martin: but that---the status of this nation-state thing we call iraq, its history and viability--is/are an entirely different question(s) that are probably at the heart of this devolution of the past week.
that the americans find themselves--particularly in the fine company of the british--seen as yet another colonial power is also important.
neither of these questions really goes to the line that ace was pursuing (though i can see how they would fit into it...)
post away, sir. i do not have the sense that i am doing much more that trying to piece things together. i doubt anyone else does either. the more the merrier.
by the way, there is this article:
http://www.newsday.com/news/nationwo...orld-headlines
on the state of the iraqi securty forces
this to a curious hour long npr program on the question of civil war:
http://c.moreover.com/click/here.pl?...9900&w=2218086
and this about the political fight that is going on concerning the "provisional government" and its composition:
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories...MPLATE=DEFAULT