Vicente Fox Calls Bush Cocky and Moqtada al-Sadr Pulls Out of the Iraqi Government

Former President Vicente Fox states in his new book that President George W. Bush is "the cockiest guy I have ever met in my life." This is nothing new to most Americans though. Bush compensates for lack of intelligence and political skills by acting cocky and arrogant. He angers many that he meets (especially other world leaders it appears) and is a national embarrassment abroad. He tries to come off as a statesmen but ends up just acting like a total dork and asshole.
In Iraq news, Shiite Cleric Moqtada al-Sadr's group will pull out of Iraq ruling Shiite bloc:

Najaf, Iraq - The movement of radical Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr said on Saturday it would withdraw from the Shiite bloc that leads the Iraqi government, in a new blow to the faltering political process.

Maliki has said he will announce a cabinet reshuffle but has so far not been able to fill the vacant seats left by the Sunni and Shiite ministers.

He is currently running the government with 23 ministers out of an original 40.

Political analyst Said Abu Rish, author of a number of books on Iraq, believes Maliki's days as prime minister are numbered.

"Maliki is a dead duck," Abu Rish told AFP. "The Shiites won't accept him. He has nothing."

GOI: Even if the surge has been somewhat successful, the more important issue of government progress finds itself in the opposite of a surge. It's more of a retreat and an unraveling then a surge of success. There is a larger potential problem with Sadr's group leaving the government then a further crippled central government. If Sadr is no longer involved in the political process, that leaves violence and intimidation as the likely avenue for him to follow to flex his influence. We all know by now that the ultimate solution in Iraq must come from a unified and stable government that actually gets things done rather then just squabbling and taking time off.

This leaves our military forces high and dry. They are caught in the middle of a sectarian feud that can not be settled by a foreign military. Our troops are the tip of the spear, meant to be used to win battles and gain ground--not govern. This leaves us wondering why our troops are still over there twisting in the breeze with nothing to do but walk around and wait to be blown up or shot at. Oh wait, I forgot, they're there to provide cover for Bush so that he can run the clock out of his presidency and slink back to Texas. It's always messing having to clean up after an elephant who has chronic diarrhea.

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