Mission still not accomplished

First story: Salem Chalabi, the man organising the trial of Saddam Hussein, has been sacked after allegedly failing to return from Britain to face a murder charge in Iraq. Chalabi, whose uncle, Ahmad Chalabi, is the controversial founder of the Iraqi National Congress, has been removed as the head of the Iraqi special tribunal responsible for Saddam's case, congress officials said. The move comes almost a month after an Iraqi judge issued a warrant for his arrest on suspicion of murdering a senior official in the Finance Ministry.

Second story: the Royal Institute of International Affairs (aka Chatham House) has published a report on the transition of Iraq, in which they conclude: There are three possible scenarios for the future of Iraq. The most probable scenario is that Sunni, Shi’a and Kurdish factions will fail to cohere under the transitional governments, leading to fragmentation and civil war.

And going back to the first story again: A US military official said on Monday that US soldiers and their allies were attacked an average of 87 times a day in August, the highest figure since US and British forces deposed Saddam Hussein and his government 17 months ago.

Wheee.

Bernd, and a meme

Free Bernd. How can you resist that face? (I *think* the threat is in jest. I certainly hope so.)

( Frighteningly accurate meme: )