Timetable for withdrawal

Ah, John McCain. He was against timetables for withdrawal before he was for them.

"Last April, Governor Romney said he supported 'timetables' for withdrawing our troops from Iraq and keeping them secret. When he suggested secret 'timetables,' General Petraeus' new strategy in Iraq was just starting. Opponents of General Petraeus' strategy all argued that we should not increase troop levels, but establish 'timetables' for withdrawing our forces from Iraq. It was clear at the time that some were hedging their bets on Iraq, positioning themselves politically by being deliberately vague on their support for General Petraeus' new strategy.

"Governor Romney also said that there wouldn't be any real difference on Iraq policy between the Republican nominee and Senator Clinton during the general election. Well, Senator Clinton advocates withdrawal from Iraq within 60 days. Should that be the policy of the Republican nominee in November? Would it be Governor Romney's?

"I understand if Governor Romney has changed his mind given the obvious success of the surge. But the fact is, like on so many other issues, Governor Romney has hedged, equivocated, ducked, and reversed himself.

"The only people who are owed an apology are the men and women fighting for our country in Iraq, who have a right to expect their leaders to stand by them and their mission not just when it is easy, but when it matters most -- when it is hard."

"Secret" timetables were so...appeasy back in January.

Yesterday, a non-secret timetable, albeit one designed to be settled after the next president's term of office, is just right.

In his speech delivered in Columbus, Ohio, today, McCain said that within five years he expects Iraq to be "a functioning democracy" with a "professional and competent" Iraqi Security Force capable of "defending the integrity of its borders."

Predicting the defeat of Al Qaeda in Iraq, McCain also forecast a U.S. military role, "but a much smaller one," that would "not play a direct combat role."

Of course, Romney's "timetable" would likely have included benchmarks a little more specific than "democracy, whiskey, sexy." And a pony. At least I think so. His were "secret." McCain, on the other hand, is telling the terraists what our game plan is. Shouldn't he apologize to the troops?

UPDATE: Turns out McCain was for "appeasement" before he was agin it.