Excellent point by Pat Buchanan on The McLaughlin Group this morning (I was watching the repeat). The topic for discussion was the President’s recent remarks that (1) political reform in Iraq was up to Maliki & his colleagues, not him (the President); (2) troop levels in Iraq are for Gen. Casey to decide, not for him (the President) to dictate.

at’s words were to the following effect. “This is George W. Bush’s war. If it’s lost, people will ask him: ‘Why did you lose the war?’ Nobody will be asking Maliki. Nobody will be asking Casey. Nobody will remember their names. This is George W. Bush’s war to win or lose. He’s the Commander in Chief.” I think that’s right. Fair or not, the POTUS can’t shuck off his responsibilities the way, I agree, it looks as though he’s trying to.