NYTimes: President Bush today proclaimed Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki "the right guy for Iraq... ."
Associated Press: "Thirty Iraqi lawmakers and five cabinet ministers loyal to anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr said they were suspending participation in Parliament and the government to protest al-Maliki's decision to meet with Bush."
LA Times: "At least 215 people were killed in coordinated car bombings Thursday in a Shiite Muslim slum of Baghdad, a stronghold of anti-American cleric Muqtada Sadr and his Al Mahdi militia. Hundreds more died in days of reprisal attacks, as Shiite and Sunni militiamen pounded neighborhoods with mortar rounds and gunfire.
"As the toll grew, Iraqis on both sides of the sectarian divide directed their anger at the United States and demanded an immediate pullout. "
Al Jazeera: "There was a bigger meeting attended by Condoleezza Rice, the US secretary of state and national security adviser, and Jordan's prime minister, foreign minster and intelligence chief. Al Jazeera said the meeting discussed the Iraq issue at length, but it was not attended by al-Maliki."
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The President's grip on reality seems pretty tenuous, doesn't it?
In the last week:
* Bush blamed Iraqi violence on al Qaeda, ignoring the sectarian bloodletting which claimed 250 lives Thursday. Sunni and Shiia death squads? Never heard of 'em.
* The President said the U.S. will settle for no less than "victory" for our children and grandchildren. GRANDCHILDREN? How many generations does he planning for this war to last?
* The Administration Wednesday began circulating hints that they'll reject next week's recommendations from the Bipartisan Committee on Iraq. Posturing, one hopes.
* Oops! The Administration let a memo critical of Maliki leak while the dude was in town. Maliki cancels a high-level meeting with Bush and the Jordanian king in response. Sulks like a petulant child through Thursday's bizarro kiss-up press conference.
* Oops! Iraqi President Jalal Talabani visits Iran to state "brotherhood" of the two nations and secure -- get this -- an Iranian credit line. Shaped-charge land mine: $1000. AK-47s, parts, and ammunition for two thousand Iranian-trained militiamen: $2 million. Getting the Iraqi president to come cap-in-hand to Tehran for a loan? Priceless.
* Oops! The al Sadr coalition walked out of the Iraqi government Thursday.
But Maliki is "the right guy for Iraq." I sure feel better now.
Probably Bush's worst foreign policy week yet. Is it January, 2009, yet?
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