Forgive me if this post seems off topic but…
Meanwhile, back in the “homeland,” the Federal Reserve prepares to take over what’s left of the financial system. From Yahoo news;

WASHINGTON – The Bush administration Monday proposed the most far-ranging overhaul of the financial regulatory system since the stock market crash of 1929 and the ensuing Great Depression.
The plan would change how the government regulates thousands of businesses from the nation’s biggest banks and investment houses down to the local insurance agent and mortgage broker.
Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson unveiled the 218-page plan in a speech in Treasury’s ornate Cash Room, declaring, “A strong financial system is vitally important — not for Wall Street, not for bankers, but for working Americans.”
…The administration’s plan drew criticism, however, from Democrats who said it did not go far enough to deal with abuses in mortgage lending and securities trading that were exposed by the current credit crisis. Some state officials criticized what they saw as unwanted federal intrusion on their turf.

And here is my favorite part;

It would give the Federal Reserve more power to protect the stability of the entire financial system while merging day-to-day bank supervision into one agency, down from five at present.
It also would create one super agency in charge of business conduct and consumer protection, performing many of the functions of the current Securities and Exchange Commission.

We needed to give the fox more hens to guard; all the old hens seem to have gone missing.
Now, here is the tie in; am I crazy or was the whole Iraq war meant to be a distraction while the planned theft of the entire monetery system took place? The violence in Basra did seem to distract some commentary from what’s happening here.
What is happening here? Is a cartel of 12 private banks aka “THE FEDERAL RESERVE” going to control even more of the economy, leaving the federal government out of it? Is the media going to continue presenting it as the Fed stepping in to save the day? Was this the plan all along? Is there anyone in congress (other than Ron Paul) who will make an issue of this?
Was this the plan all along? (yes it was)
Honestly I grow weary. If the people behave like sheep then they will be treated like sheep.
Sorry for venting.

Posted by: Lysander | Mar 31 2008 18:47 utc | 4

anna,
(regarding the cartoon in 1)
The Coyote has one peculiar trait: he can continue to run in mid-air once he goes off a cliff, but only until he realizes that he is no longer on solid ground. Once he looks down, he tries in vain to scramble back, but inevitably falls.
Talk about a metaphor for the US financial system. We just looked down. We are now desperately trying to scramble back. Next we hold up a sign that says “Yipes!”…

Posted by: ralphieboy | Mar 31 2008 19:12 utc | 6

@Lysander – that “new regulation” is going nowhere – it will not happen – smokes and mirrors.
@small coke – all Shia groups in Iraq are somewhat in allegance to Iran. Sadr is the one with the least of it.
The U.S., at least, did know of Maliki’s intention. They misjudged Sadr’s capacity just as Maliki did (likely based on the same dumb “intelligence”)
The really crucial figure here is al-Hakim. He wants Maliki out, Sadr subdued and the U.S. incapable. The usual media folks haven’t caught that yet.
Stupidity is on all sides. Sadr represents something everyone else seems to ignore – people.

Posted by: b | Mar 31 2008 20:01 utc | 8

Dreyfuss is spot on.
Maliki had to attack and defeat Sadr to survive in the long, if not the short term. This failure means he’s once and for all Mayor of the Green Zone, and nothing more.
This whole fiasco looks eerily similar to Israel’s failed war on Lebanon: you go unprepared and try to crush a technologically largely inferior enemy, and get spanked big time, until you just have to call retreat and leave the ground to the guys you assaulted, strengthening them and propping them.
Last but not least, it’s interesting to note that Sadr is in Iran, and that one of the key reasons for this (and concurrently for a good deal of the truce) is that he’d like to be an ayatollah – being so far only a cleric of an inferior rank. I’m really wondering how long these studies would take him. Because a Sadr that would be an ayatollah would mean very serious trouble for the whole occupation and the puppet regime. Besides, his family has a tradition of having Grand Ayatollahs – though I doubt Sadr really hopes to achieve the rank with all the work he has to do with his movement and the Iraqi mess.

Posted by: CluelessJoe | Apr 1 2008 1:28 utc | 10

I think the administration gave Maliki the go ahead because it would have been a propaganda bonanza when Petreaus gives the report to congress – if it was to have been successful. Also the administration seems bound to elections next fall as a mechanism to get their Sunni clc’s some political influence, so would rather see Sadr reputation trashed now in advance of the elections. It was a pretty big gamble, and why the slot machine in chief was crowing about it all last week – but with him, as usual, it again comes up 3 lemons in a row. This is a huge embarrassment for both Maliki and Bush.

