CAN OBAMA GO TO IRAQ AND NOT BE TRAPPED INTO AGREEING WITH BUSH, PETRAEUS, AND MCCAIN?

McCain is eager to have Obama go to Iraq. And why? Obama will then have to consult with Petraeus and it is predictable what Petraeus will say, though perhaps not so entirely predictable as it was before the Iraqi Prime Minister defied the Bush line and called for a timetable forwithdrawing U.S. troops. Obama might make sure that he has military men of standing with him who will not let Petraeus get away with just repeating the "stay-the-course" testimony that he has twice given Congress in the last year. They could help him take and keep the initiative from the beginning by asking Petraeus how he would carry out the time-tabled withdrawal that Malliki is calling for within the 16 months that Obama has been specified. Obama should not accept any profession from Petraeus that he does not have a plan for withdrawal or know of any such plan. Obama should insist that Petraeus cannot estimate the costs of withdrawal unless he has such a plan to refer to. Petraeus must understand that Obama is moving into a position to change his marching orders and if necessary change the man who will do the marching.