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Thomas E. Ricks' daily take on national security.

Iraq, the unraveling (XXXVI): Friends like these

Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki said he was too busy to see Defense Secretary Bob Gates yesterday. Jeez, I can remember when he would pretend to like us! I think this distancing from the Americans is all part of pre-election politics. I wonder if we really will get kicked out. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

By , a former contributing editor to Foreign Policy.
575616_091211_gates2.jpg
575616_091211_gates2.jpg

Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki said he was too busy to see Defense Secretary Bob Gates yesterday. Jeez, I can remember when he would pretend to like us! I think this distancing from the Americans is all part of pre-election politics. I wonder if we really will get kicked out.

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Thomas E. Ricks is a former contributing editor to Foreign Policy. Twitter: @tomricks1

Read More On Iraq | Middle East and North Africa | North America

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