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POPSSo Much For Those Permanent Bases "The direction we are taking is to have a memorandum of understanding either for the departure of the forces or to have a timetable for their withdrawal," a statement from Maliki's office quoted him as telling Arab ambassadors to the United Arab Emirates. "The negotiations are still continuing with the American side, but in any case the basis for the agreement will be respect for the sovereignty of Iraq," he added. As I have mentioned before, most Iraqis view the SOFA with the US as an encroachment on their sovereignty. It was the first time that the Shiite prime minister had specifically demanded a timetable for a US withdrawal, something that President George W. Bush has repeatedly refused to set. Bush and Maliki agreed in principle last November to sign a Status of Forces Agreement in Iraq by the end of July to set the basis for a US troop presence beyond December this year when the UN mandate runs out.
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POPSCheney Motivated by Iraq Oilby
Wisco Yesterday 2:13 PM 
Former White House spokesman Scott McClellan appeared on CBC Radio One's The Current{/i], where he told the host that Vice President Cheney wanted to invade Iraq for oil and personal gain.
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POPSMcCain's Surge in Iraq Crippling Efforts in Afghanistan The death rate for American troops in Afghanistan last month was four times that of Iraq. The last two months have been the deadliest of the war for U.S. and NATO troops in Afghanistan since 2001. And today, Afghanistan sustained the deadliest single terrorist attack since 9/11 when suspected Taliban militants blew up the Indian embassy in Kabul. This is directly attributable to negligent policies set forth by the Bush administration--an administration dangerously obsessed with Iraq at the expense of the Real Global War on Terror. When many were urging the U.S. to focus on Afghanistan and Pakistan in early 2007, the Bush administration--with the support of Senator John McCain--launched the "surge" of troops into Baghdad. Unfortunately, Iraq is not, as John McCain says, the "central front" in the War on Terror--and it never has been. If there is such a thing, it is in Afghanistan and Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
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POPSGods On-Line at Godchecker "Welcome to Godchecker - your Guide to the Gods We have more Gods than you can shake a stick at. Godchecker's Mythology Encyclopedia currently features over 2,850 deities. "Browse the pantheons of the world, explore ancient myths, and discover Gods of everything from Fertility to Fluff with the fully searchable Holy Database Of All Known Gods."
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POPSBush War Policy, Oil Prices Chart Must see this oil price chart and pass it on! This article documents and graphically demonstrates the obvious that no one is saying, i.e the wars and war-mongering of Bush government are the main cause of high gas prices.
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POPSRisk to U.S. troops seen if Israel strikes Iran And I found this tidbit interesting: "American military analysts familiar with Israel's thinking said the government there remained uncertain whether an attack on Iran made strategic sense and whether such a strike would prove a decisive blow against Tehran's nuclear program. The subject is controversial in Israel, and many Israelis strongly oppose a strike."
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POPSWhy We Need a Domestic Energy Policy Instead of spending so much money and wasting so many innocent lives getting involved in military efforts in the middle east, to keep the supply of oil open, why don't we focus more of our resources on being energy independent. Hmmm - let me see, if my options for securing energy resources are: A) Using military force to get involved in battles with unstable leaders and militant religious groups in the middle east to secure access to oil. B) Invest in research and development of alternative energy sources we can control within our own borders. I can't see why anyone would choose option A. Oh wait, our president is heavily tied to big oil companies that are buying their way to influence our government policies. Spend our money and lives on energy independence, not securing the middle east!
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POPSLieberman Warns of a 9/11 in 2009 for McCain
Islamo propaganda from this Israeli-neoconservative democrat. Is it not more evident just who was behind 9/11 and the absolutely unproven claims that "Islamic extremists"--i.e. bin Laden who denied it, and 19 Muslims, half of which were proven alive afterward--did it? Who benefits from 9/11 and this propaganda more than Israel and the neoconservative agenda for a new middle east? We know who would be behind it if another occurs, the same behind the first one. For Lieberman to "predict" this demonstrates inside knowledge (if it happens) and a clear motive on his part for even desiring it to push the war agenda. Lieberman's argument is also entirely irrational. If Islamic extremists want the U.S. out of the middle east and wars halted, they would do nothing at all. There has been nothing prohibiting repeated terrorism if those blamed for 9/11 were true and Al Qaeda was not in Iraq. Motive, means, and opportunity point to the real perpetrators per criminology 101.
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POPSSufism, Sophistry And Politics
from the Indian Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean. Would the Pakistanis or the Moroccans burn their homeland by joining "the ball of fire" because Khomeinism is denied the bomb? The "ball of fire" is a poetic expression, and I wondered where it came from. Would Turks and Algerians jump on the "ball of fire" to show solidarity with a regime that has helped terror groups against them for decades? Even the Syrian rulers are unlikely to risk their survival by trying to jump on El-Baradaei's "ball of fire" to please the mullahs. They like the mullahs' money, not the mullahs themselves. Despite Tehran's massive handouts in recent years, one doubts even Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood in general would take risks to show solidarity with a regime that, while generous, has been trying to impose ideological control. That leaves the branches of the Hezbollah, especially the largest and best-financed Lebanese one. But then, as always what Hezbollah does will be decided in Tehran not Beir
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POPSCartoons from the Middle East (16 pics) In conjunction with the British Council, the Guardian Foundation presents a showcase of cartoonists from Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Saudi Arabia and Syria. Here are just a few of the selected cartoons ... Guardian
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