Iraq, Shining Beacon Of Democracy

The whining conserva-crowd has, of late, been crowing that the (royal) "we" have won in Iraq, all is rainbows & lollipops or something. The news sources we prefer indicate that the surge was pretty much bullshit, & whatever reduction in death levels has been achieved is the result of buying off tribal leaders, the conclusion of Baghdad's division into cleansed ethnic enclaves & American forces hiding in their bases. (That keeps American casualties down. Not as much for the inhabitants, however.) But we know nothing, nothing. Let's check w/ an impartial source (not even American).

But so entrenched has the new narrative of success and wind-down to withdrawal become that such events are barely reported in the occupying states. The western media mostly long ago wearied of Iraq and its western-inflicted travails. Meanwhile, the US and its dependent Iraqi administration still hold tens of thousands of prisoners without trial; corruption and torture are rampant; the position of women has sharply deteriorated under US and British tutelage; and more than 4 million Iraqi refugees are still unable to return home - or vote in the less-than-free elections.

On a lighter note:

There is no question that the US has suffered a strategic defeat in Iraq. Far from turning the country into a forward base for the transformation of the region on western lines, it became a global demonstration of the limits of American military power.

Neener neener neener, stupid AmeriKKKan pig-dogs. Blame America first, hate America second!!