From the "It's Not a Bomb, It's a Device that Exploded" Dept.

Link via The Island of Balta. U.S. Emphasizes Intent to Transfer Full Power to Iraqis -- With Limits. The article itself indicates a small fissure in the "Coalition of the Willing." Britain would like it if the new Iraqi government had enough soverignity to "veto specific military operations by the U.S.-led coalition," which, as the same paragraph notes, could be grounds for calling Tony Blair "Monsieur." Of course, this idea was immediately nixed by the US.

As for the new government itself--who the hell with a conscience would want to BE the interim president of Iraq? Doesn't that sound more like a raffle you don't want to win? First prize: one month as interm president. Second prize: a whole year--well, if you survive it.

I keep thinking that Bush is approaching this the way a lazy undergraduate looks at a term paper: five more weeks till it's due=four weeks and six more days of partying. But it's pretty clear Bush won't even make the late night effort. He's paid "Mr. Brahimi" to write it for him.