When is not-a-timetable a timetable? The Guardian reports,'The main Iraqi government spokesman, Ali al-Dabbagh, speaking after Obama met the Iraqi prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki, told reporters: "We cannot give any timetables or dates but the Iraqi government believes the end of 2010 is the appropriate time for the withdrawal of forces."

'He added a caveat that if violence, which the US and Iraqi governments say has fallen by 85% over compared with this time last year, was to worsen then the Iraqis will rethink their plan.'