http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/05/30/cheney.iraq/
Iraq insurgency in 'last throes,' Cheney says

...
"I think we may well have some kind of presence there over a period of time," Cheney said. "The level of activity that we see today from a military standpoint, I think, will clearly decline. I think they're in the last throes, if you will, of the insurgency."
...




http://service.spiegel.de/cache/internatio...,366834,00.html
July 25, 2005 Print
CRUMBLING IRAQ
Is the Country Heading for Civil War?

By Georg Mascolo and Bernhard Zand

From the outside, it seems like chaotic violence. But it's worse than that. In Iraq, Sunni Muslim suicide commandos are launching bloodbaths among the Shiites, gradually edging the country toward civil war. Instead of becoming a democratic beacon for the entire region, Iraq is on the verge of disintegrating.
...
Daily pattern of murder

The daily pattern of murder in Iraq is spinning out of control; the death toll is becoming unbearable. Iraqi cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani ruled that the indiscriminate slaughtering of politicians and religious dignitaries, children and the elderly has assumed the dimensions of "mass extermination," and that Iraq is headed in the direction of what he called "genocide."
...


U.S. Sergeant Scott Howards ® of the army infantry from the Stryker brigade stirs a cup of tea next to an Iraqi man while resting in a house during a patrol in Mosul, northern Iraq, July 24, 2005. REUTERS/Andrea Comas


U.S. Staff Sergeant Norman Betts (L) and U.S. Sergeant Scott Howards of the army infantry from the Stryker brigade read a magazine inside a military vehicle in Mosul, northern Iraq, July 24, 2005. REUTERS/Andrea Comas



An Iraqi police convoy patrols the holy city of Najaf July 25, 2005. In an attempt to prevent the type of deadly suicide bombings which have recently occurred in and around Baghdad, the 2000-man Thu Fiqar police brigade has recently begun patrolling the holy Shi'ite city, police officials said. REUTERS/Abu Ali Shish

Armed Iraqi special forces from the Qarra unit of the al-Fuqar Brigade cheer at a base in the holy city of Najaf, 160 kms south of Baghdad. The Qarrar unit, comprising of 2125 trained men, has been assigned to the city following threats on the internet allegedly by the al-Qaida against this holy Shiite Muslim city and the Badr Brigade, the armed wing of SCRI party or the Supreme Council of the Islamic Revolution in Iraq. The Iraqi capital was hit by twin suicide car bombs that killed at least eight people as Australian Prime Minister John Howard, a top US ally, made a surprise visit to Baghdad.(AFP/Qassem Zein )


The body of a unidentified Iraqi solider killed from a suicide bomber's attack lies in a hospital in downtown Baghdad, Iraq, Monday, July 25, 2005. A suicide car bomber detonated a minibus early Monday at a checkpoint near the Sadeer Hotel, once used by American contractors and frequently targeted by insurgents, killing at least five other people and injuring at least 18.(AP Photo/Mohammed Uraibi)


The Iraqi capital was rocked by twin suicide car bombs that left at least eight dead and 27 wounded, less than 24 hours after a massive truck bombing outside a police station. Picture shows the scene of the truck bombing outside the Al-Rashi police station in the Al-Mashtel neighbourhood, southeast of Baghdad(AFP/Sabah Arar)





U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Jim L. Cullen, a rifleman and team leader with 5th Marine Regiment, provides security as his comrades attempt to breach the entrance to a room during a mission in the western Iraq town of Ramadi in this military handout photo released on July 25, 2005. REUTERS/USMC/Cpl. Tom Sloan/Handout




Iraqi soldiers and fireman work on the scene of a bomb blast in Baghdad July 24, 2005. U.S. military said at least 40 civilians were killed in a truck bomb blast outside a police station on Sunday, citing Iraqi police as the source, but the police put the death toll at 22. Photo by Namir Noor-Eldeen/Reuters


Burnt out vehicles are strewn across the street following a truck bombing that detonated outside the Al-Rashid police station in the Al-Mashtel neighbourhood, southeast of Baghdad. Twenty-five people were killed when a suicide bomber blew up a truck full of explosives outside a police station in Baghdad, Iraqi officials said, even though the US military put the death toll at 40.(AFP/Sabah Arar)

