Moving Those Iraqi Goalposts Again

By Cernig

Reuters reports that Lt. Gen. Ray Odierno, deputy U.S. commander in Iraq, is saying he needs until at least November - another full half Friedman - to assess whether the surge is working.

Lt. Gen. Ray Odierno, deputy U.S. commander in Iraq, told reporters at the Pentagon that trends in the war-torn country have begun moving "in the right direction" since Bush's troop buildup became complete in mid-June.

"Forty-five days from now, September 1 ... I'll be able to make a bit more accurate assessment if it's something we think is going to continue or something we think is just a blip," he said in a video link from Baghdad.

"In order to do a good assessment, I need at least till November to do that," Odierno added.

And by November it will be January, as all the while the cheerleading Right urge everyone to "give the military a chance" after four years. It's called running out the clock.