True that the GOP also used it as a tool.
But still the bigger pic is the cred. The GOP still cares about the war, still discusses it, still gives it priority status as an issue (as much as an impotent minority can). The sincerity about this issue's importance is genuine.
Not so for the Dems.

You actually think the GOP cares about the war. The only reason they still discuss it is to BASH OBAMA despite the fact that the majority of them voted for it.
There is no sincerity about this issue because Republicans avoided the issue of the Iraq War and tried to distance themselves as far from Bush in the 2006 mid-term elections and 2008 elections as if Bush had Swine Flu.
If you truly believe the GOP give a shit, then they definitely have you fooled. It is merely a talking point for them. As Willy has stated basically, the war has moved to Afghanistan.
As much as we'd all love to be out of Iraq tomorrow,
all that is left is logistics and we're gone. It's Afghanistan we need to focus on now.