Meanwhile, in Iraq the slaughter goes on

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/middle_east/story.jsp?story=473738

Many had hoped the capture of Saddam Hussein would put an end to the insurgency that has been carrying out deadly attacks against US troops and Iraqi targets. But any such wishfulness was swiftly crushed when suicide bombers killed eight Iraqi policemen and injured at least 30 civilians in two suicide bomb attacks in Baghdad.

In what may well be a clear indication that the resistance to US occupation will continue despite the capture of the former Iraqi leader, two car bombs were detonated outside Iraqi police stations in different parts of the city.

US troops killed 11 attackers after coming under attack in Samarra, north of Baghdad, a military statement said, and in Saddam's home town of Tikrit, a roadside bomb injured three soldiers.

Gunmen ambushed an American patrol in Samarra, 60 miles north of Baghdad, using automatic weapons and rocket propelled grenades but caused neither casualties nor damage to the patrol which called in reinforcements, the statement said.

as was predicted by any sane individual.

from that quote in them movie "Field of Dreams", in paraphrase "If you build it, the people will come". This seems to be what's going on in that roll of the ball into the Fundies, warmongers, Chickenhawks and the BFEE

This paragraph really gets me thinking

Colonel Hamad Ghazban, another Iraqi officer, said of the attackers: "These are al-Qa'ida people. Saddam does not have the power to do these kinds of things. His ability is too weak. Last night we saw him in a hole."

The last thing I like to keep in mind is that Saddam was a creation of secret security apparatus that works out of the US to protect multinational corporations throughout the world. This dismantle of one of their monsters that had gone south is ultimately a failure of that system.

They can spin it anyway they want in the US, but the effects on the multi-national empire they are attempting to protect is real none the less. The US is economy is failing because of the policies these folks have enacted, not from anything the ordinary citizens have done that was less than perfect.

I feel quite comfortable pinning the onus on apparatus these spooks run around in, without any reservation. They are way out of control and they are sprouting enemies thick as weeds

Once the world is in total chaos then it is ripe for the picking. Look at this regime now. They are no holds barred and shafting the peeps every time you turn around like there is no tomorrow. There is no pause, no consideration about how it will appear because they just spin it/PR it with the PR companies they've hired to sell/trick their own people.

When a government hires public relations companies then something is rotten, eh?

At any rate it has come to my mind that they are playing like there is no end in sight and one has to wonder why that is. Evidently, they know something we don't and feel comfortable that they will never leave office. I don't see * squirming in the least or even sweating about the upcoming election.

I hope I'm wrong, believe me, but I think it's in the bag. I don't have a crystal ball so I can only speculate that it would have to do with rigged votes, another attack that causes lockdown, or something akin to China's SARS epidemic. Heck, maybe it could just be another war victory or pulling OBL outta the hidey hole they've stuck him in at the most appropriate time.

Don't get me wrong...I will continue like it isn't so, but deep inside I just have that horrible feeling that it is all for naught. I pray I am VERY wrong!

Nothing really is that new under the sun. Their ways have gotten more elaborate, but the contemptible way they do them never does. The national security state has a lot influence over people in the US, but they never seem to realize that power is greatly diminished as soon as it crosses the border.

A lot of countries are now coming realize much of that military power is a façade and are un-girdling themselves economically. * has the military bogged down in many places, they are starting to look like they not that much of a threat, especially with the performance that is going on in Iraq. * never understood the most powerful place for a pistol is in its holster.