ZIp, Zilch & Zero

At this moment, we are sitting on a big pile of nothing. Wait a minute, here's something. The U. N. mandate under which U. S. forces are subjugating Iraq expires 31 December. Why all the bitching about the occupation then? It's over & done w/ at the end of the yr., & Bush will have to preside over the withdrawal. Uh, except...

The proposed Iraqi-American agreement would provide a legal framework for U.S. troops to remain in Iraq after Dec. 31, when their U.N. mandate expires. Sadr views the pact as a blow to Iraq's sovereignty. His main Shiite rival, Abdul Aziz al-Hakim, who heads the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq -- an influential Shiite political party that is part of Maliki's ruling coalition -- has also denounced the plans. Aides to Iraq's most influential Shiite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani, have also expressed concern.

Oh, looks like the U. S. is negotiating w/ its puppet Al-Maliki to stay longer. Kinda like Edgar Bergen & Mortimer Snerd (or Paul Winchell & Jerry Mahoney, if you want your references from the '50s) negotiating w/ each other. Someone's hand is up someone else's booty.