now we need them to define ‘national interest’.

that’s when things should get really, erm, interesting.

because they can list our national security, but patraeus has already admitted that we are no safer now than before our invasion. ‘peace and safety in the region’ doesn’t fly either because we don’t know what that would look like either, and it sure won’t happen as long as we’re there.

no matter what answer they offer, it only further begs the question, and we all know ultimately where this thread will lead.

we’re there to control the oil. they can dance around it all they want, but that’s the bottom line. strategically, that resource is even more important than the geographical location.

and oil is why we must subdue iran, as well. they’ve gotten way too uppity about this bizarre notion of owning their own resources, just like that scary dude chavez, and they’d love to just shut us out of the entire process.

but these american powers that be can’t let that happen because their entire world, their empire has been built with oil as the currency, and to abandon it would pull the plug on their immense wealth and the subsequent control over the world they’re determined to dominate.

or destroy. they can’t seem to tell the difference. or maybe it’s more like there is no difference despite all their efforts to deny any connection one to the other, or even of themselves to either.

April 9, yesterday, marked the fifth anniversary of the fall of Saddam Hussein. But for many Iraqis, it was more notable for marking the beginning of a long-term American military occupation of their country.

The US military was so little in control after five years that two mortar shells slammed into the Green Zone, the American HQ in Iraq. On Sunday, a similar attack killed two US military personnel while they were jogging.

It was a somber anniversary. In Baghdad, Samarra, Tikrit and some other places, vehicle bans and curfews were in place to stop there being any demonstrations or violence to mark opposition to the occupation.

More here:

http://www.juancole.com/

A perfect and “clarified thinking” type of read after another round of hearings…

Pelosi, too bad she didn’t get the joke. But the problem she was faced with was that some “righty” bloggers and radio mouths picked up the words but not the context of them and had a “day” with it. Colbert got enough mileage out of the “righty” talk radio blunderers taking it out of context for about a week. Dems spent the week having to constantly put the words in context…It was crazy.

On topic:

Having a brother serve for 4.5 years in Iraq with little down time (how could one get sufficient breaks if there 4.5 years) I am thankful for Wexler’s question. I might add that more who serve for us in D.C. be more in contact with constituents and the great citizenry to get our questions, our concerns and our desire for government accountability of our leaders. When the questions come from “the people” there is a reality base to the questions which is cogent, relevant and unavoidably needing honest answers, not sound bites or propaganda.

1) has anyone actually seen the text of this thing? I can’t seem to find it, though I did finally come up with a reference to a treaty from 2001 (fascinating little document from the US Embassy, full of references to the activities of the GOP —Government of Paraguay, naturally); and

2) since on the one hand the MCA would keep W et al. from being indicted here so long as it’s in force, but on the other Paraguay is still a ratified member* of the International Criminal Court**, how would this non-extradition thing offer protection if the ICCt found a way to go after one of them?

*Other members include Afghanistan, Albania, Hungary, Jordan, Liberia, Macedonia, Poland, Romania, and many European countries that have airports. Unratified signers include Egypt, Syria, and Thailand.

**It appears from the ICCt’s own jurisdictional statement that an exception to the rule that either the crime be committed in the territory of a member, or that the accused be a national of a member state is referral by the UN Security Council. Would that happen next year? Probably not. But there’s lots more time after next year.

Robert Wexler is a Congressman representing the 19th District of Florida and I know this because he was interviewed by Stephen Colbert, where in jest he said:

“I enjoy cocaine because… it’s a fun thing to do.
I enjoy the company of prostitutes for the following reasons: … because it’s a fun thing to do. Much like cocaine. If you combine the two together, it’s probably even more fun.”

After that, Pelosi reportedly told all congresscritters not to go on Stephen’s show …