You say benchmark, I say oil robbing

By Creature

From today's New York Times:

The top American military commander for the Middle East has warned Iraq’s prime minister in a closed-door conversation that the Iraqi government needs to make tangible political progress by next month to counter the growing tide of opposition to the war in Congress.

In a Sunday afternoon discussion that mixed gentle coaxing with a sober appraisal of politics in Baghdad and Washington, the commander, Adm. William J. Fallon, told Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki that the Iraqi government should aim to complete a law on the division of oil proceeds by next month. [...]

In the meeting, Admiral Fallon focused on Iraq’s oil law, assuming it was closest to completion. "Is it reasonable to expect it to be completed in July?" he asked. "We have to show some progress in July for the upcoming report."

If you fuck with Cheney's Energy Task Force plans we send an admiral to play the heavy. At least we now know where the administration's priorities lie.

(Cross-posted at State of the Day.)