"The progress here in Iraq has been remarkable when you really think about it."

George W. Bush, June 13, 2006:

Especially if by thinking, you mean not actually thinking.


June 13, 2006 (REUTERS/Ceerwan Aziz)


June 13, 2006 (AFP/Marwan Ibrahim)


June 13, 2006 (AP Photo/Hameed Rasheed)


June 13, 2006 (AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed)


June 13, 2006 (AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed)


June 13, 2006 (REUTERS/Slahaldeen Rasheed)

But in fairness to President Bush:

June 12, 2006 (AP Photo/Hameed Rasheed)

Number of bodies in Baghdad Morgue:

Prior to March 2003: 200 to 300 bodies a month

Number of Bodies received in Baghdad morgue each month in 2006: 1,000 plus, with increasing numbers each month in March, April and May.

Killing in Baghdad increased after the occupation, but it has flourished under the militia explosion and the creation of what Iraqis commonly refer to as death squads.

"Most of those brought dead here have been tortured by beating, electricity, acid, drills, and by other horrible ways," said an Iraqi who refused to give his name. "When any Iraqi is arrested by police now it means we will find his dead body in Baghdad's streets after some days. Because of all this killing, this morgue is not enough."

From the New York Times:

By now, Americans surely know the difference between a presidential publicity stunt and a true turning point in this ever-lengthening war. If they had any question about which one this was, Karl Rove provided some guidance in New Hampshire, where he delivered the campaign talking points to the Republican faithful: the Democrats could never have summoned the will to kill Mr. Zarqawi. For an administration that is supposed to be rallying a nation at war, it was a revealingly nasty, partisan and divisive moment.

How much did this little stunt cost? Since following the logic of Steve King (Moron-Iowa) Baghdad is safer for his wife than Washington [I for one, cheer Ms. King for going to Baghdad to hunt for Gucci deals and car bomb components] why did Bush have to fly in so secretly; with no notice; land and take off evasively and fly in a helicopter surrounded by other helicopters at low altitude? Why did he stay only five hours; fly off under cover of darkness and only visit a small portion of the small portion of Iraq that is the Green Zone?

All to look al-Maliki "in the eye"

How about you fly his ass over here?

So much idiocy so little posting space.