Summer

It appears that the latest talking point out of the conventional wisdom generation machine is that Iraqis have to form a government by Summer and if they don't manages to do so then maybe, just maybe, it'll be time to take our ball and go home.

Of course there's no reason that successfully forming a government is going to improve the situation any more than any of the other 17 turned corner moments did. In fact, just the opposite. The formation of the government and its subsequent actions could quite easily do the opposite by stirring up sectarian tensions even more, inviting political assassinations, etc...

Any ideas what the next turned corner will be? Any doubt we'll still be having this conversation 4 years from now?

If only the Bush administration would listen to uber-thinkers like Glenn Reynolds who has an excellent strategy for Iraq:

3. What should the U.S. do in Iraq now?

Win.

(last link via UO)