I'm with Bill Kristol from last night's speech coverage alongside Brit Hume: "The speech didn't matter..." The only things that matter are as follows:
1. Will the plan break the hold of violence across Baghdad?
2. Will the Maliki government uphold its end of the bargain?
3. Will the supply chains from Iran and Syria truly be disrupted/destroyed?
4. Will the Iraqi military finally stand-up?
That's it. No one in America cared about the speech last night - with the exception of the families of the 21,500 who have already been called up. Iraq needs to understand this is the last chance.
And success will come if the answer to those four questions above are all answered affirmitively.
I also agree with Kristol on his observations from two weeks ago: