Admiral Michael Mullens
Gates wants more troops for Afghanistan in shift of priorities (click here)
Iraq eyes full security control
BAGHDAD: Iraq hopes to have security control of all its provinces by the year-end, the national security adviser said yesterday, underscoring the government's growing confidence in its own forces.
Mowaffaq Al Rubaie was speaking at a ceremony where US-led troops transferred security responsibilities for the southern Shi'ite Diwaniya province to Iraqi forces.
The handover puts Baghdad in control of security in 10 of the country's 18 provinces, all mainly Shi'ite areas.
"We aspire to reach to the 18th province before the end of this year. God willing, all provinces will be under the control of the Iraqi security authorities before the end of this year," said Rubaie.
US Ambassador Ryan Crocker and military commander General David Petraeus, said the transfer reflected the improved capabilities of Iraqi security forces in the province.
US military officials have been much more cautious about timeframes for handing security control of some of the remaining provinces back, especially in the north and Baghdad....
Bush’s mistake in Iraq was not to go, but to stay: Jonas (click here)
George Jonas, Canwest News Service
Published: Wednesday, July 16, 2008
...Five years ago, at the high noon of his presidency, Mr. Bush appeared to be doing the right thing. Today, as his presidency is winding down, his global policies have fewer and fewer supporters inside or outside the United States. Some old allies, like Britain's Tony Blair, have withdrawn from the arena altogether. Those who remain or have newly entered, like Canada's Stephen Harper or France's Nicolas Sarkozy, are busy with their own agendas. Bush cannot count on his current allies as reliable supporters on any issue, be it the missile shield, the Far East or the Persian Gulf.
Domestically, his situation is better but also worse. Better, because as president he can implement certain foreign policy items without anyone's support, and worse because his support at home is even less than it is internationally....
Let's see if I get this right. There was no criminal charges, BUT, nothing was done right. Sounds like Republican Neocon administration at work to me !
Cases against Iraq IG, deputy, end without charges (click here)
By LARA JAKES JORDAN – 12 hours ago
...Bowen's office polices an uneven reconstruction effort in Iraq that has cost U.S. taxpayers more than $100 billion. His latest report, issued in April, found that millions of dollars of lucrative Iraq reconstruction contracts were never finished because of excessive delays, poor performance or other factors — including failed projects that are being falsely described by the U.S. government as complete.
Cheney claims to be part of the legislative branch of the government because his paycheck is generated from that division of the government accounting office. So, he need Georgie to 'cover his back.' Contempt charges to follow.
Bush claims executive privilege to keep CIA leak records from Congress; contempt vote delayed (click here)
By LAURIE KELLMAN Associated Press Writer
4:43 AM CDT, July 17, 2008
WASHINGTON (AP) _ President Bush invoked executive privilege to keep Congress from seeing the FBI report of an interview with Vice President Dick Cheney and other records related to the administration's leak of CIA operative Valerie Plame's identity in 2003.The president's decision drew a sharp protest Wednesday from Rep. Henry Waxman, chairman of House Oversight Committee, which had subpoenaed Attorney General Michael Mukasey to turn over the documents."This unfounded assertion of executive privilege does not protect a principle; it protects a person," the California Democrat said. "If the vice president did nothing wrong, what is there to hide?"Waxman left little doubt he would soon move for a committee vote to hold Mukasey in contempt of Congress....
