Liveblogging II Posted by Heather Hurlburt

"Too many restrictions on the troops we did have"???  What is that supposed to mean?  I'm not being snarky, I'm just asking.

We're five minutes in, and no mention of how the security mission connects to political/economic solutions, I note.

Oh, that's what he means.  Now supposedly Iraqi and American units will go everywhere, and there won't be hands-off zones.  Will the MAhdi Army view that statement as declaring war on them?

OK, so as previewed he did say that our commitment is not open-ended.  That will be useful to Republicans running for President and Congress, sort of.  And I also note we haven't heard anything about any timeframe at all.

Ah, now we're getting "beyond" military operations -- but it's better life in communities.  Important, but still nothing about the government itself.  "Iraq will pass legislation to share oil revenue among all Iraqis." 

OK, points to Bush on pledging that the Iraqis will "reform de-Baathification laws" -- though it's a bit strange for us to be announcing that about a sovereign government.  If Iraqis and Americans could deliver on that political list, that would be great, but I still didn't hear much about powersharing for Sunnis.  And I didn't hear any personal commitment to getting reconstruction money through Congress, which will be necessary, to put it mildly.