Finally they might be getting the picture

There was an article today in the Boston Globe that suggests the Iraqi government (such as it is), with the full support of the U.S., is attempting to find a political solution to the problems in that unfortunate country. What makes this so interesting is the implicit, if not explicit admission that a military solution is just not going to be possible. This is commendable but one wonders why in the world they did not admit this two or more years ago when it was every bit as obvious as it is now. Could it be simply that our present administration simply cannot admit a mistake - ever? Think of all the lives that would have been saved had they had the courage to face the facts and admit the problem in a timely fashion. Didn't we learn this lesson in Vietnam? You cannot win a "war" when the enemy is a populace that does not want you to occupy their country - and it doesn't make any difference how many bombs you drop or innocents you kill. Of course it will be difficult to give up all that oil and control of the Middle East, which was the goal of the neocons illegal and immoral war. Will they continue to dream of establishing permanent bases in Iraq and creating a puppet government that will do their bidding? Or will they finally have to concede defeat and slink away with their tails between their legs? Let us sincerely hope it is the latter.

Now there is a smoking gun on top of a smoking gun, on top of bullets in the smoking gun, on top of a smoking cannon. Blair and Bush are not going to be able to continue to deny the truth. A new leaked British memo, having to do with a high level secret British meeting, makes it quite clear that they knew regime change was not a legitimate reason for going to "war," and therefore they had to find a way to make the "war" legal, which they then attempted to do. Unfortunately they failed to make it legal even though they have tried to pass it off as justified in one way or another. This business of the Downing Street memo and now this is not going to go away no matter how much the Administration or the MSM tries to ignore it. So, in Bush's immortal words, "bring it on."

I fail to understand why Biden keeps trying to reach a compromise with the White House over the Bolton issue. All the Democrats have to do at this point is just stand fast. They have every right to the information they seek. The White House - I should probably say Cheney - is in a genuine bind over this. If they continue to refuse the information they will look very bad indeed, and if they provide it they will probably sink Bolton for sure. So just stand pat and show some spine for a change.

Bush/Cheney poll ratings at an all time low. Congress even lower. Barring another 9/11 (and don't bet on that), look for some real changes come 2006. Maybe happy days will be here again.