The Phrases Change, But The Game Remains The Same

A "New Way Forward?"

No, just another phrase forward. The latest Bush plan is essentially a replay of the sham that occurred in drafting the Iraqi constitution. Besides the troop escalation, it's one more creative writing exercise authored by omniscient narrator and U.S. Ambassador to Iraq, Zalmay Khalilzad.

Following the Iraqi election, the parties slogged on for months, unable to agree on anything. Suddenly, after the Bush Administration became, first desperate, then angry, everyone appeared to get with the program. That exercise, like the current protracted one, hinged on an agreement by the central players to execute an equitable sharing of oil revenues. If it didn't happen before, however, when commanded by law, why should anyone expect it to happen this time?

By now, Bush, Rice and Khalilzad's dumbfounded parlor game is terribly predictable: Agree to agree, then declare victory. substantial progress has been made. effective benchmarks have been established.