November 15, 2007 (LPAC)-- According to a Washington Post front page article written by Tom Ricks, author of the book Fiasco, dozens of U.S. military officers are expressing concern over the Iraqi government failure to capitalize on sharp declines in attacks against U.S. troops and Iraqi civilians. Ricks quotes Army Lt. General Raymond T. Odierno, the commander of day-to-day U.S. military operations in Iraq, saying, "A window of opportunity has opened for the government of Iraq to reach out to its former foes but it's unclear how long that window is going to be open."

This lack of political progress calls into question the core rationale behind President Bush's troop surge that he announced in January of this year. Which was premised on the notion that improved security would create space for Iraqis to arrive at new power-sharing arrangements. And what if there is no such breakthrough by next Summer? "If that doesn't happen," Odierno said," we're going to have to review our strategy."

Brig. Gen. John F. Campbell, deputy commanding general of 1st Cavalry Division, complained last week that Iraqi politicians are out of touch. Some U.S. Army officers now talk sympathetically about former insurgents than they do about their ostensible allies in the Shi'ite led central government. Army Lt. Col. Mark Fetter said of the Sunni fighters who for years bombed and shot U.S. soldiers, and now want to join the police, "They have got to eat," he said ,"There are so many we've detained and interrogated, they did what they did for money."

Republicans are looking to dump Iraqi Prime minister Maliki to give the Republicans cover in an election year, which alters the Administration policy without having to side with the Democrats. Senator Lindsay Graham (R-SC), who staunchly supported Bush's Iraq troop surge strategy, said he is disappointed with the political reconciliation efforts in Iraq and is considering alternatives to Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's government if the country does not make strides toward that goal. Senator Graham told The Hill, "If his government has not delivered meaningful political reconciliation by the end of the year,... I will consider Maliki's government a failure, and then we look for other horses to support."