Ron, your explanation on our board was unconvincing where it was coherent.

Since I made the first statement in the series, I am perfectly justified in claiming that my position was correct, and Shad's denial of it wrong. I agree that Maliki wants US troops to stay for a while, though in lesser numbers (not greater) than obtain today. According to any formulation you want to make of what he said, Maliki does not support the surge. Neither does a majority of Iraqis, or a majority of Americans. But we will get a surge anyway, and we'll see whether it leads to a stable, peaceful Iraq that is an ally in the "war on terror". It will assuredly lead to more dead Americans.