Posted by: anna missed | Apr 1 2008 1:48 utc | 12

b:
Maliki sends folks to Iran to have an Iranian “terrorist supporter” mediate a peace deal with Sadr
My impression from reading news reports, Badger and Brian is that Maliki had nothing to do with sending them. At the time Maliki was still spouting surrender or else. My how things have changed:
BAGHDAD (AFP) – Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki on Tuesday ordered his security forces to stop random raids and arrests following a week of military assaults against militants loyal to Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr.
link
small coke:
It seems unlikely that anyone in the US military would have advised Maliki to send a battalion of Iraqi army/militia to clean up Basra or even to attack the Mahdi divisions alone.
Indeed:
You know, one of the early questions I had to the prime minister was, would he be willing to confront criminal elements, whether they be Shia or Sunni? Would he, in representing people who want to live in peace, be willing to use force necessary to bring to justice those who take advantage of a vacuum or those who murdered the innocent?
His answer was, “Yes, sir, I will.” And I said, “Well, you’ll have our support if that’s the case, if you believe in even-handed justice.” And his decision to move into Basra shows even-handed justice, shows he’s willing to go after those who believe they’re outside the law.
Maliki’s army has no logistacal base and depends entirely on US supply and support. This is not a failure by the Pentagon, as often framed in the media, but a form of self defense.
anna missed:
I think the administration gave Maliki the go ahead because it would have been a propaganda bonanza when Petreaus gives the report to congress – if it was to have been successful.
Funny how Maliki’s deadline for handing in arms and the Petreaus report just so happen to fall on the same day April 8. The Petreaus report and Maliki’s announced deadline for handing in arms just so happened to both fall on April 8. Funny how Iraqi politics coincides with US politics. They play politics and the people on the ground die. And some people still believe this is honorable? If there’s one thing Iraqis have learned from the Americans is that if you disarm you get killed. Saddam is exhibit A. In other news:
The U.S. has demanded to see a Swiss contract for natural gas supplies from Iran to see whether it violates an American sanctions law against Tehran, the U.S. Embassy in Switzerland said Sunday.
The 25-year contract, worth between $28 billion and $42 billion, is between Swiss energy trading company EGL and the state-owned National Iranian Gas Export Company.
Calmy-Rey has said that the contract is in line with Switzerland’s rights as an independent country with its own strategic interests to defend.
link
Some call it part of the great decoupling.

