Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki on timetables-the surge's success

[Bruxley]

In an interview with Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki a German paper published Maliki's view of timetables and what the success of the surge has done for Iraq.

SPIEGEL: Would you hazard a prediction as to when most of the US troops will finally leave Iraq?

Maliki: As soon as possible, as far as we’re concerned. US presidential candidate Barack Obama is right when he talks about 16 months. Assuming that positive developments continue, this is about the same time period that corresponds to our wishes.

The unasked follow-up question: How about the 14-month timetable that Obama wanted to set in January 2007 to start pulling troops out before those positive developments could occur? How keen does that look in hindsight? To repeat a point made yesterday, the only reason a timetable or “time horizon” is arguably a responsible strategy now is because it was properly rejected as being irresponsible then. Maliki hints at that in another part of the interview:

So far the Americans have had trouble agreeing to a concrete timetable for withdrawal, because they feel it would appear tantamount to an admission of defeat. But that isn’t the case at all. If we come to an agreement, it is not evidence of a defeat, but of a victory, of a severe blow we have inflicted on al-Qaida and the militias.

Exactly, which at least partly explains why Bush is more willing to compromise now on some sort of informal schedule. Compare Maliki’s justification for the timetable to Obama’s justification in his big Iraq speech.
From that speech:

In the 18 months since the surge began, as I warned at the outset – Iraq’s leaders have not made the political progress that was the purpose of the surge. They have not invested tens of billions of dollars in oil revenues to rebuild their country. They have not resolved their differences or shaped a new political compact.

What the prime minister says in the interview:

SPIEGEL: In your opinion, which factor has contributed most to bringing calm to the situation in the country?

Maliki: There are many factors, but I see them in the following order. First, there is the political rapprochement (re: political progress via the surge) we have managed to achieve in central Iraq(re:shaped a political compact). This has enabled us, above all, to pull the plug on al-Qaida. Second, there is the progress being made by our security forces. Third, there is the deep sense of abhorrence with which the population has reacted to the atrocities of al-Qaida and the militias(re:an anti-terrorist culture in the heart of the middle east). Finally, of course, there is the economic recovery.

As he warned in the onset huh....
OH, and as for a new political compact........http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7515277.stm

15 of the 18 benchmarks have been met, the surge troops are back home, and an acceleration of troop withdrawals are on deck.

"I HAVE A NEW IDEA. Let's say that in 16 months they're coming home." Well given they are already on track to do just that because your previous suggestions were wisely ignored it's not so much a practice in good judgment as an ability to proclaim the obvious there Senator.......

Talk about being OH SO WRONG.

Can't wait for the spin. This will have to be Clintonesqe.