Uh Oh Sen. McCain!  The McCain campaign might not want to continue its narrative of ”the SURGE is working” regarding Iraq.  In the original interview from SpiegelOnline, Maliki fails to mention the SURGE as one of the contributing factors responsible for the decreasing violence in Iraq.

SPIEGEL: In your opinion, which factor has contributed most to bringing calm to the situation in the country?

Maliki: There are many factors, but I see them in the following order. First, there is the political rapprochement we have managed to achieve in central Iraq. This has enabled us, above all, to pull the plug on al-Qaida. Second, there is the progress being made by our security forces. Third, there is the deep sense of abhorrence with which the population has reacted to the atrocities of al-Qaida and the militias. Finally, of course, there is the economic recovery.