Posted by: Sam | Apr 1 2008 13:23 utc | 14

Anna missed: “This is a huge embarrassment for both Maliki and Bush.”
Embarrassment and shame no longer exists as significant attributes within the culture of the Western elite. Maybe a hundred or more years ago it did exist in some way. And perhaps in Eastern cultures, shame is still a factor in political life. I have never seen any evidence of shame from Jr. Bush, his father before him, or the Clinton duo. Scandal after scandal rubs off these people like water off a duck’s back. These people have decidedly discarded their very souls.
Pardon me while I continue my rant.
One must not look at this latest Maliki incident in isolation but as a large agenda of U.S. dominance in the Middle East and the world. This latest Basra offensive is not ‘a defeat’ in the minds of the corporate elite. In a similar vein, no tears were shed when Israel forces retreated from Lebanon. The damage is never insignificant in lives and property yet the elite are never embarrassed and the elite shed no tears. To what you and I would call shameful, on the contrary, any damage and lost lives only further serves an agenda in this game. It took many, many years to destroy Iraq. The elite have time. And the West has many players, not just Halliburton and other immediate U.S. corporate elite. We find everything from Norwegian troops in Afghanistan to the more significant British forces in Iraq. (It has been reported that British warplanes assisted in this latest offensive action. Britain has over 4000 troops along with 18 air units in Iraq.) Again, in what you or I may call a defeat, others will find value. As just one example, valuable intelligence has been obtained to enable further actions of destruction in the future. And much of this value is in mind games. Not as obvious as Noriega being bombarded with obnoxious music in the religious sanctuary where he sought refuge after the U.S. invaded Panama, but more deadly, the psychological pressure continues in the Middle East unabated. A nuclear submarine and aircraft carrier attack group has been dispatched to the Persian Gulf. The day after Cheney’s visit to Saudi Arabia, the kingdom announces national plans to deal with any radioactive hazards following ‘experts’ warning of possible attacks on Iran’s nuclear reactors. How much of all this is psychological pressure or real plans of action is unknown. But there certainly is ever increasing anxiety, and this is not by accident. Yesterday, Iranian news source, PressTV, headlined ‘_Syria ready for possible U.S. strike’_ ‘Damascus is prepared for all scenarios, including military action, amid mounting tension with the US.’
Looking into the near future, there is dim hope. Even if Obama is all that many of us wish him to be, and if he does manage to get elected, I doubt the corporate elite will rest or be subdued. Obama will certainly inherit a mess on all fronts. This is unfortunate, especially upon such an occasion where the U.S. Presidency is breaking historic racial bounds. But do we really expect Obama to fight the corporate elite? Does Obama envision the corporate world (Insurance Companies) to properly manage a much talked about national health care plan? Will Obama actually abandon the Iraq occupation? After hearing his tough talk against Iran, I have trouble believing this.
I squirm when writing, reading, or hearing the word ‘Iraq’. ‘Iraq’ should not be used as a proper noun any longer except in reference to a country of the increasingly distant past. ‘Iraq’ is a useless word as it describes or labels nothing that exists today. ‘Iraq’ no longer exists as a nation except as nearly meaningless geographic coordinates. And without the U.S. air support, such borders would become even more meaningless. What does the current ‘Iraqi’ government really control outside of the Green Zone and some areas of Bagdad? Oh yeah, some oil wells and supply lines. Sadly, in plain terms, that is all that now defines ‘Iraq’ besides the multitude of lost lives and dreams.
Similarly, it is not coincidence that I squirm when writing, reading, or hearing the word ‘America’. ‘America’, as a proper noun, is on its way to the dustbins of history. It is another word that conveys little to no relationship with reality. Considering the way many past Americans treated their native brothers and sisters, considering the way many past Americans enslaved others, considering the way many current Americans place greed before humanity and good governance, and considering the complete lack of shame of many Americans with regard to past and current events, the seemingly coming demise of a free and prosperous people may seem proper. I do not wish suffering and hardship for the people of any nation, but if such is the only way for people to rise up from their slumber, their ignorance and their greed, then let it be.
In America’s beginning, nations of native peoples were destroyed by outsiders greed, fear and ignorance. Ignoring history and creed, America as a nation, appears to have learned nothing positive. Today, we find America has destroyed another great nation, the nation of Iraq, again out of greed, fear and ignorance. Yet there still is no shame. As the word ‘Iraq’ no longer has correlation in today’s world, perhaps soon the people of that land can find a new label, a new word to define their land. A word that not only remembers, but also is meaningful enough to enlighten America and the western world as to America’s and the western world’s shame for what has transpired on the lands and against the people that heretofore was correctly described as Iraq. With this remembrance will bring hope for a better world, for better nations, for better peoples. Most likely a new label, or at least a new culture and thought, will be required in the land of America before any society or nation is allowed to form and prosper independently in or around what is now called Iraq. America along with its dominant western corporate culture must change first.
I am reminded here of DeAnander’s significant post where he talks of the myth: “distance equals cleanliness”. Hopefully peace will come thru learning and wisdom instead of more war and pestilence. Perhaps some new words will emerge which will force minds to examine and confront closely what has became of Iraq and the culture of ‘America’. One needs only look at Palestine as an example as to what is now Iraq. The concept of Palestine as a unique and independent territory is not possible with current western thinking. I doubt any positive change will come soon for the people who lived in what was once called Palestine, nor will it happen easily or soon for the people in what was once called Iraq. Again, and again, there is no shame.

Posted by: Rick | Apr 1 2008 15:54 utc | 16

today, just one example – of reality cultivating their endless contempt. for their own people & the people of iraq. the british defence minister announced to parliament that because of recent events – their troops would stay in basra. week after week – they lie through their stinky teeth & belch barbarities from their misbegotten mouths

Posted by: remembereringgiap | Apr 1 2008 17:15 utc | 18

chuck
they are, when all is said & done, fools, criminal fools

Posted by: remembereringgiap | Apr 1 2008 18:05 utc | 20

embarrassed u s attempts to disown basra operation

Posted by: remembereringgiap | Apr 1 2008 20:39 utc | 22

uncle
i’m sure we won’t see that piece of news for a week or two – perhaps after the buffoon warrior king petraeus offers his report to the emporer from the provinces
again & again – it would be comic – all this – if it wasn’t so covered in blood

Posted by: remembereringgiap | Apr 1 2008 22:37 utc | 24

what are the chances they are using this opportunity to carve out another big chunck of baghdad and claim it as their backup space.

Posted by: annie | Apr 1 2008 23:48 utc | 26

Good article, r’giap.
Some in DC might not be entirely disappointed with the course of recent events. Might have hoped for destruction of the Mahdi Army, but this may at least quiet talk of reducing US forces now, as McClatchy headline suggests.

That the Iraqi forces couldn’t defeat rogue fighters in Basra has some in Washington saying they can no longer predict when it might be possible to reduce the number of troops in Iraq to pre-surge levels.
… Britain announced Tuesday that it’s freezing plans to withdraw 1,500 of its 4,000 remaining troops from southern Iraq …

McClatchy suggests the direction to which some are looking for explanations.

