White House Accidentally E-Mails to Reporters Story That Maliki Supports Obama Iraq Withdrawal Plan  —  The White House this afternoon accidentally sent to its extensive distribution list a Reuters story headlined “Iraqi PM backs Obama troop exit plan - magazine.”

PRETTY WEAK  —  The McCain campaign has just come out with their response to Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al Maliki's endorsement of Obama's withdrawal plan.  I think the clotted, dodging-the-issue nature of the response communicates very clearly the box this has placed the McCain camp in.

Al-Maliki's Announcement: A Big Deal  —  This could be one of those unexpected events that forever changes the way the world perceives an issue.  Iraq's Prime Minister agrees with Obama, and there's no wiggle room or fudge factor.  This puts John McCain in an extremely precarious spot …

Maliki Backs Obama's Troop Withdrawal Plan  —  The policies and whims of American leaders have played a major role in politics in Iraq and elsewhere.  And now, it's Iraqi President Nouri Kamal al-Maliki's turn to dip his toes in the United States's race for the White House.

McCain Campaign Responds To Al-Maliki  —  “His domestic politics require him to be for us getting out,” said a senior McCain campaign official, speaking on the condition of anonymity.  “The military says ‘conditions based’ and Maliki said ‘conditions based’ yesterday in the joint statement with Bush.

BIG DEAL?  NO ... BIGGER  —  I've spent a couple hours now trying to process the probable impact of Prime Minister al Maliki's explicit endorsement of Barack Obama's 16 month timetable for withdrawal of American troops from Iraq.  My first instinct is always to try not to overstate the impact of momentary developments.