A majority of members of Iraq's parliament have signed a draft bill that would require a timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. soldiers from Iraq and freeze current troop levels. The development was a sign of a growing division between Iraq's legislators and prime minister that mirrors the widening gulf between the Bush administration and its critics in Congress.This is, and always has been, a war of propaganda. And now, as Dick Cheney flies off into the sunset, the Iraqi parliament has just pulled off a master stroke.
The draft bill proposes a timeline for a gradual departure, much like what some U.S. Democratic lawmakers have demanded, and would require the Iraqi government to secure parliament's approval before any further extensions of the U.N. mandate for foreign troops in Iraq, which expires at the end of 2007.
Given all Bush's bullshit "we-standup-down-as-they-stand-up" rhetoric, how can the US power-brokers possibly garner public support for further funding of the war in Iraq, if the "sovereign" (chuckle, chuckle) Iraqi government is telling them to piss off? The Bush Boyz need to find a whole new song to sing, quickly, or get off stage.
Brilliant.
And so a bunch of no-good opportunists in exile have seized control of Iraq, sharing power with the tribal and religious elite. Can they make it work? Who knows. But surely they cannot be any worse than the current mob.
The funny thing is, I remember living in London (oh so long ago) and seeing headlines where the government (under John Major at the time) was basically imploring anyone - anyone! - to come forward and help them challenge Saddam. Well, they got what they asked for. I remember thinking that I should have put in a call to somebody, with some sort of a story, but I was only a young tourist at the time. Just think: I could be the new viceroy by now!
PS: It's funny to write the words "John Major" again after so long. Will anyone, ever, remember him?
