The Pentagon said last week that Iraqi politicians "continue to make little progress toward enacting laws that could advance reconciliation." Asked Sunday about political progress in Iraq, Gen. David Petraeus said that "there certainly have not been real substantial achievements in that regard so far." And while U.S. ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker insists that the situation in Iraq is not yet "hopeless," he acknowledged Sunday that there's "rather clearly" an "absence of progress ... in the legislative arena."

But not to worry. The president talked with Nouri al-Maliki and other Iraqi leaders today, looked them in the eyes, got a sense of their souls and knows that they're committed to the best interests of their country.

No, wait. That's what Bush said in 2001 after meeting with Vladimir Putin. After talking with Maliki and other Iraqi leaders today, Tony Snow says Bush was "impressed and reassured" by the "seriousness" they showed when it comes to the political work the "surge" is supposed to be making possible.