PM Maliki clarifies

Apparently President Bush regained control of his puppet just in time. Just kidding.

BAGHDAD, July 21 (VOI) - Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said on Monday during his meeting with visiting U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama that developments in Iraq will determine the presence of foreign troops in the country.
(Aswat Aliraq)

Whatever the truth about the Der Spiegel quotation issue, al-Maliki's position only makes sense. It would be completely stupid to stick to a withdrawal schedule if things were not going well--unless one were somehow convinced that elected Iraqi politicians plan to take little action regarding security unless forced to do so by the withdrawal of American combat troops.

I do think, however, that the Barack Obama visit is likely to help him in terms of public perception in the U.S., but mainly because the media will make that outcome their job. The mainstream media will paper over the fact that Obama's troop withdrawal timetable was based on an entirely different basis when he proposed it than currently exists.

See also:

Afghanistan Doesn't Need a 'Surge'

Obama Concedes That Surge Didn't Go As He Expected