"Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki had a surprise for President Bush when they sat down with their aides in the Four Seasons Hotel in Amman, Jordan. Firing up a PowerPoint presentation, Maliki and his national security adviser proposed that U.S. troops withdraw to the outskirts of Baghdad and let Iraqis take over security in the strife-torn capital. Maliki said he did not want any more U.S. troops at all, just more authority.How many times has George Bush said, 'We'll stand down, when the Iraqis are ready to stand up'? If that's truly the case, why doesn't he allow al-Maliki to stand up on his own in Baghdad?
The president listened intently to the unexpected proposal at their Nov. 30 meeting, according to accounts from several administration officials. Bush seemed impressed that Maliki had taken the initiative, but it did not take him long to reject the idea."
Why are we escalating our presence in Iraq when the Iraqi government and the Iraqi people want us out!?
