Maliki Bites Bush

Lord knows he's taken enough criticism from Washington, now Iraqi PM al-Maliki isn't passing up any chances to get a few in himself.

Today he announced that his government has apprehended some 400-Shiite militia fighters including about 100-senior Mahdi army officials. Then, just when it began to sound like Maliki was finally dancing to Washington's tune, the mood changed. According to The Guardian, it was Maliki who now had plenty of criticism:

"Maliki underscored his differences with the U.S., suggesting that American miscalculations had worsened the bloodshed in Iraq, and warning that his patience for political negotiation with warring factions was wearing thin."

"Maliki said if Iraqi security forces were given sufficient training and equipment, they could stabilize the country enough to allow the withdrawal of U.S. troops starting in three to six months — a period in which President Bush's proposed troop buildup would still be underway.

"He said if better U.S. training and supplies had come earlier, lives could have been saved."I think that within three to six months our need for the American troops will dramatically go down," Maliki said. "That's on the condition that there are real strong efforts to support our military forces."

"When asked whether the Bush administration needed him now more than he needed the administration, Maliki laughed uproariously, calling it an "evil question.

"Throughout, Maliki appeared confident and seemed to relish the chance to respond to statements by Bush and U.S. officials, including allegations that his government had botched the hanging of deposed leader Saddam Hussein and had not done enough to stop the sectarian violence.

"Commenting on a recent statement by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, he said, "Rice is expressing her own point of view if she thinks that the [Iraqi] government is on borrowed time," humorously suggesting that it might be the Bush administration that is on borrowed time.

"I understand and realize that inside the American administration there is some kind of a crisis situation, especially after the results of the last election," he said.

"Maliki said suggestions by Bush officials that the U.S. did not fully support his government played into the hands of insurgents.

"'I believe such statements give a morale boost to the terrorists and push them toward making an extra effort, making them believe they have defeated the American administration,' Maliki said. 'But I can tell you, they haven't defeated the Iraqi government.'"

The Iraqi government may have arrested 400-Sadr loyalists but it remains to be seen what will be done with them. If the arrests were simply for appearances to keep Washington happy, those apprehended may be quietly released in short order. That has happened before.