No Ron, what I would like to here from either yourself or dianavan why you think that the MNF in Iraq should have achieved in four years what it took the MNF in Bosnia fifteen to do. All things considered I believe that that is a reasonable question.

As for the expression "lame duck" - I couldn't give a flying fig what the expression means in the US - the perception over this side is as follows:
- You have a President and an administration that is basically being deliberately hamstrung, while your country is under attack.
- You have a Congress that is attempting to force an issue by threatening to withhold funding from US Forces in the field who are currently engaged in combat operations.
- You are about fifteen months away from an election and because of the current political climate and situation all your prospective candidates are running around absolutely shit scared to say anything of any substance on what their position is for fear of jeapordising their chances of sitting in the White House.
- None of the above will change until after January 2009

Now that is what I would call a truly "lame duck" situation for a political system that purports to be the envy of the free world.

It must remind Putin, the Russians and the Chinese, of the good old Jimmy Carter days. They must be laughing their socks off at the internal workings of the "leaders" of the free world. Collectively your politicians couldn't lead a well trained dog on a leash.