Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has been playing politics the last few days by telling the U.S. media that a firm withdrawal date must be part of any status of forces agreement. His demands were swiftly rejected today by the U.S. State Department. A spokesman said any withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq will be conditions based rather than Maliki based.

Maliki has apparantly forgotten who made it possible for him to even be Prime Minister of Iraq. The Iraqi Army wins a few battles and suddenly the Iraqi govt. thinks they can takeover security for the whole country?

Yeah, right.

More proof the Iraqi government is finally stepping up:

Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki took personal charge Wednesday of a military operation to rout al-Qaida in Iraq in what the U.S. has described as the terror group’s last major stronghold, even as a tenuous cease-fire took hold over Baghdad’s Sadr City slum.

The White House today announced an agreement reached between President Bush and Iraqi President Nouri al-Maliki regarding the U.S. presence in Iraq.

This is a gentle way for the President to let the American people know that we have a long-term commitment to Iraq. The President will bring the troops home eventually, but we will have a continuing presence there just like we do in Japan, South Korea, Europe, Kuwait, and elsewhere.Democrats are already acting shocked by this announcement, but I can’t imagine anyone really believing we would sacrifice all the blood and treasure that we have, and not at least get a few military bases out of the deal.

That’s the way it has always worked and the way it should work. We liberated Kuwait, and in return we have permanent bases there. Iraq is extremely important strategically, and it’s a major advantage for the U.S. to have fully functioning military bases there.

It should be funny watching “dingy” Harry Reid stomp his foot and cry about this agreement. I’m sure Code Pink will throw themselves into the middle of the street or impale themselves on the capital steps in response as well. Meanwhile, Republicans and Joe Lieberman will point and laugh at the silly hippies.

-Chris Jones

** Read the full text of the White House statement by clicking the link above