Pandora's box

It doesn't sound to me as though the Bush meeting with al-Maliki accomplished much.

AMMAN, Jordan - President Bush said Thursday the United States will speed a turnover of security responsibility to Iraqi forces but assured Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki that Washington is not looking for a "graceful exit" from a war well into its fourth violent year.

Handing over more responsibility for security to the Iraqis isn't going to get anything done. They can't handle the responsibility they have now. It might free up our troops so they could leave, but Bush once again said we're not leaving. If this means handing over responsibility to al-Sadr's militias, then the Saudis say they will have to come in to protect the Sunnis -- that will be really nifty. Who else will come in at that point? Iran? Turkey? You can easily see this exploding into a huge mess.

Meanwhile, the Iraq study commission has chopped off Bush at the knees by coming out in favor of withdrawal (more or less). He walks a little weird on those stumps.

Unfortunately, Bush opened Pandora's box and now the rest of us are going to suffer the consequences for years to come.