Kerry-esque Leadership

Taking a cue from Senator Kerry, who has more waffles than a house of pancakes, Syria has pledged to withdraw troops from Lebanon... Sort of.

DAMASCUS, Syria (CNN) -- Syria, under mounting international pressure after a former Lebanese prime minister was killed in Beirut, has said it will withdraw troops from Lebanon in line with a 1989 Arab-brokered agreement.

However, a government official indicated Thursday there would be no immediate and total pullout as demanded by the international community.

The announcement by Syria, though a reiteration of long-standing policy, was the first government statement since the outcry against Damascus over the February 14 killing of Rafik Hariri.

Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Walid Mouallem said the government was surprised at the "political and media escalation" over its plans to withdraw troops but pledged to cooperate with a U.N. envoy.

He added that Lebanon had to be ready "to fill the vacuum" left by the withdrawal of its troops.

"Yeah, uh, we'll pull back and all, but... Uh... Yeah, Lebanon has to do their part! Yeah, that's the ticket!"