They Grow Up So Fast! Sniff ... Sniff.

The fledgling democracy in Iraq is flapping its wings:

Iraq said on Tuesday it will reject any security pact with the United States unless it sets a date for the pullout of US-led foreign troops, a proposal turned down by US President George W. Bush.

I'm sure he feels bewildered, like a rejected parent. I mean, you feed them, you nurture them, you encourage their first faltering steps toward democracy ... And then they turn around and demand to be treated like a real country instead of a satrapy.

White House spokesman Scott Stanzel said the talks were aimed at reaching agreement on a framework for future US-Iraqi relations and on the arrangements to govern the US military presence.

"It is important to understand that these are not talks on a hard date for a withdrawal," he said. "When you make an agreement," he added, however, "that doesn't mean that there won't be some understanding of time-frames."

Let's review what the Iraq government (the people who, in the New Free and Democratic Nation of Iraq, are supposed to be running things)apparently said:

"We will not accept any memorandum of understanding if it does not give a specific date for a complete withdrawal of foreign troops," national security advisor Muwaffaq al-Rubaie told reporters in the holy city of Najaf.

Wait a minute--that's not at all in line with the statement from the White House!

Gee, that's a first. I mean, they've been right about so many other things ... Wait ... Why are you laughing?