Teribus--

Are things hunky dory in Iraq--yes or no? How many Iraqis do you think have been killed in sectarian strife in the past week? And why is that just fine?--since now you're trying to say the Iraqi situation is no worse than many others in the world. Or are they just the eggs that have to be broken to make an omlet?

Interesting that your chosen quibble of the moment is whether it's a provincial or the national government which considers "Coalition" troops to be destabilizing. Don't worry, the day is coming when the US and other "Coalition" forces will be officially asked to leave. Just be patient. Wouldn't want to disappoint you.

The irony, of course, is that if the Coalition forces are seen as destabilizing, it's due largely to a successful disinformation campaign which, among other things, absurdly fingered "intelligence operations of the occupiers and the Zionists" for the Dome bombing. The problem, according to a recent Wall St Journal column by the editor of Middle Eastern Quarterly, is that the only source of news for many Iraqis who cannot afford satellite dishes is Iran's al-Alan TV, which said precisely that.

Another irony is that Bush probably hopes such a declaration (that "Coalition" forces should leave) is issued soon. That would end the US bloodletting in Iraq--and be a handy figleaf for Bush's retreat.