I hope I'm just being paranoid

Well, what with the present experiment in Middle East Liberation and Democracy going so well that U.S. Embassy workers in the "secure" Green Zone are being told to wear protection, not only do we have Bush & Rice (sounds like an entree at Outback) insisting that the "military option must stay open" and Shotgun Dick growling at Iran that the Persian Gulf is OURS, dagnabbit, and must therefore stay open to traffic or by golly he'll shoot someone in the face, I'm getting kind of anxious about this Iran thing again.

What's brought it to a head is the festival of low-flying jets over our house this past week. Jets probably from McIntire Air National Guard Base (check out the creepy disclaimer at the bottom of that Web page). McIntire hosts the 169th Tacitical Fighter Wing, whose primary mission is what's known as "SEAD":

SEAD (pronounced: see-add or seed), or Suppression of Enemy Air Defences, also known as "Wild Weasels" and "Iron Hand", operations are military actions to suppress enemy surface-based air defences (Surface-to-air missiles (SAMs) and anti-aircraft artillery (AAA)), primarily in, but not limited to, the first hours of an attack.

Just sayin', I don't think there are a lot of antiaircraft batteries in Iraq or Afghanistan. Iran, now, that's a different case entirely. These guys are doing some heavy training for SOMETHING.

Never mind me. I'm just being nervous, that's all.

More like this, please

From the Rocky Mountain News:

In the end, President Bush's failure to heed the will of the people isn't so much an act of principle, but rather an outburst of sheer peevishness. With Democrats in control of Congress, he's no longer getting a blank check to fund his military adventures. He finds this frustrating, so he's stamping his foot, covering his ears, and taking his party down with him.

All this is exactly what one would expect in the way of a political farewell gesture from a spoiled rich kid who never grew up. Future generations of historians will note George W. Bush made a mess of every real job he ever had - and, unfortunately for America, the presidency of the United States proved to be no exception.

The adults are in charge, my ass.



He might have gotten bigger, but he never did mature...

Back from the shadows again

Shadowy Iraq office accused of sectarian agenda

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- Iraq's prime minister has created an entity within his government that U.S. and Iraqi military officials say is being used as a smokescreen to hide an extreme Shiite agenda that is worsening the country's sectarian divide.

The Office of the Commander in Chief has the power to overrule other government ministries, according to U.S. military and intelligence sources.

"Overruling other government ministries"?



"They're just exercising the powers of a 'unitary executive'. Nothing wrong there."


According to a U.S. intelligence source, the Office is "ensuring the emplacement of commanders it favors and can control, regardless of what the ministries want."

Appointing people to offices on the basis of political loyalty?



"Sure, Brownie, you got no experience, but hell, how much experience does head of FEMA need anyway? Not like we'll lose a major city on your watch or anything."

Look of fear!

Among the cases, an Iraqi colonel in Baghdad, who had made strides in controlling the Shiite Mehdi militia, was removed from his job, the U.S. military official said.

People forced out of their jobs by partisan politics?



"Those military officials serve at the pleasure of the Commander-in-Chief. Nothing wrong with that!"

Well, slap me silly and call me cornpone!

Bassima al-Jaidri, an adviser in the Office, was described by a senior U.S. military official as "a rabid advocate" with a Shiite agenda who uses her position to intimidate members of Iraq's security forces.

Intimidating the country's security forces?



"You guys are gonna find links between Saddam and al Qaeda, RIGHT? Or do I have to come down to Langley and shoot a couple of you in the face?"

Gasp! CHOKE!

The senior Iraqi army officer told CNN that the presence of the Americans was preventing the actions of the Office from being devastating, but he worried about what would happen when U.S. forces ultimately leave Iraq. At that point, the officer says, there will be no restraint on the activities of the Office.

Yes, nothing good can come of shadowy, secretive government offices. They might even, god forbid, make their own foreign policies!



"Remember to take them a cake and a Bible when you go. That's always a nice touch."

Phee-yew! That shadowy Iraqi government agency is sure scary, isn't it? Not a very good development for Iraqi democracy, I say. Thank god that kind of thing could NEVER EVER happen here.