McCain touts Iraq plan in Baghdad

April 2, 2007—AP BAGHDAD, Iraq — After a heavily guarded trip to a market, Sen. John McCain said Sunday that a U.S. — Iraqi security crackdown in the capital was working.... "These and other indicators are reason for cautious, very cautious optimism about the effects of the new strategy," said McCain, who led a Republican congressional delegation to Iraq. (More)

Oh what a tangled web he wove when Mr. Straight Talk decided to blame the media for the public's dire views on the Iraq war. McCain straight — talked himself right into a trip to Iraq. It all began when he claimed that the troop surge had already made some streets in Baghdad safe enough for an American to stroll down. And that the American media based in Iraq haven't been reporting that fact. US media folk in Iraq, where 90 reporters have been killed strolling down those very streets, took umbrage. “Oh yeah, McCain,” they replied, “Prove it.”

With support for his Presidential bid already slipping, and contributors sitting on their wallets, McCain had no choice but to take up the challenge. He had to go to Iraq and stroll down a street. So he did ... accompanied by General Petraus and several hundred security forces providing “perimeter security.” After which McCain said, “See, I told you so.” (Another mission accomplished.)

What McCain did not mention at his Baghdad news conference was that other Americans “strolling” down Iraqi streets that same day didn't enjoy their walks as much as he did. Six US soldiers were killed Sunday in southwest Baghdad, a British soldier was killed, and 20 bullet — riddled bodies were found Sunday, most of them in Baghdad. In Tuz Khormato, north of Baghdad, a bomb killed three people and wounded four at a market. In Mosul, a suicide truck bomber killed two civilians and wounded 22 people, including 15 soldiers, at an Iraqi army building, a police spokesman said.

Memo to McCain: Meet Henry Kissinger for lunch, ASAP. He has a reality check for you.

500 Iraqi Civilians Killed last Week

April 2. Baghdad — After a violent week that claimed the lives of some 500 Iraqis, and the weekend combat deaths of six U.S. soldiers, U.S. and Iraqi military officials acknowledged Sunday that it will take time for the effects of a much — vaunted security crackdown in Iraq to be felt. (More)

The Surge is “working?” I don't know about you, but I measure progress a bit differently. If this is “working” I can't wait to see what failure looks like. All Bush's surge did is move the murderous venue from the heart of Baghdad to the suburbs and beyond. (The toothpaste tube effect.)

But Bush's Baghdad surge did do Shiite militia leader, Muqtada al — Sadar, a huge favor. Before the surge al — Sadar's militia had become an unruly lot. Lots of wanna — be fighters joined up, but not all for the same reasons. Some just wanted a license to kill. Others wanted to license to steal. Al — Sadar was finding it harder and harder to control his own militia. Bush's surge offered him a way to purge the posers and disobedient. When the surge began Al — Sadar ordered his fighters not to oppose it. That explains the drop in violence in Shiite — controlled areas of Baghdad. Then those fighters who disobeyed al — Sadar's orders where left to fight, be captured or killed. Disobedience problem, solved – thanks to George W. Bush. That little favor came on the heels of getting rid of Saddam for the Iranians. (Heck of a job, Georgie.)

Memo to World Tryrants: Need a hand? Call George.

Hillary Clinton Raises Big Cash

NY Sun, April 2 — Senator Clinton's record — breaking fund — raising numbers in her bid for the Democratic presidential nomination may be met or surpassed by Senator Obama, her leading Democratic opponent...The $26 million Mrs. Clinton raised during the first quarter of fund — raising in the 2008 presidential cycle nearly triples first — quarter fund — raising records by any past Democratic candidate. (More)

I don't know who is giving Hillary all this money, or why, but Democratic Party leaders better get the wooden stake pounded into that creature's heart before she actually bags the nomination. Because if she does end up being their party's nominee there are only two possible outcomes, and neither is good. First she could lose to the Republican nominee. Or she could win. And if you think there are millions of Republicans mourning the day they caste a vote for George W. Bush, just wait and see what four years of President Hillary Clinton does to the Democratic Party. The only good news is that Obama seems to have raised almost as much money as Hillary. And you can bet that the Duchess is “not amused” by that.

Memo to Obama: Hire someone to start your car for you until she cools off.

Gonzales Has To Wait Until April 17 To Testify

April 2, 2007 — Washington, D.C. (AHN) — Democrats are now the ones stalling over hearing testimony from Attorney General Alberto Gonzales concerning his role in the firings of eight U.S. prosecutors. Gonzales is scheduled to testify on April 17. And although the White House had earlier objected to Gonzales testifying under oath, it is now pushing Congress to move that date up....We are absolutely confused by the White House position," said Sen. Dick Durbin, D — Ill., speaking on "This Week," CNN news reported Monday. "For the longest time, Alberto Gonzales wasn't going to come, maybe much later. Now the White House can't wait to bring him in." (More)

So, you asked yourself, “what's that all about?” What it's about is that Seedy Gonzales wants to testify before disaffected (read “fed up,”) career DOJ employees leak any more internal documents showing that Gonzales and Rove operated a two — man political hit — squad to “put the Bush imprint on DOJ for decades to come.” The sooner Gonzalez can testify the less evidence he will have to deny exposing himself to Libby — ization.

Memo to Gonzalez: Resign and let the experts over at the White House do their own lying. They've had more practice.

Planet Earth warned its on "highway to extinction"

April 2, 2007 — International experts are meeting in Brussels to discuss the impact of global warming. Belgium's Prime Minister, Guy Verhofstadt, opened the talks with a reminder of the last summit's stark warning. "The consequences of global warming are becoming ever clearer and their impact looks like being far more dramatic then we had previously imagined."... A key element of the conclusions due Friday is that earth is on a so — called "highway to extinction" with the number of species dying out rising in relation to the heat, as does the number of people who may starve, or face water shortages, or floods. (More)

Great. As things get ugly in the years ahead, just remember the conservatives who were paid off by the energy lobby to do for them what the “smoking doesn't causes cancer” deniers did for Big Tobacco – lie. This is another instance where the term, “get the rope,” resonates with me.

GAO: Looming Threat to US Oil Supply

Friday 30 March 2007 — A report released Thursday by the non — partisan Government Accountability Office concludes that worldwide oil production will eventually grind to a halt and the United States has no strategy in place to deal with the possible catastrophic results.....Congressman Roscoe Bartlett (R — MD) called the report "a clarion call for leadership at the highest level of our country to avert an energy crisis unlike any the world has ever before experienced." (More)

This story may actually be the only piece of good news in the litter today. Since we seem determined to continue down the path of least resistance nothing short of running short of oil may be what it takes for us to switch to something that's not going to end life on earth as we know it. Having said that though I have to add that I am appalled that so far the best “Plan B,” folks in Washington have come up with is burning food (corn) for fuel. It's no accident that the corn/ethanol bandwagon is being sponsored by an unholy alliance between Big Energy and Agri — business. If they succeed with their ethanol — from — corn scam, get ready for the $15 a pound steak, the $10 a box morning cereal and $5 Mars Bar (corn syrup, you know.)

Sweet deal, huh?
 

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