Gordon JohnD’Oh Does Not Give Or Receive Pause

Q Does it give you any pause that in two days they haven’t been able to establish control — the government, that is — in the second largest city in Iraq?

MR. JOHNDROE: You know, Iraq faces a lot of challenges. So I would say that 48 hours is hardly a lengthy amount of time to regain control in a city that has been dealing with these criminal gangs and special militias for some time.

Stuck On Empty

Q Gordon, you mentioned political progress in Iraq. What’s the status of the law to distribute oil wealth? Where does that stand?

MR. JOHNDROE: You know, I believe the council of representatives has just reconvened this week, after a short recess. I think that is an issue that they are still working on.

He’s The Undecider

Q The President has had three days of briefings now on the way forward in Iraq. I take it he’s not going to signal any conclusion or outcome from those briefings in the speech today.

MR. JOHNDROE: I think the President will say in his speech today that he will talk about his decisions after General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker testify in Congress.

Q So it’s going to be that week after we get back from Europe?

MR. JOHNDROE: Right.