Just in case you were wondering. See, Bush likes to tell us that he’s open to a new direction, but he seems to really enjoy rejecting suggestions and reaffirming his support for what he’s already done.

“I know there’s a lot of speculation that these reports in Washington mean there’s going to be some kind of graceful exit out of Iraq,” the president said during a joint news conference with Mr. Maliki, referring to the panel’s reports that are expected next week. “We’re going to stay in Iraq to get the job done so long as the government wants us there.”

Mr. Bush also said he and Mr. Maliki would oppose any plan to break up the country, which is riven by sectarian violence. The two appeared together after an hourlong breakfast meeting with aides at the Four Seasons Hotel here that was followed by a 45-minute one-on-one session.

Basically there are four options in Iraq: leave, stay there and don’t change anything, up the troop levels and put the country on lockdown, or split it up. I suppose the split it up part would also fall victim to “less/equal/more troops”, but gimme a break here. Six seemed a bit much.

Anyway, Bush is adamant that he’s not even going to consider two of those options. Not on the table. It’s like talking with a child who’s trying to decide what ice cream to get but only wants you to reaffirm the decision he’s already made.

I also find it more than a little revealing that Bush said he won’t accept a “graceful withdrawal”. Apparently the only way we’re leaving is either in flames or with our tails tucked between our legs. More indicative:

The president and the prime minister did not say specifically how they intend to speed the transfer of responsibility for security from American to Iraqi forces, and they did not announce any milestones or set goals by which to measure progress.

Things like this sadden me and make me shake my head. How can we be expected to see progress if you won’t tell us what progress even looks like? Or don’t you believe Iraq will be able to meet these milestones if you set them up?

I keep saying it. We’re teaching Iraq to ride its bike. If we never let go, if we don’t start taking our hands away, they’ll never learn. What we’re seeing now is not only a desire to keep a tight hold on, but to put the training wheels back on.