Clap Louder

The Bush administration is significantly lowering expectations of what can be achieved in Iraq, recognizing that the United States will have to settle for far less progress than originally envisioned during the transition due to end in four months, according to U.S. officials in Washington and Baghdad.

The United States no longer expects to see a model new democracy, a self-supporting oil industry or a society in which the majority of people are free from serious security or economic challenges, U.S. officials say.

"What we expected to achieve was never realistic given the timetable or what unfolded on the ground," said a senior official involved in policy since the 2003 invasion. "We are in a process of absorbing the factors of the situation we're in and shedding the unreality that dominated at the beginning."

Quote from a report in the Washington Post link, referenced in an op/ed from Maureen Dowd.

Can we start saying "WE FUCKING TOLD YOU" yet? You mean, we weren't greeted as liberators? The Iraqi oil revenues aren't paying for everything? You mean there were no WMD's, links to 9/11 or imminent threats? For fucks sake, that would mean it was a completely illegal war, wouldn't it?

Where is the outrage? Where are the massive demonstrations?

I will tell you this; when the administration starts admitting bad news, it's far worse then what they let on. It's very bad. And as I've said repeatedly, Iraq is a huge cluster-fuck. The result will be the smashing of the illusion of American military infallibility, and a bunch of dead Americans.

There is a photo, the caption reads:

The remains of a bombed barber shop in Baghdad, where three people were killed, draw the interest of Iraqis in June. Islamic extremists, some of whom believe beards reflect religious piety, have been targeting the shops for attack and killing barbers. In response, barbers are posting signs stating that they do not shave men.

** update **

"We set out to establish a democracy, but we're slowly realizing we will have some form of Islamic republic," said another U.S. official familiar with policymaking from the beginning, who like some others interviewed would speak candidly only on the condition of anonymity. "That process is being repeated all over."

Holy-fucking shit! Why is that not reported constantly on the news? What happened to freedom and democracy? I mean seriously.. fuck all that WMD shit.. so we didn't find any.. at least Iraq was going to become a model demoracy in the Middle East right? It's going to become a secular oasis where religious extremism is not permitted, right?

Fuck no - Congratulations motherfuckers.. you just made another Iran...