It looks as if Bush and Cheney’s view of unitary executive power not only means dictator-like powers while occupying the Whitehouse, but is to extend into their retirement. One assumes that the worse president and vice-president in American history will be calling the shots in retirement from their golf carts on the eighth tee, U.S. Asking Iraq for Wide Rights on War
WASHINGTON — With its international mandate in Iraq set to expire in 11 months, the Bush administration will insist that the government in Baghdad give the United States broad authority to conduct combat operations and guarantee civilian contractors specific legal protections from Iraqi law, according to administration and military officials.
This emerging American negotiating position faces a potential buzz saw of opposition from Iraq, with its fragmented Parliament, weak central government and deep sensitivities about being seen as a dependent state, according to these officials.
At the same time, the administration faces opposition from Democrats at home, who warn that the agreements that the White House seeks would bind the next president by locking in Mr. Bush’s policies and a long-term military presence.
The Iraqis seem to be taking that part of democracy that includes self-determination seriously,US troops will be gone within 10 years, says Iraqi minister
US military forces will not stay in Iraq for anything like as long as some American politicians are demanding, says the Iraqi Foreign Minister, Hoshyar Zebari. He said crucial issues about “Who is in charge in Iraq – we or you?” would be settled in negotiations between Iraq and the United States, starting this month.
If the past four years are any indication Zebari will have to learn that what Conservatives mean by democracy changes from day to day and includes a never ending list of caveats that seem to multiply like rabbits.
For an example of the two faced never ending BS that passes for right-wing insight see the New York Time’s newest beltway demigod Bill Kristol, Punditry Kristolized: Part II by BarbinMD
As it become more clear that Kristol’s dream of being vindicated wasn’t going to happen, he, still insisting that the war was the right decision, began to shift gears:
It is fashionable to sneer at the moral case for liberating an Iraqi people long brutalized by Saddam’s rule. Critics insist mere oppression was not sufficient reason for war, and in any case that it was not Bush’s reason. In fact, of course, it was one of Bush’s reasons, and the moral and humanitarian purpose provided a compelling reason for a war to remove Saddam.
Talk about the necons and their wankerish dreams of American exceptionalism, to be brutalized by Saddam equals bad while being brutalized by a counterproductive and disastrous war based on deception after deception smells like roses.
The Long Goodbye 