We can only hope that, if American troops must run the gauntlet while abandoning Iraq in order to meet some politically and arbitrarily imposed deadline, they will be welcomed home in much the same way as were British forces who survived the evacuation known as the "miracle of Dunkirk" in 1940.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Dunkirk in the desert

In 1940, evacuation of the defeated Allied armies from Dunkirk began.

CNN: Wednesday,

In 1940, in World War II, the evacuation of allied troops from Dunkirk was completed.

CNN: Tuesday,