Well, knock me over with a daisy cutter! I guess this is why they pay them the big bucks.

Here’s the link to the in-development story.

The full report is here.

(updates below the fold)  Read more 

These look like the key recommendations:

“Given the ability of Iran and Syria to influence events within Iraq and their interest in avoiding chaos in Iraq, the United States should try to engage them constructively. In seeking to influence the behavior of both countries, the United States has disincentives and incentives available. Iran should stem the flow of arms and training to Iraq, respect Iraq’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and use its influence over Iraqi Shia groups to encourage national reconciliation. The issue of Iran’s nuclear programs should continue to be dealt with by the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council plus Germany. Syria should control its border with Iraq to stem the flow of funding, insurgents and terrorists in and out of Iraq.

“The United States cannot achieve its goals in the Middle East unless it deals directly with the Arab-Israeli conflict and regional instability. There must be a renewed and sustained commitment by the United States to a comprehensive Arab-Israeli peace on all fronts: Lebanon, Syria and
President Bush’s June 2002 commitment to a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine. This commitment must include direct talks with, by and between Israel, Lebanon, Palestinians — those who accept Israel’s right to exist — and Syria.

“As the United States develops its approach toward Iraq and the Middle East, the United States should provide additional political, economic and military support for Afghanistan, including resources that might become available as combat forces are moved out of Iraq.”

“The primary mission of U.S. forces in Iraq should evolve to one of supporting the Iraqi army, which would take over primary responsibility for combat operations.

Does anybody else get the feeling that “should” translates to “can’t” or “won’t”?

And does anyone notice that the only passage where the word “must” appears?  Read more 

Ha! Fooled ya! [Remember “we’re an empire now; we create our own reality”? How far off those happy days seem! Snicker.]

Here’s how AP is framing the recommendations of the Baker Commission, released today. (The Beltway 500 is all atwitter!)

Panel: Try diplomacy in Iraq, then leave

But—But—Where’s the pony? Somehow, I don’t think Bush is going to be very happy about this.

AP acquired portions of the report:  Read more 

It’s all about the Rolodexes.

With our famously free press, it really is that simple. All the capital the Beltway 500 has is in their Rolodexes: those relationships. And since the names in those Rolodexes are all either Republicans, Republican enablers, or DINOs, it’s only natural that the 500 would continue to book them, quote them, and teabag them. It’s kinda like refusing to sell your house when the housing market’s collapsing.

And it’s the same deal with the (loser) Beltway Dem consultants. They have an interest in keeping Democratic numbers as close as possible to Republican numbers, because they try make their money at the margins, by taking big bucks for eking out small victories. Their capital is in their Rolodexes too, except instead of “sources,” they have pollsters, media buyers, bad media producers, etc. And they’ve got the classic unethical consultant’s gig: Sucking dollars out of a client by treating symptoms, but never causes. (Because if they ever solved the problem, the money flow would stop. Right?)

Both these happy, comfortable denizens of the Beltway cesspool (Carville, Hillary; Wittman, Lieberman) are under threat from two fronts: the netroots, and the 50 state strategy. Remember, a functional Democratic party apparatus at the state level, driven by citizen involvement, means the Beltway consultants are fucked; there’s no money for consultants in a system that works. It also means the press is fucked, because they might actually have to interview people who don’t serve them free food.

And the code word for keeping the the Democratic loser consultants and the Republican enabling press in business and at the cocktail weinie table is:

Centrism.

And “centrism” is also code for denying the Democrats their natural governing majority; a majority which would turn the value of their Rolodexes to zero. Or possibly less than zero. Since being associated with the Clusterfuck that is the criminal Bush regime, let alone enabling or supporting it, really should be a negative. A big fat negative.

Wait a minute. What was that I just wrote?  Read more