ARTICLE: Sadr Back in Iraq, U.S. Generals Say, By Thomas E. Ricks and Sudarsan Raghavan, Washington Post, May 25, 2007; Page A12

ARTICLE: U.S. Urges New Sanctions as Iran Stands Firm on Nuclear Policy, By Karen DeYoung, Washington Post, May 25, 2007; Page A14

This constellation says showdown on Iran, not solution on Iraq:

1) Sadr back in Iraq for purported Iranian-backed summer offensive on U.S. troops.

2) We push new sanctions on Iraq and exercise 2 carrier groups in PG in show of force to Tehran.

3) And somehow Rice pulls out Iranian concessions on Iraq?

We're left with the usual choice of alternative interpretations of this administration's seeming jumble of policies: either incredibly clever in ways we can't possibly fathom or incredibly f--ked up, confused and internally-contradicted.

And then you check the scorecard for the last six years and I'm with A.J. on this one until proven otherwise.

Good thing we go to my Mom's this weekend.

No pool...

No readily available cinderblocks.