On Iraq, one of these things is not like the other

U.S. officials say the Iraqi government has agreed to develop a timetable. The prime minister says there's no need.

Published October 25, 2006 1:58PM (EDT)

Associated Press report, Oct. 24, 2006: "U.S. officials said Tuesday Iraqi leaders have agreed to develop a timeline by the end of the year for progress in stabilizing Iraq, and Iraqi forces should be able to take full control of security in the country in the next 12 to 18 months with 'some level' of American support."

Associated Press report, Oct. 25, 2006: A "defiant" Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki "slammed the top U.S. military and diplomatic representatives in Iraq for saying Iraq needed to set a timetable to curb violence ravaging the country. 'I affirm that this government represents the will of the people, and no one has the right to impose a timetable on it,' al-Maliki said."


By Tim Grieve

Tim Grieve is a senior writer and the author of Salon's War Room blog.

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Iraq Iraq War Middle East War Room