Same as the old boss

Pre-emptive war? Well, why not? I mean, it's always worked so well in the past:

"Republican Sen. John McCain refused Wednesday to rule out a pre-emptive war against another country, although he said one would be very unlikely.

The likely Republican presidential nominee was asked Wednesday at a town-hall style meeting if he would reject "the Bush doctrine of pre-emptive war," a reference to Bush's decision to invade Iraq without it having attacked the United States." [...]

"McCain said he would consult more closely and more carefully "not with every member of Congress, but certainly the leaders of Congress.""

So that means what? He'd email 3 or 4 people about it and then it's "Yee-haw, bombs away!!!"? Well, that's reassurring! Thank god Bush's pre-emptive war doctrine so totally decimated the Republican Party that they won't be in power for another umpteen-million years.. err...

Operation "Enduring Presence"

The US isn't in Iraq for a good time, they're there for a long time:

"President Bush on Monday signed a deal setting the foundation for a potential long-term U.S. troop presence in Iraq, with details to be negotiated over matters that have defined the war debate at home — how many U.S. forces will stay in the country, and for how long.

The agreement between Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki confirms that the United States and Iraq will hash out an "enduring" relationship in military, economic and political terms. Details of that relationship will be negotiated in 2008, with a completion goal of July, when the U.S. intends to finish withdrawing the five combat brigades sent in 2007 as part of the troop buildup that has helped curb sectarian violence."

July 2008 is when they plan on finally withdrawing the "surge" troops? Wasn't that supposed to have been almost a done deal by now?

Well okay, we knew the Bush administration would just bully its way through any obstacles those dickless wonders in Congress tried to put up to extending this illegal, chickenshit war. But what's really ominous about this particular deal is that it means there'll be a US military presence in Iraq well into the next administration. Or forever.

I have to feel sorry for Americans who expected things to take a turn for the better, or at least the different, after November 2006. It must be like having your car stall out on the railway tracks and being caught up in your seat belt as the train speeds towards you. Unable to stop it, unable to escape.