A sheik here. A sheik there. To quote our distinguished house minority leader, John Boehner, "It's a small price to pay." Unless, of course, you happen to be the sheik.
Posted by PretzelsOne at September 13, 2007 08:29 AMI blogged about Sattar and Bush the other day.
Sattar enjoyed an unsavory reputation as one of the shadiest figures in the Sunni community. He’s linked to a sensational rumor of having skipped town with $75 million in American cash.
The source of the $75 million? Why, the American taxpayer, of course. The more crooked, the more rough trade they happen to be, the more Bush likes them.
Posted by Christopher at September 13, 2007 08:39 AMnow we know why Risha had such a sour look on his face...he was signing his death warrant by appearing with Bush. The GREAT SUCCESS in Anbar, ballyhooed by Bush and Petraeus and Crockof has paid off in the death of another brown guy. The GREAT SUCCESS of the Surge in getting Baghdad politicians to agree to divy up the Oil to various Bush cronies has failed, it seems. But George will go on TV tonite and pretend that none of this happened. I hope the networks will flash this very picture, with Bush grinning like the Devil himself with a Dead Man Walking.
Posted by T2 at September 13, 2007 08:40 AMso much for the shit eating grin and the sheik's dire mood. Here to today, gone tomorrow. DAnce with Bush, dance with death.
Posted by gaspare at September 13, 2007 08:48 AMSaddam was pictured shaking Rummy's hand, too. Maybe it's some kind of code!
Posted by iamcoyote at September 13, 2007 08:50 AMyeah, its a code. It means "I'm gonna Kick your Ass"
Posted by T2 at September 13, 2007 08:52 AMThere is no doubt, bu$h is:
King Midas in Reverse
If you could only see me
And know exactly who I am
You wouldn't want to be me
Oh I can assure you of that
I'm not the guy to run with
'Cos I'll throw you off the line
I'll break you and destroy you
Given time
He's King Midas with a curse
He's King Midas in reverse
He's King Midas with a curse
He's King Midas in reverse
It's plain to see it's hopeless
Going on that way we are
So even though I lose you
You'd be better of by far
He's not the one to hold your trust
Everything around him turns to dust
In his hand
Nothing he can do is right
He'd even like to sleep at night
But he can't
He's King Midas with a curse
He's King Midas in reverse
He's King Midas with a curse
He's King Midas in reverse
I wish someone would find me
And help me gain control
Before I lose my reason and my soul
He's King Midas with a curse
He's King Midas in reverse
He's King Midas with a curse
He's King Midas in reverse
Graham Nash / Allan Clarke / Tony Hicks
Posted by Seven of Six at September 13, 2007 09:10 AMSheik sheik sheik
Sheik sheik sheik
Sheik Yerbouti-
Sheik Yerbouti!
Tom, wasn't that Zappa?
Posted by Seven of Six at September 13, 2007 09:43 AMIt's pretty sad when the White House propaganda machine breaks out Iraqi kids to spread their noise!
Them fuckers have no shame!!
Posted by Seven of Six at September 13, 2007 09:49 AM"Sattar enjoyed an unsavory reputation as one of the shadiest figures in the Sunni community."
Yup! When Iraqis saw that photo with Bush shaking hands with that crook, we all fell on the floor laughing.
But then look at Bush's original Best Iraqi Pals, and you can see a pattern. Chalabi, `Allawi, Barzani, Talabani, and so on and on - a crooked, corrupt bunch of opportunists if there ever was one. And these were to be Iraq's new "democratic" leaders! Hah!
It's hard to know whether Abu Risha was killed as a collaborator, or as a revenge by someone he cheated.
Posted by Shirin at September 13, 2007 10:20 AMBush's propagandists just may have to postpone tonight's speech indefinitely.
Scratch the successful oil law deal. That's dead.
Scratch the Anbar Province Sheik buddy. He's dead.
What else is there, Tony/Dana/Ed/Fratto/Cheney? Anyone?
Posted by Sally at September 13, 2007 10:29 AMBush is determined to make the GOP start circling the drain.
Go Bush!
Posted by Ga6thDem at September 13, 2007 10:29 AMSeven, you have made me laff my socks off today!
Posted by tempus at September 13, 2007 10:46 AMWill GWB shed buckets of tears for his now dead new best friend? My guess is that, if asked, he'll say, "Sheik who?" And "I shake the hands of a lot of sheiks, and can't remember all of them."
Posted by Marie at September 13, 2007 11:18 AMInteresting that maliki wanted to make clear that the oil law was down the crapper in advance of Nero's "the Surge is a Fabulous Success!" speech.
Things are gonna start melting down in Eye-rac. I think the shi'ites are getting near the end of their "patience" with our foolish occupation.
Posted by euzoius at September 13, 2007 11:22 AMThe dumbass grin on Bush's face tells you everything you need to know.
It's all just a good time. Everyone shake hands and everythings gonna be great.
And we're supposed to believe he cries over dead soldiers and Marines?
[shakes head]
Posted by snark at September 13, 2007 11:24 AMright-wingers can dish it out but they just can't take it (from Glenn Greenwald):
...the shrill hand-wringing it [the MoveOn ad] has triggered is just bizarre in light of the fact that accusing Americans, including military veterans, of being unpatriotic, anti-American and betraying the country has, for decades, been a mainstream staple of the political rhetoric from our country's pro-war Right -- invoked most aggressively by those, such as Klein, now claiming such profound offense over the MoveOn ad....
Posted by Gay Veteran at September 13, 2007 11:31 AM
"Also obscured by the media's focus on sectarian conflict is the massive divide between U.S. interests and the desires of most Iraqis on the most important issues facing the nascent state.
While the White House puts relentless pressure on Iraqi lawmakers to pass a law that throws Iraq's energy sector open to foreign investors, a recent poll found that almost two out of three Iraqis would "prefer Iraq's oil to be developed and produced by Iraqi public sector companies rather than foreign companies."
The Battle for Iraq is About Oil and Democracy
by Joshua Holland and Raed Jarrar, AlterNet, September 10, 2007
Sad about Abu Risha, but there's lots more quislings where he came from.
That news about the Oil Law cheered me up though.
Steve, this ones along the lines of that MoveOn piece. At least the title is.
Hope you remember.
Posted by peter at September 13, 2007 01:38 PMAt least they can have good cry together over the "small price" paid!
Posted by Seven of Six at September 13, 2007 02:09 PM