Wah! Wah!

BULLY BOY PRESS & CEDRIC'S BIG MIX -- THE KOOL-AID TABLE

CELEBRITY IN CHIEF BARRY O TOOK TO THE AIRWAVES LAST NIGHT TO WHINE ABOUT HOW HARD IT IS TO WORK. IMAGINE IF AMERICA'S PRINCESS HAD TO WORK A 40 HOUR WORK WEEK AND PUNCH A TIME CLOCK. LITTLE DEAR MIGHT BREAK A NAIL.

BARRY O JUST KNEW HE'D GET SYMPATHY BUT IT APPEARS AMERICA IS NOW BORED WITH UNTALENTED CELEBRITIES WHO ARE MERELY FAMOUS FOR BEING FAMOUS.

FROM THE TCI WIRE:

Staying with the US-Iraq topic, the Washington Post's Ed O'Keefe Tweets:

@edatpost edatpost

In #Iraq, Pres. Talabani postpones 'until further notice' meeting w/ top leaders re: future of #US troops in Iraq, makeup of Cabinet.

2 hours ago via HootSuite

Over the weekend, Al Mada noted that the two-week deadline (imposed by Jalal Talabani) has passed. Two weeks ago, the president of Iraq threw his latest house party (a meet-up between various political blocs) and announced that day to the press that in two weeks there would be an answer as to whether or not Iraq wanted to ask the US military to stay. Some argue that there's too much conflict between the political blocs to work it out while the National Alliance's Abdul-Hussein Abtan notes that there are a host of issues that are also postponed such as basic services, apparently arguing that this is one of many decisions that the government needs to be making. Alsumaria TV carried the accusation by Izzat al Shabander (State of Law) that "certain political parties" (he's accusing Iraqiya) are responsible for the failure to reach a decision. Mohammed Tawfeeq and Chelsea J. Carter (CNN) note, "Talabani's office declined a CNN request for comment. Al-Maliki's office referred questions to Talabani."

Staying on Iraq and the US, Sam Stein (Huffington Post) foolishly insists, "In the end, the debt ceiling could come down to a simple accounting question. Should the money saved from drawing down the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan count as part of a deficit reduction package?" At least he wasn't stupid enough to say "ending." Lori Montgomery (Washington Post) notes this is seen "as a budget gimmick." But that's what Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid wants to do. John Eggerton (Broadcasting & Cable) explains, "Reid gets $1 trillion of his total savings by winding down the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan." Judson Berger (Fox News) notes that this "might not satisfy ratings agencies" but that it is something "that has been used by both parties." And while he means they've both attempted to include this as a saving, more to the point they've both been stupid. Reality comes via Kristina Peterson (Dow Jones): "One caveat in this case is the unpredictability of war -- new developments in Afghanistan, for instance, could scuttle the intended timetable to withdraw troops." Did that thought really not occur to anyone else? Was Peterson alone at the grown ups table?

How can you count as savings an unknown amount of money? Yesterday, John T. Bennett (The Hill) reports, "Pentagon officials want a new security pact with Iraq worked out as soon as possible, in part so they can extend support contracts to ensure U.S. forces remaining in that country have food and supplied." It's worth noting the Pentagon doesn't consider it an "if" but a "when." In addition, Bennett quotes Gen Ray Odierno on what the "new SOFA" will need. One thing everyone knows it would need is more money from Congress. The money can't be counted as savings. Everyone's talking about a new SOFA or an extension of the existing one and Harry Reid thinks he can play like savings are coming?

Wednesday's snapshot included:

John Martin (Courier Press) has one of the most important reports of the week but watch most ignore it. He's writing of the 76th Brigade of the Indiana National Guard and "a Notification of Sourcing" -- what Lt Col Mark Weaver says is "the first step on the road" to official mobilization. And what were they notified of? From the article:

"National Guard members from Evansville and throughout Indiana are preparing for possible deployment next year, four years since returning from Iraq.

[. . .]

"Indiana National Guard officials were told that the next deployment, if it occurs, also would be in Iraq and would be part of Operation New Dawn. "

They're awaiting 2012 orders that, if they come in, would mean deployment to Iraq in 2012. Which would be after -- pay attention -- the media and Barack have said US troops would be out of Iraq -- have said that repeatedly for the last three years.

AP notes the development today. Did Harry Reid register it?

The White House wants to extend the SOFA. Should they be unable to and should no new agreement be reached, they've still got it covered. Miltiary actions then some out of the US Embassy (and consulates) in Baghdad.

How much does Harry Reid think Congress will spend on Plan B? Noel Brinkerhoff (AllGov) reports:

Once the U.S. military pulls out of Iraq by next January, the State Department will be left to defend itself and its diplomats against hostile Iraqis. To ensure their safety, officials are assembling a force of 5,500 security contractors—equal in size to an army brigade. But how the State Department intends to handle this large group of armed mercenaries is anyone's guess, because it has refused to share information with the federal watchdog overseeing post-war activities.

For months now Stuart Bowen, the special inspector general for Iraq reconstruction (SIGIR), has tried unsuccessfully to audit the State Department's private army. He wants to know how many State contracting personnel will manage the guards, what the force's rules of engagement will be, and how the guards will be directed to handle threats.

When Stuart Bowen can't get answers and when the State Dept's already dummied up before Congress when asked specifics about this program, Harry Reid thinks he can count 'savings'?

And he thinks Americans are so stupid that we won't notice he's failing to note all the reports we're seeing about a continued US presence in Iraq well beyond 2011.

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