Maliki Too Busy to Meet With Gates

Robert Gates apparently doesn't rank. When the defense chief flew into Iraq today for a surprise visit with Nouri al-Maliki, he learned the prime minister was simply too busy to see him. The Pentagon is playing down all hints of a snub, explaining that Maliki had to spend hours in meetings with members of parliament incensed about Tuesday's bombings. Maliki agreed late today to squeeze Gates in tomorrow morning, reports the New York Times.

“He certainly doesn’t consider it a snub,” said the Pentagon press secretary. "He completely understands and respects that the prime minister of this country has to be accountable to the legislature.” (More Robert Gates stories.)