From Juan Cole:The New York Times says that President Bush called Abdul Aziz al-Hakim, the Shiite leader. But the call seems to have been to no avail if the Shiites did not come to Barzani’s home for negotiations. The Americans are annoyed that the Shiites recently came up with this demand for a southern confederation and are urging them to compromise with the Sunni Arabs, fearful that any other course will prolong and exacerbate the guerrilla war. Poor Bush, who once ordered mighty armies into war and tampered with the US Constitution through his Draconian “PATRIOT” act, now is reduced

Jonathan Scharwz tells “A Funny Little Story About the Media” — and reveals a mountain of truth about the way the American Establishment really operates in this remarkable post on his excellent blog. (And for laughs — albeit the bitter laugh of painful truth — check out this earlier posting: We Must Protect Our Precious Creek-Based Fluids. The title alone is worth the price of admission.) We won’t excerpt the media story here; you should read the whole thing.

If you’re white, you’re all right. Same as it ever was, same as it ever was….

Terror From the Right
Southern Poverty Law Center (via Buzzflash)

Ten years after the Oklahoma City bombing left 168 people dead, the guardians of American national security seem to have decided that the domestic radical right does not pose a substantial threat to U.S. citizens.

There’s a very interesting debate going on right now at Informed
Comment, where Juan Cole – one of the most important and indeed
informed voices throughout the entire Iraqi debacle – has laid out his
strong case against an immediate end to the U.S. occupation. Cole made many good points, well worth serious consideration. He has now gallantly posted a respectful but powerful rebuttal to his case,
from Gilbert Achcar. The whole exchange is a good example of the kind
of debate that should be taking place throughout the American power
structure – not just in the blogosphere.

For

Shocking Peek Behind the Scenes (NY Post, via Buzzflash)

Every time something like this surfaces — a glimpse behind the curtain
at the true world of politics, the pettiness, the vanity, the cynical
sham — it’s like one of Gore Vidal’s novels come to life.