Today in the Bush Administration

Iraq says U.S. sought troop presence to 2015

The United States asked Iraq for permission to maintain a troop presence there to 2015, but U.S. and Iraqi negotiators agreed to limit their authorization to 2011, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani said.

"It was a U.S. proposal for the date which is 2015, and an Iraqi one which is 2010, then we agreed to make it 2011. Iraq has the right, if necessary, to extend the presence of these troops," Talabani said in an interview with al-Hurra television, a transcript of which was posted on his party's website on Wednesday.

I've got to commend the Bush Administration. 2015 is considerably less than forever. And 2015 is an actual number instead of a fanciful idea about an idea of a date sometime in the nebulous future. Iraq settled on it's own deadline: 16 months after Barack Obama's election, as per his plan. But they compromised and came up with 2011. By which I mean Iraq yelled and screamed until the Bush Administration just broke down and said "Fine he's the goddamn trinket you wanted. 2011, you fucking whiners." before immediately regretting it and cramming vague benchmarks, horizons, and indefinite goals, hoping the Iraqis don't look at what they sign. They looked and that's what current debates are over.

One Year Ago Today, Alberto Gonzales Resigned

One year ago today, Alberto Gonzales resigned as Attorney General of the United States amid questions of his “competence to run the Justice Department” and “accusations of perjury.” As the Washington Post reported at the time, Gonzales was “one of the nation’s most controversial attorneys general since the Watergate era”

If you recall, Gonzales set the Justice Department on fire, strode out the front door, and pumped his fist into the air in a freeze frame, as 'Don't You (Forget About Me)' by Simple Minds blared into the surrounding area. Alberto pioneered the legal concept of "whatever Bush does is legal" and ignored so many subpoenas and requests for investigations that it was rumored he had a learning disability or was functionally illiterate. It turns out he was a mendacious prick/hack/crony. The mantle of which has been taken up by the new attorney general Mukasey, who swept into office planning to conduct himself with some semblance of morals, then sent out a memo after he got into the AG office titled "Psyche! Super Psyche!" and conducted himself like a baboon with a degree.