Maliki Doses Bush with His Own Medicine

The 2006 midterms were less than three months ago, so everyone should clearly remember the campaign themes used by the GOP. In particular, I'd draw your recollection to the "criticizing the President helps the terrorists" rhetoric used to argue that the opposition party should really just shut up and let the President continue his failed policy interminably. Statement's critical of the President showed the unseriousness of the commentator and it was wondered aloud if they "are objectively on the side of the terrorists."

I remind you of this unAmerican rhetoric because of an unexpected synergy with our Iraq policy. It turns out that our training regimen for the Iraqis is working out unexpectedly well! We may be having trouble on the military and security fronts, but their political class is just shooting to the head of the Advanced Rovian Politics class:

Maliki disputed President Bush's remarks broadcast Tuesday that the execution of former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein "looked like it was kind of a revenge killing" and took exception to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's Senate testimony last week that Maliki's administration was on "borrowed time."

The prime minister said statements such as Rice's "give morale boosts for the terrorists and push them toward making an extra effort and making them believe they have defeated the American administration," Maliki said. "But I can tell you that they have not defeated the Iraqi government."...

"I know President Bush and I know him as a strong person that does not get affected by the media pressure, but it seems the pressure has gone to a great extent that led to the president giving this statement," Maliki said.

You gotta love Our Man in Baghdad giving the Bush Administration a dose of its own medicine. How embarrassing.