Just wondering

I'd like to talk about headlines I've seen over the past couple of days in newspapers I read: One day "Iraq Leaders ask for Timetable of U.S. Withdrawl" the other "Bush says he would Withdraw from Iraq if asked"

So the Iraqi leaders want a timetable and Bush says he will if asked.. Seems to me Iraqi's asked and yet I hear "we have to stay the course." Just wondering who is not listening to who here.