Wonkette

Earlier this week, Bush began to set into motion the government’s eventual tacitly-approved/sponsored coup against Iraq Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki in an interview in which he blamed him for everything. Maliki responded today to a group of foreign journalists, to whom he suggested that Bush was pressured into it by public disapproval.

“I know President Bush, and I know him as a strong person that does not get affected by the media pressure,” he said. “But it seems that the pressure has … led to the president giving this statement.”

Strong words, except that then Maliki caved to the Americans by promising he’d made strides “fighting” al-Sadr’s Shiite Mahdi Army, whose approval al-Maliki needs to stay in some semblance of power. He’s gonna have such a great 2007!

Iraqi Officials Stress Their Achievements [SFBC]
Earlier: Countdown to Coup: Pack a Suitcase, Maliki