Bush's never-ending nightmare

Unfortunately, Bush's nightmare is our nightmare.

You realize, of course, that this London trip was planned back in July 2002 when Tony and Georgie were giddy over the prospect of being the heroes of what was instead a terrible cock-up, to borrow a British term. We have plenty of evidence that the war was a foregone conclusion by summer '02. And, from my window, the invitation to an unprecedented full state visit complete with palace stay instigated by Tony Blair is simply more circumstantial evidence.

At that time, they were no doubt arrogantly certain that by this time the technologically superior war machinery of the U.S. would have blasted the pathetically emaciated Iraqi forces off the map including "taking Saddam out", the Iraqi people would have been cheering us as liberators, their companies would have been successfully divvied up in contracts to U.S. and U.K. companies, their government would have been a U.S. installed puppet regime, and their oil would have been flowing into US/UK barrels. (Oh boy, here I get to use a Mark Twain quote - from Christian Science: "That sentence is Germanic, and shows that I am acquiring that sort of mastery of the art and spirit of the language which enables a man to travel all day in one sentence without changing cars.")

The trip to London would have been the grand finale, the coronation of George the Lesser, and the triumph of his "special friend" Tony Blair. Cue fanfare, trumpets, and triumphal marches through the streets of London - hail the conquering heroes - and don't you think George looks royal? He really should be king. But, like the first President, similarly named, he is much too humble. Still, he did look fine, didn't he? He and princess Laura. Maybe an honorary title, if you insist on twisting his arm. Sir George. And a title for Tony, too, while you're at it, Liz old girl.

You know that's what they were thinking.

But, as goofy old fate sometimes has it, there's been a slight change of plans.

And now with the announcement that the U.S. is pulling its companies out of Britain - my, oh my...stay tuned, because I think this is going to be The Week That Was.

(Not to mention, Prince Jeb is going to be cracking down on civil liberties in Miami, with the trade talks there, and with this latest British deal that is being touted as a possible first strike in a serious trade war - you might want to don your tin helmet this week - and finish your Christmas shopping, because prices are going to skyrocket when Europe imposes sanctions mid-December.)

....but hey, do what you want....you will anyway.

Update December 3, '03: Follow-up to this story is here.