Links provided, as usual...
Progress progress progress.
That is the latest talking points related to Iraq. John McCain's Speech about this "progress" was trumped by the fact that the Green Zone was pummelled with Mortors, and that yesterday had one of the highest daily death counts in that area of Baghdad. Meanwhile General Patreaus is also bragging about the "progress" in Iraq. Progress so stable that troop withdraws or reductions are on hold. Progress so secure that the ever-problematic government contractor Blackwater had their contract renewed, without consent of the Iraqi government. Finally, progress so certain, that military presence in Iraq is, according to documents sent to the Guardian, indefinate....

A confidential draft agreement covering the future of US forces in
Iraq, passed to the Guardian, shows that provision is being made for an
open-ended military presence in the country.

...

The authorisation is described as "temporary" and the agreement says
the US "does not desire permanent bases or a permanent military
presence in Iraq". But the absence of a time limit or restrictions on
the US and other coalition forces - including the British - in the
country means it is likely to be strongly opposed in Iraq and the US.

    Speaking of John McCain, that endorsement of him by John Hagee is turning out to be more problematic than he had anticipated. And it certainly hasn't strengthened his evangelical support as he had hoped. So has his procrastination of the release of his medical records, which he plans to repair with a meeting of doctors next month to answer questions on his health. Since he has delayed this a few times already, don't hold your breath...

    And Governor Siegelman has been released by the appeals court from his politically motivated incarceration crafted by Karl Rove and Bush's politicized Justice Department. Siegelman is now to testify to congress on the situation. Karl Rove even got a Subpoena of his very own for this one. This should get interesting....