As with most purported  "news" it is what did not make the press that is the real story. Of course today the blogs are abuzz with the McCain/Romney smackdown.

Part of the flurry has even made it to the MSM.  Care to guess which part?  Yep, the McCain hits on Romney part. The parts that McCain has, for the most part, gotten a pass on is the utter and complete fabrication that is he is being allowed to spew.

Speaking of timelines let's look at on from last year when timelines, benchmarks and milestones were all the fashion rage (and oh so pre-surge) 

January 2007.  First up to bat: John McCain speaking in favor of cut and run and retreat in defeat if Iraq does not meet "his" timelines and benchmarks.

http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/byauthor/166271

"McCain said Thursday that he hadn't yet decided on precise benchmarks. "They'd have to be specific, and they (Iraqi government officials) would have to meet them," he said.

Asked what penalty would be imposed if Iraq failed to meet his benchmarks, he said: "I think everybody knows the consequences. Haven't met the benchmarks? Obviously, then, we're not able to complete the mission. Then you have to examine your options."

Well Johnny, what are the "consequences" that everybody know?  You complete the thought by saying we will not be able to finish the mission.  Seems pretty clear to me that you are publicly advocating withdrawal.

Now let jump to the next month.  Stepping into the batter's box: President Bush from February of 2007

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/16/AR2007021601461.html

"...We appreciate the fact that he's beginning to meet the benchmarks that he set out for his people," Bush said..."

and

"...Bush said his new ambassador, if confirmed, will carry "a message of urgency to the Iraqi government that our patience is not unlimited and that we expect that government to perform."

Now here is the FULL quote from April of 2007 with Romney on GMA:

QUESTION: Iraq. John McCain is there in Baghdad right now. You have also been very vocal in supporting the president and the troop surge. Yet, the American public has lost faith in this war. Do you believe that there should be a timetable in withdrawing the troops?

MR. ROMNEY: Well, there's no question but that -- the president and Prime Minister al-Maliki have to have a series of timetables and milestones that they speak about. But those shouldn't be for public pronouncement. You don't want the enemy to understand how long they have to wait in the weeds until you're going to be gone. You want to have a series of things you want to see accomplished in terms of the strength of the Iraqi military and the Iraqi police, and the leadership of the Iraqi government.

QUESTION: So, private. You wouldn't do it publicly? Because the president has said flat out that he will veto anything the Congress passes about a timetable for troop withdrawals. As president, would you do the same?

MR. ROMNEY: Well, of course. Can you imagine a setting where during the Second World War we said to the Germans, gee, if we haven't reached the Rhine by this date, why, we'll go home, or if we haven't gotten this accomplished we'll pull up and leave? You don't publish that to your enemy, or they just simply lie in wait until that time. So, of course, you have to work together to create timetables and milestones, but you don't do that with the opposition.

Did Romney say what those timetables were? Where they for withdrawal? Nope Romney was on record in that very interview being expressly against?  Was Romney given credit for being "very vocal" in supporting the surge?  Yep.

Sure Sounds like the Bush quotes confirm what Romney said two months later.  Bush was indeed having conversations with al-Maliki concerning timelines and benchmarks. Wonder when McCain will accuse Bush of being a cut and run, wave the white flag, retreat in defeat liberal too.

Case closed.  McCain is either a lying sack of crap because he knew the truth and choose to willfully "distort" the record or he is so oblivious and intellectually incurious of the information that his staff is feeding him to question and verify the data.  If he did ask to verify the data than that staffer needs to be fired and McCain makes and apology.  If McCain was simply lying then he needs to apologize.

A fair reading of Bush, McCain and Romney on this issue shows that McCain is the one calling for cut and run NOT Romney.