Emboldened Iraq Stands Up to Washington

Nouri al-Maliki and the Iraqi government are now openly demanding a timetable for the withdrawal of American forces, reports the New York Times. While nobody expects Baghdad to boot American troops, several military victories and greater political stability have emboldened Maliki, and the increasingly loud demands reflect a new confidence on the part of the Iraqi PM.

Baghdad has become a more steely negotiator, recently rejecting Washington's demand that American contractors in Iraq, such as Blackwater, be offered blanket immunity from prosecution. A White House spokesman called recent debates "signs of encouraging developments in Iraq," but the irony is not lost on the Bush administration: while the "surge" might have helped stabilize Iraq, it has also strengthened a government it can no longer boss around. (More Nouri al-Maliki stories.)