Surprise

Question: Are any of Rummy's layovers in Iraq NOT reported as "surprise visits?" And, if he did announce, how much security do you think it'd require?

Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld urged Iraqi political leaders today to settle their differences and agree on a new constitution quickly, and to exert more influence with Syria and Iran to force them to end support for the insurgency here.

He also warned any undesirables to "get off [his] goddamned lawn."

Mr. Rumsfeld renewed his criticism that Syria and Iran are harboring financiers and organizers of the insurgency, or are failing to clamp down on fighters infiltrating into Iraq from their territory. But he also urged Iraqi leaders to be more aggressive to stop what he called "harmful" behavior by Iraq's two neighboring rivals.

"They need to demonstrate that they're a big country, they're a wealthy country, that they'll be around a long time, and they don't really like it," said Mr. Rumsfeld, adding that he would leave specific actions up to the Iraqis.

You know, it's almost sad to watch the Donald fade into flights of fancy and incoherence (emphasis on ALMOST). Meanwhile, General Casey is likewise engaged in a little bit of reality denial:

General Casey painted an upbeat picture of steadily improving Iraqi security forces pitted against an insurgency that the general said was neither weakening nor gaining strength.

"I wouldn't say that it's necessarily a stalemate," said General Casey. "Insurgencies need to progress to survive, and this insurgency is not progressing. There's been a change in tactics, to more violent, more visible attacks against civilians. That's a no-win strategy for the insurgents."

Of course, General. Why, it sounds like we're "making progress:"

BAGHDAD - Gunmen ambushed a minibus carrying factory workers as it left a project site in Abu Ghraib, on the western outskirts of Baghdad. Police sources said 12 people were killed and nine wounded. A hospital source said as many as 17 may have been killed in the attack.

BAQUBA - An aide of the radical Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr was shot dead while stepping out of his car in Baquba, 65 km (40 miles) north of Baghdad. A police source said Saad Younis al-Difa'ie was head of Sadr's office in the town.

MOSUL - A paramedic and an Iraqi woman were killed and six civilians injured during clashes between the Iraqi army and insurgents in the predominantly Arab district of Risala, in southern Mosul, according to a hospital official.

There were no immediate reports of Iraqi military or insurgent casualties.

BAGHDAD - Three Ministry of Health employees were assassinated when gunmen opened fire on their car in the capital's eastern district of New Baghdad, a police source said.

TIKRIT - Gunmen killed a Pakistani truck-driver in Tikrit, 175 km (110 miles) north of Baghdad. A police source said they found his body in his truck.

BASRA - A police officer was killed when gunmen attacked his car in central Basra, 550 km (340 miles) southeast of Baghdad. A police source said a child was also killed and three civilians injured in the attack. BAGHDAD - Gunmen attacked the Major Crimes Unit in the Karkh area, west of the Tigris river. An Iraqi military statement said one policeman was injured and two suspects were detained.

Ah, from Mosul to Basra, i.e., the entire length of the nation. At this point, I think we should be looking towards total chaos as the ultimate sign of victory.

Mr. Rumsfeld gave his most detailed remarks aboard his plane en route to Iraq.

He said the United States is now overseeing 15,000 detainees, a number that has climbed sharply in recent months as more insurgents are captured in operations but a smaller percentage are released because they are considered higher risk.

American forces currently run detention centers at Abu Ghraib prison outside Baghdad, Camp Bucca near Basra, and Camp Cropper, a site for high-value detainees including Mr. Hussein, near Baghdad International Airport. But the prison population is growing so quickly that the United States will soon open a fourth major prison in northern Iraq. The prison operations are requiring increasing numbers of American military police and prison guards, who are being diverted from other jobs in Iraq.

Well, at least in that respect, Iraq is getting more like the United States. And, speaking of prisoners, here's a wonderful example of how Team Bush shows their "respect for the Iraqi people:"

Two Iraqis at the notorious Abu Ghraib prison were bitten by dogs as they were being handled by sergeants who were competing to see who could scare more detainees, a witness testified Tuesday.

That, uh, technique, apparently was something taught to the Abu Ghraib guards by the team in Guantanamo, along with all sorts of other fun stuff, according to this WaPo article.

Finally, in yet another sign that the insurgency is in it's last throes (remember, we mean the violent version), Al Qaeda claims it killed two Algerian envoys previously kidnapped. Yeah, Operation-Turn-Iraq-into-a-Terrorist-Haven--complete with lots of live training exercises--is proceeding apace. THAT'S apparently the goal of Team Bush.

Surprise.