Mission Accomplished

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The New York Times reports a group of American advisers led by a small State Department team played an integral part in drawing up contracts between the Iraqi government and five major Western oil companies to develop some of the largest oil fields in Iraq. The disclosure marks the first confirmation of direct involvement by the Bush administration in deals to open Iraq’s oil to commercial development.

The Times also reports the original partners in the Iraq Petroleum Company—Exxon Mobil, Shell, Total and BP— as well as Chevron, are on the verge of getting no-bid contracts to service Iraq’s largest oil fields.

In their role as advisers to the Iraqi Oil Ministry, American government lawyers and private-sector consultants provided template contracts and detailed suggestions on drafting the contracts.

What continent is Iraq in Senator Inhofe?

Senator Jim Inhofe (R-OK) has been traveling so much, he can't remember which continent Iraq is in.

Grading on a curve...

I was watching the Sunday talk shows this morning, and on every single one, the question was asked; What grade do you give this administration on the war in Iraq?

This struck me as odd for two reasons:

#1- Is this grade school mentality of relating a war with over 3,000 American deaths, and tens of thousands of Iraqis', to a grade-school report card the best the mainstream media has?

#2- Is there any other possible grade than an 'F'?

Remembering the troops

Ooops. I almost forgot to post my Memorial Day cartoon on Memorial Day!

Global warming is not the REAL threat

Here's the sketch:

Political cartoonists in Iraq have no shortage of material.

There's an interesting story in today's USA Today. about the dangers that face Iraqi cartoonists in their violent and war-torn country.

One of the more interesting aspects mentioned in the piece discusses the Iraqi Cartoonists Association, and how membership has dwindled down to 50 members due to cartoonists fleeing the country because of non-stop violence and death threats.

You can check out the story here.

What does $456 billion buy?

Over at The Boston Globe, Ana Rivas brings us a fresh take on the rising costs of the Iraq War. What Does $456 billion Buy? shows us alternatives on how that much money could be spend right here at home.

And this is only 10 possible alternatives. $456 billions is a LOT of money, and I think most of us just see it as a number, and don't understand what a huge sum of money really means.

Hat tip to Jon Marshall's News Gems