A view of the al-Ahrar bridge over the river Tigris in central Baghdad is partially visible through the dust from a sandstorm that is enveloping the city. Twenty-five people were killed when a suicide bomber blew up a truck full of explosives outside a police station in Baghdad, Iraqi officials said, even though the US military put the death toll at 40.(AFP/Liu Jin)


The body of Iraqi taxi driver Abdul-Risha Abaas lies hunched in his vehicle with bullet wounds as his oldest son Mohammed grieves at the roadside, Monday, July 25, 2005, on the outskirts of Baghdad, Iraq. Local TV alleged he was killed in a crossfire, between insurgents and Iraqi and U.S. troops. (AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed)


AFP - Wed Jul 20,12:09 PM ET Mourning : A mother who lost two of her children grieves as the nation observes three minutes of silence for victims of last week's bombings in New Baghdad, an eastern district of this war-torn capital. (AFP/Ali al-Saadi)

More Democracy and freedom....


Iraqi children beg for toys and candy in front of a U.S. military vehicle on patrol in Mosul, in northern Iraq, July 25, 2005. Sunni Arabs said on Monday they would rejoin talks to hammer out a new constitution for Iraq, in the hope of rescuing a political process that has been severely strained by unrelenting bloodshed. REUTERS/Andrea Comas


An Iraqi woman walks past a U.S. military vehicle in Mosul, in northern Iraq, July 25, 2005. Sunni Arabs said on Monday they would rejoin talks to hammer out a new constitution for Iraq, in the hope of rescuing a political process that has been severely strained by unrelenting bloodshed. REUTERS/Andrea Comas


The bodies of two men lie in the back of a pickup truck after an attack by unknown gunmen in southern Baghdad July 25, 2005. Police said gunmen opened fire on a photo studio in the Dora district, killing two men who worked there as photographers. REUTERS/Namir Noor-Eldeen


U.S. Lieutenant Colonel Todd Mc Caffrey (L) of the army infantry from the Stryker brigade interrogates Iraqis in the area were roadside bombs were found during a patrol in Mosul, in northern Iraq, July 25, 2005. Sunni Arabs said on Monday they would rejoin talks to hammer out a new constitution for Iraq, in the hope of rescuing a political process that has been severely strained by unrelenting bloodshed. REUTERS/Andrea Comas


Doctors at the Samarra General Hospital stitch a bullet wound on the head of three year old Mustafa Thamir after he was found sitting alone with his murdered family in their car, Monday, July 25, 2005, in Samarra, 95 kilometers (60 miles) north of Baghdad, Iraq. Mustafa's father Subhi, a local contractor for the US military, his mother, and one year old brother were killed around him when unknown gunmen ambushed the car as they pulled out of the driveway of their home. (AP Photo/Hameed Rasheed)


US troops patrol the site of Sunday's suicide bombing, Monday, July 25, 2005, in Baghdad, Iraq. On Sunday a suicide bomber detonated a truck packed with explosives outside a Baghdad police station, killing at least 39 people in the country's deadliest attack in a week. (AP Photo/Karim Kadim)



The body of Iraqi taxi driver Abdul-Risha Abaas lies hunched in his vehicle with bullet wounds as his youngest son Karim grieves at the roadside, Monday, July 25, 2005, on the outskirts of Baghdad, Iraq. Local TV alleged he was killed in a crossfire, between insurgents and Iraqi and U.S. troops. (AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed)

The body of Iraqi taxi driver Abdul-Risha Abaas lies hunched in his vehicle with bullet wounds as his youngest son Karim, right, and cousin Waleed Abdhullah grieve at the roadside, Monday, July 25, 2005, on the outskirts of Baghdad, Iraq. Local TV alleged he was killed in a crossfire, between insurgents and Iraqi and U.S. troops. (AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed)

Friends and family members of the victims in Sunday's suicide bombing grieve as they carry the coffins near the site of the attack during the funeral procession, Monday, July 25, 2005, in Baghdad, Iraq. On Sunday a suicide bomber detonated a truck packed with explosives outside a Baghdad police station, killing at least 39 people in the country's deadliest attack in a week. (AP Photo/Karim Kadim)





