Maliki says his Govt Stopped Civil War

Just like that, huh? It seems too convenient, the timing that is. Obviously the Bushies got to Maliki, who warned him if he didn't stop the violence they would get rid of him. But all of this is in time for the highly touted Petraeus report due in a few days. Nothing has changed except a few chairs were moved around on the Titanic:

Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki on Sunday responded to critics in the U.S. Congress, saying his government had kept Iraq from plunging into sectarian civil war.

Maliki told a news conference his critics had crossed what he called a "reasonable line" and were encouraging militants trying to destabilize Iraq.

But for how long:

"They do not realize the size of the disaster that Iraq has passed through and the big role of this government, a government of national unity. The most important achievement is it stopped a sectarian and civil war," Maliki said.

His comments came just over a week before U.S. President George W. Bush's top officials in Iraq present pivotal reports on the country's security and political situation.

[...]But while some security gains have been achieved, no key laws aimed at reconciling Iraq's warring groups have been passed, and Maliki's cabinet has been hit by the withdrawal of nearly half his ministers.