On Maliki, I would have demanded he jettison Sadr, and get real about taking on sectarian violence in an even handed way, and get moving on cooperating in creating and deploying Iraqi troops to do it, and stop interfering with US troops movements, or I would move to partition, and effectively liquidate his government. It would have been a come to Jesus moment. Bush just isn't mean enough; he just isn't. Now Maliki is moving, because Bush is on the ropes, and he knows that time is running out. I would have made clear that time was running out many months ago. I have been unhappy with Bush on Iraq for some time, and have come out of the closet and so posted now for several months. That is my opinion.
That's the case. They moved too slowly. I don't want to rehash that whole thing but the bull should have been taken by the horns and the miliatry mobilized much sooner. Gone and done though.
Indeed, you followed the Katrina situation very diligently from start to now, though I haven't always agreed with all of your conclusions (but I do appreciate all your insight and opinions.)