Nouri al-Maliki

The AP reports today that Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has stated that Iraqi forces will be able to take over the security within their borders. A tentative 18 month deadline has been set which will hopefully mean that U.S., British, and other allied troops will be able to begin to phase out of the region and turn control over to Iraq. While Maliki says that Iraq can secure the country from a manpower point of view, they still will need to rely on the West for recruits, training, and equipment. While Tony Snow explained that the White House will not set a specific date for pulling out of Iraq, they are hopeful that this is a step in the right direction.

"I do not believe that you're going to hear the president or the prime minister say we're going to be out in one year, two years, four years — I just don't think you're going to get any specific prediction of troops withdrawals," Bush spokesman Tony Snow said. "I think you're going to get a restatement of the general principles under which coalition troops stay or go."

President Bush is meeting with PM Tony Blair on Thursday to discuss among else, the status of the coalition in Iraq. Ramble On and the gentle readers of R.O. can only hope that the free democracy implanted will become self-sustaining, stabilize the region, and help those in the Middle-East realize the opportunity and freedom a democracy offers.