Seems details about Iraq’s proposal for keeping U.S. forces here past December have been leaked to the AP.

The Iraqi proposal stipulates that, once Iraqi forces have resumed security responsibility in all 18 of Iraq’s provinces, U.S.-led forces would then withdraw from all cities in the country.

After that, the country’s security situation would be reviewed every six months, for three to five years, to decide when U.S.-led troops would pull out entirely, al-Adeeb said.

They’re halfway there, 9 provinces. Wonder where our troops would go when we withdraw from the cities. The desert? No posts in the Green Zone? A lot can happen in six months time. Dunno about that. Just cause violence is down doesn’t mean it will stay down if we leave. After all, it was the surge that worked to turn the tide.

But there is some face saving and they allow a little leeway here. Not much but a little.

The proposal, as outlined by al-Adeeb, is phrased in a way that would allow Iraqi officials to tell the Iraqi public that it includes a specific timetable and dates for a U.S. withdrawal.

However, it also would provide the United States some flexibility on timing because the dates of the provincial handovers are not set.

We’ll see how it will fly with the Bush administration. McCain too is not that keen on a timetable. I imagine Obama would be overjoyed to get us out of Iraq. Ever the optimist, I expect massive deterioration in conditions once we do.