I know. I didn't follow through last evening.

Here are a few links to Iraqi stories of the past few days.

Jordanian soldier in Iraq wounded in drive-by shooting

Iraq Blasts Kill 143 on Shi'ite Holy Day

Iraqi Gunmen Shoot at Kurdish Officials

Blast hits oil pipeline in northern Iraq

Another Pole Wounded in Iraq

Gunmen open fire on Kurdish officials, wound three bodyguards

Rocket strikes on Baghdad telephone exchange disrupts international calls

One from Afghanistan:

One Shi'ite killed, 16 wounded in Kabul clash

Yes. Before you say to yourself, "Hey, that's just a bunch of links," I know. Again, it's mediation day. So bear with me, please.

I see that that Vee Pee Dick commented yesterday that Aristide had "worn out his welcome." What a statesman. So, we are supposed to believe that the U.S. di not have a direct hand in Aristide's ouster, more of tacit approach.

This is not inconsistent with what Aristide reportedly told Congressman(?) Maxine Waters as reported by Democracy Now!

Yesterday, Democracy Now! repoerted that:

South African ambassador to the United Nations, Dumisani Kumalo, says President Aristide did not request asylum or exile in South Africa, nor did the South African government deny him asylum or exile as alleged by the US State Department and The New York Times.

The US government/corporate media psychological operations campaign against Haitian president Jean-Bertrand Aristide has been in full swing for weeks. Aristide has been portrayed as "fleeing Haiti" "abandoning his country" and "resigning" his post. Over the past 24 hours, a very different picture has emerged. As we have reported extensively on Democracy Now!, it is becoming very clear that Aristide was forced out of Haiti in what can only be called another U.S. coup; that he was threatened by US officials and that he was taken to Africa against his will.

I don't know where the truth lies(no pun intended), but Democracy Now! seems to taking the lead in coverage of the events as they unfold.

Other than that, a big Congrats to John Kerry is in order. It's all over now that Edwards has opted not to continue. I think a Kerry/Edwards would be a strong team in November. Polls show the ticket beating Bush/Cheney if the election was to held today.

If Bush survives the myriad investigations surrounding his Administration, the debates should be hoot. Kerry seems to able to turn a phrase quite well, and Bush can do nothing that isn't scripted.

I think Kerry's main problemthat he is likely to be seen as an elitist -- and our watchdog media and GOP strategistswill make sure that he is seen as such. Massachusetts, elitist liberal who is out of touch with America..as opposed to corporatist wars of choice Bush. Permawars for profit, now that's American!

It seems likely the RWEC, is going to resort to smear tactics. Running on Bush's record doesn't seem like a effective tool to win him the election.

Okay, now there's some bs. :)