Questions remain about how much Bush and his top aides knew in advance about the offensive and whether they encouraged Maliki to confront radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al Sadr.

One senior U.S. military commander in Iraq said the Iraqi government originally told the United States about a longer-term plan to rid Basra of rogue elements. But Maliki changed the timing, and the nature of the Iraqi operation changed, he said.

Maliki certainly did not make changes on his own.

There’s no evidence, however, that the U.S. tried to dissuade Maliki from executing either plan.

In the larger sense, “this is a reminder that nothing has changed,” said a senior State Department official…
Will the hand be strengthened of those pushing for a diplomatic resolution with Iran and other neighbors?
Certainly Iran has registered the message that they can turn up and turn down the levels of violence quickly. And, as McClatchey goes on to mention, levels of violence in Iraq have risen already in areas (both Sunni and Shia) where US forces recently have been reduced. U.S. has used up its reserves and cannot continue at surge levels many months more.
cui bono?

Posted by: small coke | Apr 2 2008 0:32 utc | 28

Don’t usually listen but caught a few minutes of NPR’s ‘This American Life’, in the car in between skipping cd’s and, caught enough, say, a few minutes to make me come in the house and finish the show, entitled, The Audacity of Government, about the unrelenting, combative style of this Administration. Thought some may be interested in catching it.
Also, the Government Accountability Office (GAO), has just spanked Jr, once again. Or did they?
While April 1st is the traditional time for office pranks…

It’s no joke when the Government Accountability Office (GAO) sends the chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Christopher Cox, a letter with the subject line: “Internal Control: Improvements Needed in SEC’s Accounting and Financial Reporting Process.”
Why should we care?

Read on, I’m sure you’ll want to stomp on baby ducks afterwards. As well as be introduced to an interesting blawg.

Posted by: Uncle $cam | Apr 2 2008 2:42 utc | 30

thanks anna missed. just posted that @ OT but entirely to wasted to give it the send off it deserves. i would recommend everyone reading bagder’s earlier post also. i am wondering how the msm here is going to cover this. so far the gov trolls on the iraqi blogs are totally not confirming it. so far no western press.

Posted by: annie | Apr 2 2008 9:07 utc | 32

Juan Cole quotes Azzman on more fallout from the Nguyen Van Maliki’s assault on NVA encampments in Cambodia. Apparently “thousands” of military personal have been “fired” as a consequence of “mutiny”. I guess I’m being a little unfair with analogy to Thieu, I don’t think he even came close to “thousands” of mutinies in his little military demonstration.

Posted by: anna missed | Apr 2 2008 9:15 utc | 34

While it’s a stupid title, it a interesting article…
Consider that the U.S. embassy staff was evacuated from the Green Zone to the Baghdad airport, I find the title fitting.

Posted by: b | Apr 2 2008 12:35 utc | 36

More details on Maliki’s victory:
COOPER: All right. Erica Hill with the “Raw Data” — thanks, Erica.
We have now some breaking news out of Iraq. Britain has halted the withdrawal of about 1,500 of their troops from the southern part of this country. Now, their departure put on hold in part because of last week’s fighting, fighting in which Iraqi government forces met stiff resistance.
And we have also just learned that British forces were far more involved in the battle on the streets of Basra than anyone previously thought. They say they had to get involved to rescue Iraqi government forces, which we are just now learning were in serious danger of losing their battle with rebel Shia militia. We will have more on this later in the hour.
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0804/01/acd.01.html
Seems the success of McCains’s “surge” is highly dependent on Iranians:
ROBERTSON: Iraq is burying their dead. Some of them killed by U.S. air strikes in support of government forces. And the political implications of Iran’s involvement are being assessed. The calculation, it was Iranian intervention, not U.S. bombs, that silenced Sadr’s militia.
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0804/01/cnr.03.html
Maliki’s army faced defeat, the population supports the resistance, Iran had to bail them out, US personnel are fleeing the Green Zone and of cousre the Jessica Lynch Pentagon will spin this as another success. And more people will have to die because US elites are still dreaming for a pony to appear in Iraq. Jesse Ventura:
You know why? Because we lined our military up at another sovereign nation’s border, we invaded that country and overthrew that government without being asked. That’s what the Nazis did. That’s what the communists did. And now we’ve done it.
…
KING: Should Jesse Ventura run for president? Still time to cast your vote at CNN.com/LarryKing. Right now, get this, 85 percent say yes.
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0804/01/lkl.01.html
Pretty much sums it up doesn’t it?

Posted by: Sam | Apr 2 2008 18:55 utc | 38