Re: What now?

["bon moun" <sherrynstan@xxxxxxx>]

Perhaps I'm just in denial, or I'm just stubborn as hell, but I don't
see the closure they are all crowing about.  We said there would be a
military defeat.  We even knew there would be triumphalist shots of
cheering people.  But I think it's premature to write the last chapter
here, and I was one that was surprised by the level of Iraqi resistance,
declaring quick victory a certainty.

Chaos reigns in every city along the line of march.  Kirkuk and Mosul
are not yet taken.  Baghdad is FAR from secured.  Even the "moderate"
mullahs have issued a fatwa calling this an "Israeli" occupation.  The
attacks on the journalists (I don't for one second think they were
accidental) are probably an attempt to get the witnesses out (to prevent
them seeing... what?).  Symbolic victory, like occupying a palace or
pulling down a statue, is not the same as a consolidated military
occupation.

The confrontation with the Kurds is already taking shape.  Chalabi and
his crew are already contesting with their benefactors for power.  The
Russians are fuming.  And a Zionist general is about to be installed as
the viceroy.

This ain't over.