I was watching Montgomery' autobiography on video last night, and iI think I may have found a historical precedent for the US withdrawal from Iraq: Britain's wihtdrawal from India.

In India, there were three main ethnic groups: Hindu, Moslem, and Sikh, where in Iraq there are Shiite, Sunni, and Kurd.

What happened in India was that agreement was reached between the Hindi and Moslem, who then fought over Sikh lands. At the current rate, what will probably happen in Iraq is that agreement will be reached with the Shiite and Kurds, who will then fight over Sunni lands.

From what I can see from the MSM, today's hearings focused on the development of the national forces, and everyone ignored the formation of the Shia and Kurd militias.

In any case, since it is in Israel's interest to keep us in Iraq, they will do their best to see that that happens by whatever means they can. After we leave, it will be in Israel's interest to see Iraq plunged into civil war.

Persistant reports in the Palestinian press are claiming that Mossad is operating assassination squads in Iraq which are killing Iraqi weapons scientists, and that as a result those of them who are left are fleeing the country. Of couse, this may just be a feed placed to hamper US efforts to get information on Saddam's weapons programs....

the only thing that is certain is that there is more to come...reality always has a way of intruding, sooner or later