Headline of the Day

This one's about Iraq again, from a story on Bush's trip to Israel...

AP (via MSNBC): 'Bush calls for end of 'occupation' of Arab lands'

Israel's likely response? "You first, sir."

Speaking of Iraq, this is the anniversary of the beginning of the 'surge' (and year 6 of the war begins in March) and it has many looking it what it has achieved. Answer... not much, unless you count lowering the bar again on what constitutes victory.

Meanwhile, 'comeback kid' John McCain has said he'd be fine with keeping American troops in Iraq for 100 years... as along as it's Iraqis dying, and not U.S. soldiers (natch). And when asked when we should leave, he said "There is only one man who should decide when to withdraw from Iraq and that is David Petraeus." Why, methinks the maverick Senator believes we live in a military junta. Great work, New Hampshire! War forever!

Finally, a good report from 'Countdown' last night on all of this-



[UPDATE: The gang at National Review live-blogged last night's GOP debate. Said Kathryn Jean Lopez on McCain, "Good for Senator McCain going after the Dems and their willing suspension of belief. And good for him, putting the focus on Petraeus and the troops." Yes, good for McCain for putting the focus on the infallible warrior Petraeus and for using the troops as an emotional bludgeon, rather than on the actual facts of the war or our ever-changing policy toward it. These people have issues.

UPDATE #2: I also agree with what Glenn Greenwald said on the debate's Iran rhetoric.]