It's reprehensible enough when an American president puts soldiers in harm's way to make a political point. But the GOP has placed American soldiers at the whim of Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, turning our forces into pawns between political rivals.

Analysts say Maliki's decision to launch the Basra crackdown, instead of carrying through with a promised offensive against Sunni Islamist militants in the northern city of Mosul, lends weight to the Sadrist accusations of a political agenda. The attacks have targeted the Mehdi Army while leaving two other powers in Basra, the Fadhila party and the militant Badr Organisation of the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council (SIIC) -- which supports Maliki's Dawa Party -- largely untouched.

Our soldiers may never surrender, but the Bush administration, John McCain, and blind supporters of this war have been more than willing to surrender our forces to outside control. Coming right on the heels of Iraq visits from both McCain and Cheney, it's clear that Maliki knows the real situation. He knows that he can strike openly at his enemies, and the US military will be forced to expend blood and dollars to back up his threats.

But there is little prospect of a swift victory. The fighting has spread through southern regions, drew the U.S. forces and led to protests in Baghdad by followers of Sadr, who say Maliki is using force to weaken his political rivals.

As the US is increasingly forced to bear the cost of Maliki's political decisions, and Bush, Cheney, and McCain continue to sing of "progress," you have to wonder if any of these men has learned what Maliki clearly knows.

When the puppetmaster tries to control the puppet, the strings go both ways.