Interesting poll from Zogby International…

In the Spring of this year, Harry Reid went before the cameras and informed the world that the surge was a complete failure. He joined Speaker Nancy Pelosi and composed a letter stating in no uncertain way that the war was a lost cause. As odd and unpatriotic as many Americans considered that posture to be, there was no doubt that they believed it, and pushed by the internut left, were determined to withdraw from Iraq, consequences be damned.

The Zogby poll shows that 2 out of 3 democrats are in sync with Reid-Pelosi in their belief that the Iraq war is a lost cause, while only one in ten Republicans share in their defeatism. Read the rest of this entry »

Two years ago. Dang. This is the beach at Bay St. Louis, as the storm surge arrives…..

Yesterday, from Howard Wolfson, HRC spokesman: “Norman Hsu is a longtime and generous supporter of the Democratic Party and its candidates, including Sen. Clinton.” … “During Mr. Hsu’s many years of active participation in the political process, there has been no question about his integrity or his commitment to playing by the rules, and we have absolutely no reason to call his contributions into question or to return them.”

Today, from the LA Times

For the last 15 years, California authorities have been trying to figure out what happened to a businessman named Norman Hsu, who pleaded no contest to grand theft, agreed to serve up to three years in prison and then seemed to vanish.

“He is a fugitive,” Ronald Smetana, who handled the case for the state attorney general, said in an interview. “Do you know where he is?”

Read the rest of this entry »

BAGHDAD — Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr has ordered a six-month suspension of activities by his Mahdi Army militia in order to reorganize the force, and it will no longer attack U.S. and coalition troops, aides said Wednesday.

The aide, Sheik Hazim al-Araji, said on Iraqi state television that the goal was to “rehabilitate” the organization, which has reportedly broken into factions, some of which the U.S. maintains are trained and supplied by Iran.

“We declare the freezing of the Mahdi Army without exception in order to rehabilitate it in a way that will safeguard its ideological image within a maximum period of six months starting from the day this statement is issued,” al-Araji said, reading from a statement by al-Sadr.

In Najaf, al-Sadr’s spokesman said the order also means the Mahdi Army will no longer launch attacks against U.S. and other coalition forces.

“It also includes suspending the taking up of arms against occupiers as well as others,” Ahmed al-Shaibani told reporters.

Asked if Mahdi militiamen would defend themselves against provocations, he replied: “We will deal with it when it happens.” source

The Mookster declaring a hudna? Interesting development. As Coalition forces press the battle against AQI, could it be that he is taking a look at the writing on the wall? I don’t know. But, I suspect his fear is that the Mahdi Army, in a head to head confrontation with the US Army, would be completely destroyed, along with his power base.

With the backdrop of political improvements announced two days ago, this comes at a good time as General Petraeus’ prepares his progress report to Congress.

An open thread to ponder the meaning of life, or just the depth of your belly button.