IRAQ WANTS A WITHDRAWAL TIMETABLE? They’re talking 2011. Tell ‘em “sure.” There’s probably a fair-sized haggling component here, but it doesn’t matter: If they want us to leave, we should say “no problem.” Saddam’s gone, the insurgency’s back is broken, and while big U.S. bases in the area might be a stabilizing force in the region, they might not. Leaving because the elected Iraqi government asks us to is winning, not turning tail and ensuring defeat, which is what we would have done had we listened to Obama, the Iraq Study Group, et al. a couple of years ago.

Of course, ideally we’d leave via Tehran and Riyadh . . . .

IN THE MAIL: Steve Solomon’s Gardening When It Counts: Growing Food in Hard Times.

You have a higher risk of getting an infection in a New York hospital than in any other state.

I think the people in the hospital administration call that “Job Security”.

A meeting between Chemung County and Elmira city officials Tuesday helped clear the air about how the city turned a $3 million deficit at the end of 2005 into a nearly $500,000 surplus in two years.

Hey! AS long as they are happy…