To timetable or not to timetable

In January, McCain repeatedly berated Mitt Romney for using the word "timetable" in reference to Iraq policy.

In May, McCain said that combat troops would by out of Iraq by 2013, but made it very clear afterwards that he was not referring to a timetable.

On July 8, McCain clearly stated that there "should not be a set timetable" when responding to Obama's proposal of a 16-month timetable.

When Iraq's president endorsed the 16-month timetable on July 25th, McCain had no problem jumping on:

Asked why Maliki would describe the 16-month policy as “a pretty good timetable,” McCain said, “He said it’s a pretty good timetable based on conditions on the ground. I think it’s a pretty good timetable, as we should — or horizons for withdrawal. But they have to be based on conditions on the ground.”