"Our friends in Iraq, that is those Iraqis that want us to succeed, in a way need us to leave," he says. "And our enemies, those that are fighting against other Iraqis, need us to stay because, in a way, it justifies their continued jihad against us."

And if a new government asks U.S. troops to leave?

"We would leave. Period." Armitage says. "We have said very clearly to the U.S. Congress that if that circumstance exists, then we would leave, period. No qualifications, no weasel words."