A relative of a boy who died in a suicide truck bomb attack cries after viewing his body at a local hospital, Sunday, July 24, 2005, in the eastern neighborhood of Mashtal, Baghdad, Iraq. A suicide car bomber driving a truck loaded with explosives slammed into the Baghdad police station killing at least 20 people and wounding another 30, police said. (AP Photo/Mohammed Hato)


An Iraqi boy throws a stone into a river next to a U.S. soldier of the army infantry from the Stryker brigade, who is patrolling the area, in Mosul, northern Iraq, July 24, 2005. Iraq will finish writing a new constitution and hold elections at the end of the year even if the country's once dominant Sunni minority continues to boycott the process, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari said on Sunday. REUTERS/Andrea Comas


Iraq and US soldiers search the scene of a suicide truck bomber outside the Rashad police station (not seen) Sunday, July 24, 2005, in the eastern neighborhood of Mashtal, Baghdad, Iraq. A suicide car bomber driving a truck loaded with explosives slammed into the Baghdad police station killing at least 20 people and wounding another 30, police said. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)


Majeed Abdullah breaks down after seeing the body of his son in the wreckage caused by a truck bomb explosion outside of the Rashad police station (not seen) Sunday, July 24, 2005, in the eastern neighborhood of Mashtal, Baghdad, Iraq. A suicide car bomber driving a truck loaded with explosives slammed into the Baghdad police station killing at least 20 people and wounding another 30, police said. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)


Iraqi policemen examine a destroyed vehicle at the scene of a suicide car bombing in Baghdad July 24, 2005. A suicide car bomb outside a police station in east Baghdad killed at least 22 people and wounded 25, police and interior ministry sources said. Photo by Namir Noor-Eldeen/Reuters



A man is carried into a hospital after being wounded in a suicide car bombing in Baghdad July 24, 2005. A suicide car bomb outside a police station in east Baghdad killed at least 22 people and wounded 25, police and interior ministry sources said. REUTERS/Faleh Kheiber


Reuters - Mon Jul 25, 8:54 PM ET British and Australian soldiers participate in a cricket match in the southern Iraq town of Al Muthanna July 9, 2005 in what is being dubbed the 'Desert Ashes Series' that is coinciding with The Ashes series being played in England. The match began with the toss of the coin synchronised with that of the first Ashes test at the Lords ground in London. The Australian team, like their national team, defeated their British counterparts after scoring 221 runs for the loss of only 6 wickets, and then bowling the British out for 102 runs. The Australian team were wearing their national team's one-day uniforms that were donated by the Australia Cricket Board. Picture taken July 9, 2005. EDITORIAL USE ONLY REUTERS/Australian Department of Defence/Handout


An Australian soldier jumps to take a catch in front of an army vehicle as he participates in a cricket match in the southern Iraq town of Al Muthanna July 9, 2005 in what is being dubbed the 'Desert Ashes Series' that is coinciding with The Ashes series being played in England. The match began with the toss of the coin synchronised with that of the first Ashes test at the Lords ground in London. The Australian team, like their national team, defeated their British counterparts after scoring 221 runs for the loss of only 6 wickets, and then bowling the British out for 102 runs. The Australian team were wearing their national team's one-day uniforms that were donated by the Australia Cricket Board. Picture taken July 9, 2005. EDITORIAL USE ONLY REUTERS/Australian Department of Defence/Handout

WOW, PANDA!

That's an excellent post!




My gut feeling on this issue?


Bushco will be pulled down, or at least rendered impotent.
The American people will be so tired of the lies, AND the blood\
that they will increasingly demand immediate withdrawel.
And eventually it will happen.

Almost immediately the Sunni's will begin all out war on the Shiite's.
Backed by the Sunni's from Iran.
(and elsewhere, but the Iranians have the most to gain)
There will be at least a decade of bloodshed with the Sunni intent of genocide for the Shiites.


And in the end, America will be responsible.
And in the end, China will get the oil we so wanted!

And in the end, we won't be safer.
And in the end, the US will lose it's super power status!