Mahdi about You

I take back my earlier comment about Iraqis not managing to pull off a true U.S.-style democracy. From yesterday's Washington Post:

The top U.S. military commander in Iraq, Gen. George W. Casey Jr., predicted last week that Iraqi security forces would be able to take control of the country in 12 to 18 months. But several days spent with American units training the Iraqi police illustrated why those soldiers on the ground believe it may take decades [stop, think about how many years is "decades"--continue] longer than Casey's assessment.

Seventy percent of the Iraqi police force has been infiltrated by militias, primarily the Mahdi Army, according to Shaw and other military police trainers. Police officers are too terrified to patrol enormous swaths of the capital. And while there are some good cops, many have been assassinated or are considering quitting the force.

"None of the Iraqi police are working to make their country better," said Brig. Gen. Salah al-Ani, chief of police for the western half of Baghdad. "They're working for the militias or to put money in their pocket."

Now that's U.S.-style, at least, Bush U.S. style--where it's best to donate money to Katrina victims that has to go to buy your son's poorly designed educational software.

BTW, what does is say about Bush DNA that in a clever contest Neil doesn't finish last?