As noted below, Harry Reid was quoted in today's Washington Post essentially saying that he was prepared to compromise with Republicans and be flexible on whether to insist on troop withdrawal timelines this fall.

Because this is pretty eye-opening, and in dire need of some clarification -- is Reid really saying that he's open to funding the war again without withdrawal timelines? -- I emailed his spokesman the following question:

Is the Senate Majority Leader saying here that he's flexible on the question of whether to tie funding to a withdrawal timeline? Is he saying he's open to funding the war this fall without a timetable?

Here's the reply from Reid spokesman Jim Manley:

As he said in the piece, it's time for Republican critics of the war in the Senate to belly up to the bar, because it's absolutely evident that the President isn't going to move from his failed stay the course strategy. While Senator Reid remains absolutely committed to bringing our troops home, the question is whether we can find enough Republicans willing to break with the President to give us the 60 votes necessary.

This doesn't appear to be a direct answer. That fact, coupled with this expression of uncertainty about getting enough Republicans for a veto-proof majority, would seem to suggest that Reid was indeed saying that he's open to funding the war this fall without withdrawal timelines if he can't get the 60 votes.

Is there any other way to read this?

And again -- what exactly does saying this now accomplish?