Shakes here...
I like Drum's response to Newsweek’s report on the draft copy of Iraq’s soon-to-be-announced national reconciliation plan, which includes a statement from National Assembly member Mahmoud Othman that “no one disagrees with the concept of a broad, conditions-based timetable.” Drum says:
Did you get that? No one disagrees with the concept of a broad, conditions-based timetable.
President Bush would be flatly insane to turn this opportunity down. It's precisely the kind of request he needs in order to declare victory, assure everyone that the job is close to done, and make it clear that he respects Iraqi sovereignty and doesn't plan to occupy their country forever. There would be no loss of face and no loss of national honor.
Conversely, if he resists it, it would be hard not to conclude that he was doing so solely because a "broad, conditions-based timetable" also happens to be exactly the position of the vast majority of the Democratic Party—and he would rather chew off his own big toe than do anything that might turn down the volume on the domestic partisan jihad that's been so politically successful for Republicans ever since 9/11. I guess we'll find out soon.
Spot-on. It's also the kind of request Bush needs to address the concerns of those within and outwith our borders who have subtly and not-so-subtly encouraged him to give some indication of his long-term intentions. Nebulous phraseology like “stay the course” may play in Peoria (though not as well as it used to), but the effectiveness of vague pronouncements in most of the rest of the world is long past its sell-by date. An actual plan would be most welcome—and would restore some of our credibility with more than just Iraqis.
