Iraq's Prime Minister al-Maliki said on Saturday, "We say in full confidence that we are able, God willing, to take the responsibility completely in running the security file if the international forces withdraw at any time they want." Needless to say, by yesterday the administration was all over these comments, trying to downplay them, saying the PM was misunderstood or misconstrued.

I guess the leader of Iraq knows not a wit about what he speaks and Mother USA knows better. At what point will their leaders be able to speak for themselves without us jumping in to correct them or state what they really meant to say? How does this need to edify their comments rate on the administration's benchmark progress-o-meter?

Well, which will it be, Bush/Cheney's complete and utter chaos resulting if we leave, or as al-Maliki forecasts? It's likely something in between, but this administration has been wrong so many times that a smart bettor would simply go against them at this point.