"Son, ya gotta know when to hold'em... ...when to fold'em..."

'''If I were a betting man, we'll reach an agreement with the Iraqis,' Mr. Bush said..."(NYT)

Care to up the ante, Shrub? Maybe even double down...?

Several articles in today's papers, one in the WaPo and another in Aswat Aliraq seems to point out the high odds for passage of the SOFA/SFA within the Iraqi Parliament! The first article talks about a meeting between Shrub and Iraqi President Talabani...

Appearing with Talabani in the Oval Office, Bush said the Iraqi president was on the "front lines" of the struggle in Iraq and said he "complimented the president" on the "progress" made there. "The attitude of the people has improved immeasurably," Bush said.

Talabani said a "big part of Iraq is stable" and "our economy is growing." [...]

Neither Bush nor Talabani gave any indication of progress on a long-term security agreement that has prompted widespread criticism from Iraqi officials. The two countries have been negotiating a new pact to provide a legal basis for U.S. troops to stay in Iraq after a United Nations mandate expires Dec. 31.

Asked after the meeting how close the United States and Iraq are to reaching an agreement, White House press secretary Dana Perino said: "Well, they continue to work on it, and I couldn't put odds on it either way."

Hmmm... Why the change in rhetoric Dana? The GZG vows to continue it...

Iraqi Foreign Minister on Thursday vowed to continue negotiations with the U.S over the pact governing the status of the American troops in Iraq, noting it must abide by Iraq’s full sovereignty. Iraqi FM Hoshyar Zebari received the U.S Ambassador to Iraq and the American negotiating team. “The two sides assessed the U.S-Iraq negoations and its stages to address the key issues”, said Iraqi FM statement received by Aswat al-Iraq-Voices of Iraq(VOI). The two sides pledged to “reach an agreement respecting Iraq’s sovereignty, protecting its security and realising the interests of its people”.[...]

The agreement will not valid unless it commands a national consensus and be approved by the Iraqi parliament and the presidency board.
A number of Iraqi political and religious factions voiced their opposition to the agreement, citing inclusion of items infringing Iraq’s sovereignty as reason.

Maybe this is the reason... It appears that the Iraqis are none to thrilled with it... Also from today's Aswat Aliraq...

Karbala governor on Thursday unveiled (that) the Iraqi government rejected two drafts for the pact with the U.S, noting Iraq would reject all items infringing its full sovereignty. Speaking at demonstrations staged by tribes in Karbala, Akeel al-Khazali, Karbala governor, called on chieftains not to “believe reports circulated by media reports that the Iraqi government would sign the long-term agreement with the U.S”.[...]

The agreement will not valid unless it commands a national consensus and be approved by the Iraqi parliament and the presidency board.
A number of Iraqi political and religious factions voiced their opposition to the agreement, citing inclusion of items infringing Iraq’s sovereignty as reason.
Al-Khazali said “the Iraqi government rejected two drafts for the pact”, noting “it has determined to stand by Iraqi people’s stand”. [...] Karbala governor termed the support of tribes to government as “stance opposing the presence of army inside army and a state inside a state”.

Doesn't sound too hopeful for Shrub... Maybe he should run from the table...!