including that we didn't have the man power and did not intend to actually hold the areas (outside Baghdad) we were clearing -- for instance -- as well as continued assessment of the Iraqi forces' likely performance as doubtful to dismal.

Actually, there have been other statements apparently telegraphing our intentions -- whether a ruse or not, I can't say -- but declaring we're gonna have Fallujah cleared by August, when that push has not yet begun ... well ...

Ordiano (sorry for spelling) -- I love your interpretation ... that (at least) this suggests that "the enemy" (tm) is within Iraq's borders.

Every time our various "leaders" get all het up with insisting that, say, Iran, Syria, Lebanon and Turkey tighten up their borders to, essentially, help us out, my eyes glaze over -- yeah, like they're all gonna mobilize massive forces to help us, when a substantial amount of traffic is just citizens conducting business as usual and Iraqis trying to get the hell out of Iraq by land. We should really try making the same demand on Mexico and see how far it gets us... oh, yeah, we tried that a few years ago ... they laughed.

and may well have opportunities in the future. Stephanie, irrc, has regularly dismissed Williams, but he has had a career many would envy -- worked with the best people, won and Oscar and other awards. In my opinion, the entertainment world is not particularly kinder to aging once-young men than it is their female counterparts. That middle-aged thickening (see also Chevy Chase and Steve Martin who unfortunately for us all re-made many of the best middle-aged roles when they was still relatively young) is unkind to comedians (Billy Crystal) and actors (John Cusak, James Spader) alike.

Some people are blessed an enduring sense of lightness -- most thicken with age.

Oh, and one of Carrell's first big-budget picture parts was in that classic "Curly Sue" ...

Williams has attempted to morph his screen persona to accompany parts available and the effects of aging ... glancing at IMDB, his "heartwarming" groaner period seemed to have ended and turned to playing creepy sinister types.

Face it, there aren't a lot of great roles out there. Carrell is -- surprisingly -- only 10 years younger ... we'll just have to see what parts he's offered in the next decade. While Stephanie is worrying aloud about how awful a jesus-inspired "franchise" might be for US -- or rather for HER -- it might well allow Carrell the opportunity to develop OTHER better projects "on the side" although Chevy Chase (10 years older than Williams, 20 years older than Carrell) really never seemed to use his fortune "creatively" (no producer credits)... while Williams has producer credits for both Mrs. Doubtfire and Jakob the Liar ...

Steve Carrell has been very lucky and/or selective ... he's next to be seen in a movied escribed as a romantic comedy (Touchstone) called "Dan in Real Life" opposite Juliette Binoche and Dane Cook ( to be released October 2007) and is currently filming as Maxwell Smart in a "Get Smart" movie

I wish Steve Carrell every success ... however, doing as "badly" as Robin Williams or Chevy Chase or Steve Martin (last seen, irrc, in that awful Inspector Clouseau movie) is nothing to sneeze at.

this morning: Slate's Today's Papers (links in original)

at http://www.slate.com/id/2169010/nav/fix/

USA Today leads with word that the U.S. military is "exploring creative ways" to reward tribes in Iraq who decide to join the fight against insurgents. Besides the always-reliable cash payments, the U.S. military is also offering medical assistance and making it easier for those who help out to get security contracts. Meanwhile, the U.S. military wants the Iraqi government to work around requirements so that these tribe members can join Iraq's security forces as quickly as possible.

and -- snip --

Although formal talks on an Iraq compromise have yet to begin, the LAT says that Defense Secretary Robert Gates and U.N. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad have been "quietly" consulting with members of Congresss, where the issue of a "sharply decentralized Iraq" has frequently come up as more lawmakers seem to be warming up to the idea. Although the White House has dismissed proposals that would divide or decentralize Iraq, there are hints that the administration might be willing to consider the option.

also this morning: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/world/4917338.html

June 25, 2007, 8:04AM

Iraq bomber strikes U.S.-allied sheiks

By BUSHRA JUHI Associated Press Writer

© 2007 The Associated Press

BAGHDAD — A suicide bomber apparently targeting a meeting of U.S.-allied Sunni sheiks penetrated layers of security and blew himself up in a hotel lobby on Monday, killing four tribal leaders and at least eight others, police reported.

... now, what was plan B again????

("decentralized iraq" appears to be the new code name for Happy Kurds in the oil-rich North, Happy Shiia in the oil-rich South, and Al-Sadr and Sunnis rotting in the non-oild producing Baghdad-containing middle)

imho, it's one thing if Ralph Nader runs a third party campaign -- knowing that he cannot win -- yes, damn him, siphoning off some voters who, again imho, the Democratic Party not only tossed overboard...

At some point, something's gotta give. The Nader/Green voters don't like Clinton either ... and while that historically means zero to the DLC, there's all these other folks who seriously lukewarm to cold to icy cold about the lady for whatever-the-fuck reason.

If Clinton's numbers don't improve -- I predict Bloomberg will enter the race ...

I too am impressed by Edwards every time I see him ... and it's rare for a mainstream candidate to impress me. Obama is also impressive, he just strikes me as awfully young ... and we are in truly perilous times and the next decade is going to be very very very hard regardless who wins.