[McGavin999]

Chess move. Don't kid yourself, this was done deliberately as a warning to the waivering members of the constitution committee. They were going to try to drag this thing out for several more months.

Political hardball.

[samadams2000]

You're two steps ahead of me. Hope you're right. But hope is not a strategy.

[cambridge]

For the lazier of us at this hour, can you [ or ayone else] give a link / Cliff's Notes to what you mean? Sounds very interesting. Thanks in advance.

[oceanview]

I agree with that, regarding the timing of this.

but I also don't think its a secret anymore - there will be some US troop reductions in 2006. and yes, some of the reasons for that are political. and I'm not upset about that in the least. let the iraqi forces take over more convoy and checkpoint duty, we are losing alot of US soldiers in those roles. we've already won the war our forces were designed to win over there. pacifying iraq, the idea that these roadside bomb attacks and car bombers are going to be completely eliminated - and only then will we be able to say "we've won" - is about as nuts as thinking the LAPD can totally eliminate gang violence in Los Angeles.