Is the reported "clash" between the White House and the Iraq commander Petraeus a ruse? After all, by many accounts, Petraeus and the White House want the same thing: to go big for as long as possible. It's hard not to wonder if this is a "clash" that will be "resolved" with the White House not really giving up anything at all. The only explanation that makes sense to me is that the White House is seeking to control the optics with Congressional Republican leaders anxious about how basically continuing a maximal US presence in Iraq will affect their '08 reelection prospects.

Posted by Laura at August 16, 2007 10:57 AM