This qualifies as the stupidest thing the Maliki team has done…

"…even stupider than Maliki believing that he’s got what it takes to run Iraq in the first place.

This is what the “genius” Da’awa Party apparatchik Hassan Al-Suneid, one of Maliki’s chief aides, had to say to the Associated Press today:

“…Al-Suneid, however, said al-Maliki was intentionally using the displeasure of American voters over Bush's handling of the war to strengthen his position.

"It's al-Maliki's chance to get what he wants. It's a chance for al-Maliki to force a better deal for himself," he said.”

So basically, this is very embarrassing for President Bush; he is being “manipulated” by the guy whose ass he is saving. Maliki knows that Bush is politically vulnerable, and is intentionally turning up the rhetorical heat."
Talisman Gate

Don't really surprise me, Bush has not really showed himself to be a very good judge of character. lacking any himself it's easy to understand why.