DougR, it may have escaped your notice but Bush and the Iraqi 'government' agreeing to a timetable and stipulations thereof is a new thing. Therefore Obama has to factor in the changes this development brings. Obama is not the ideologue that Bush is- Bush pushed forward on his own agenda no matter the developments. Why can't you see that? When you plan something in your own household, don't developments - i.e. you got sick or came into money or lost your job - affect your plans?