It is a measure of the Bush administration's predicament in Iraq that the president should set about trying to rebuild domestic political support for the conflict by dashing expectations of what many of his people most want to hear - a timetable for early US withdrawal.
In a key speech ahead of elections in Iraq on December 15, George W. Bush vowed not to 'cut and run' to meet 'artificial timetables set by politicians'.
No doubt mindful of his premature proclamation of 'mission accomplished' after the overthrow of Saddam Hussein's regime, the president is sensible to resist setting timetables yet. The security situation is still far too problematical. The coming election, though historic, is a small step towards a viable democracy. The next task will be to revise the new constitution to make it work, by ensuring effective participation by the minority Sunni Muslim faction.
A timetable for withdrawal is not realistic. But Iraq - and the United States and its allies - badly need a road map towards the day when the last occupier can go home. It must include achievable security and political goals that will be signposts on the road to peace and national unity.
To his credit, Mr Bush struck a realistic note that did not raise false hopes. Rather, he pointed the way forward down a long road. It is important for both Mr Bush and Iraq that his message gets through. Mr Bush's ratings have plunged along with support for the war. Calls for a timetable for withdrawal are getting louder, and are being echoed among Republicans fearful of a backlash at elections due next year.
In ruling out a withdrawal timetable, he reaffirmed his strategy for establishing the security necessary for the development of democratic institutions and economic stability. While admitting that the training of Iraqi security forces had proved difficult, he insisted this was still the only way forward and claimed significant progress in the number of troops and policemen trained and their increasing role in fighting the insurgency.