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The beginning of the end?

The US Congress debates a timetable, as least of sorts, for getting out of Iraq. Meanwhile the Americans are spending big-time to stablish a seemingly long term presence in Iraq - air and military bases and a huge new embassy in Baghdad to mention but a few things. At the same time members of the Coalition of the Willing keep banging on about the establishment of democracy in war-ravaged Iraq.

So, how will George Bush and his cohorts react to this news out of Baghdad today?:

"While most observers are focused on the U.S. Congress as it continues to issue new rubber stamps to legitimize Bush's permanent designs on Iraq, nationalists in the Iraqi parliament -- now representing a majority of the body -- continue to make progress toward bringing an end to their country's occupation.

The parliament today passed a binding resolution that will guarantee lawmakers an opportunity to block the extension of the U.N. mandate under which coalition troops now remain in Iraq when it comes up for renewal in December. Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, whose cabinet is dominated by Iraqi separatists, may veto the measure.

The law requires the parliament's approval of any future extensions of the mandate, which have previously been made by Iraq's prime minister. It is an enormous development; lawmakers reached in Baghdad today said that they do in fact plan on blocking the extension of the coalition's mandate when it comes up for renewal six months from now."

Read the full report on AlterNet here - and ponder whether this might be George W's and the GOP's salvation.

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