Informed Speculation

Yesterday, I laid out what I consider to be Bush’s soon-to-be-announced plan.  Charles Krauthammer sees it the same way:

First, as I’ve been agitating, establish a new governing coalition in Baghdad that excludes Moqtada al-Sadr, a cancer that undermines the Maliki government’s ability to work with us. It is encouraging that the president has already begun such a maneuver by meeting with rival Shiite and Sunni parliamentary leaders. If we help produce a cross-sectarian government that would be an ally rather than a paralyzed semi-adversary of coalition forces, we should then undertake part two: “double down” our military effort. This means a surge in American troops with a specific mission: to secure Baghdad and (together with the support of the Baghdad government — a sine qua non) suppress Sadr’s Mahdi Army.

It is our last chance for success. Bush can thank the ISG and its instant irrelevance for making it possible.

Where I predicted, Krauthammer endorses, though – do I? Most of it…I’m just not sure Maliki can come along for the ride…he seems awfully compromised…but the ball’s in his court.  If he can truly cut the Sadr chord, he can be a part of Iraq’s future…