A week's delay is no problem, but if this falls apart, it's a problem. This is the essence of the exit strategy. Without this, it will be hard for the U.S. to point to Iraq as a success.

There's a sensitivity to doing things better than maybe we've done in the past. So we're going to delay a bit from time to time until we get our sea legs.

For many months the US was standoffish from this reform process, which is odd, since reform of the United Nations is a US priority. What the US is finding once again is that as maddening as it can be, the UN is a necessary forum for us - and it will work better if we work to get certain changes done.

The White House is drawing attention to this election, betting that it will be successful and it can point to this as another benchmark in the transition to fuller Iraqi sovereignty.

The U.S. strategy is to water down the document rather than to strengthen it.

I can't tell you why there's a delay, but stick your head out of the window and you'll know why.