Illegitimate Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, who had better not be putting his feet on my desk, has come out and said that American troops won't be needed in Iraq in another two years. He also says that the only reason they are still needed now is to intimidate the country's neighbors.

My only disagreement with his present assessment of the geopolitical situation in Iraq is the timing. Personally, I don't think the Americans are needed now, so why wait? Besides, aren't they needed in New Orleans to stop the looters?

And Allah knows I never needed any help from the Americans to intimidate Iraq's neighbors when I was in charge!