lead to giving up any claim on oil or income from oil, which might lead to chaos in the US.
But that's a different issue.
The "chaos" will not materialize. Iraq as it stood previously will not survive as it never made much sense anyhow. The real danger comes from the possible Turkish reaction to a new Kurdish state.
Regardless, to imply that what is happening NOW in Iraq is not 'chaos' is laughable. The truth is that people fear an islamic-based government taking over Iraq and the word "chaos" is used as a euphemism to that. If we had a problem with that well we should have avoided deposing the secular government that was there before us.
Realistically the Iraqi's will not support a heavy-handed religious government, their society has been secular for far too long. Muqtada_al-Sadr is not very religious for a "cleric," don't believe the hype.
