The real priority is to hand the country over to the people of Iraq. And channel help and support through the United Nations.

I imagine that the thing that will determine what happens is going to be the likely impact on Bush's "re"election plans, and on the profits of the people who will be bankrolling him in his bid to stay in the White House.

It could be that getting the hell out of Iraq and handing over the responsibility to other people might become his best bet if things go on this way.