Maliki's Withdrawal Card

A year ago, the conventional Beltway wisdom had it that Iraq was a failed state. Today, the same wisdom holds that it is less chaotic but still fragile, dependent entirely on a U.S. presence to survive. But judging by recent comments from Nouri al-Maliki, even this view may be out of date.

Addressing Arab ambassadors in Abu Dhabi on Monday, the Iraqi prime minister made headlines by saying his government was "looking at the necessity of terminating the foreign presence on Iraqi lands and restoring full sovereignty." Mr. Maliki has also been playing hardball with the Bush Administration in concluding a status-of-forces agreement by the end of the year, when the current U.N. mandate authorizing the U.S. presence in Iraq expires.

	Iraq's Maliki Suggests Setting Timetable for U.S. Withdrawal - washingtonpost.com	The Washington Post	Mon Jul 7	0
	Iraq Prime Minister Suggests Withdrawal for U.S. Troops	Freed	Wed Jul 9	1
	AFP: McCain, Obama at odds over Iraqi withdrawal demand	Agence-France Presse	Wed Jul 9	0
	Iraq Wants Withdrawal Timetable In U.S. Pact - washingtonpost.com	The Washington Post	Wed Jul 9	0