yes, we are making progress, only 594 more days to go.

Benchmarks, nothing.

As reported on AlterNet, the Iraqi parliament is working on a **binding resolution** to end the UN mandate for the occupation:

[N]ationalists in the Iraqi parliament -- now representing a majority of the body -- continue to make progress toward bringing an end to their country's occupation.

The parliament [June 5] passed a binding resolution that will guarantee lawmakers an opportunity to block the extension of the U.N. mandate under which coalition troops now remain in Iraq when it comes up for renewal in December.

http://www.alternet.org/waroniraq/53230/

You really cannot expect government beauracrats, who have never been held accountable in their life, to understand that lack of accountability and noncompliance has consequences. These terms are used by and meant for the uneducated, misinformed, nonpatriotic, and other common people who desparately need guidance from the wise leadership selected by the Republican and Democrat leadership... those who TRULY know the meaning of benchmarks and accountability... the rest of us minions just need to listen to them and do as we are told....

Let's be real here.

The Malaki government doesn't want to make benchmarks and doesn't want us to leave. It's all about money. While we're emptying our treasury into Iraq with little or no accountability, *some* people are making out like bandits. When we do leave, they know they'll be first against the wall in front of the hardliners and nationalists. So, for a number of people, Malaki probably included, they realize that the gravy train will be replaced by huge instability for them personally (to put it mildly), of course they will do whatever they can to keep us there and not make benchmarks.

So, what do we do? We take away any of these incentives. Withdrawal deadlines would work here, and more careful control of all money put into the country for either military or reconustruction purposes - although to be realistic, that won't stop the "black" money.

The only "benchmark" Bush cares about is the ratification of the "oil law" which would effectively transfer Iraqi oil to Western oil interests and in so doing provide the rationale for maintaining an all but permanent American military presence on Iraqi soil.

It is sad that the Democrats have been largely complicit in providing cover for Bush's oil grab. The only member on the Hill of which I'm aware who has actually attempted to address the realities of the so-called "oil law" has been Kucinich; the rest of them continue to perpetuate the spin that the principal purpose of the law is to provide for the distribution of oil revenue between the Sunnis, Shiites, and Kurds. Ironically, if the law is passed enabling private Western interests to take over under the financial terms as written, there won't be much revenue available to distribute.

Malaki and his aides must not be listening to Ryan Crocker, our Ambassador to Iraq. During his interview with NPR played this morning, Crocker specifically said that the US would be looking for Iraq to meet these political benchmarks over the summer. What gives?

Its all part of that misinformation information campaign America now wades through to get to the truth. What is truth?

Oh, hell, this is all so whacky!
The U.S. backed government in a foreign sovereign country we shouldn't have invaded is not doing what we want when we want it to for our interests? What the hell is the matter with them not following our direction after all we've done.
Get our troops out now.

Sorry, but the security code says it all:

PROFIT

Seriously.

I suspect a conspiracy.

It's all just a game, folks. We can all decide not to play, pick up our marbles and go home.
Disengage. Take the rest of the day off and go home, play with the kids, throw the dog a ball, chase your mate around the house and wake up with a smile on your face.