Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's comments in support of Barack Obama's 16-month withdrawal timetable are bouncing around the net like a superball.

In addition to the previous quotes, try these on for size:

"Whoever is thinking about the shorter term is closer to reality. Artificially extending the stay of U.S. troops would cause problems."

And:

"The Americans have found it difficult to agree on a concrete timetable for the exit because it seems like an admission of defeat to them. But it isn't," Maliki told Der Spiegel.

Where does this leave McCain? How can he attack Obama's plan if the Iraqi PM (and a majority of the parliament, and the population in general) like his plan? The Iraqis don't want U.S. troops to stay for 100 years, 10 years, or even two years.

Does this take Iraq off the table for McCain? And if it does, what does he have left to campaign on?