Mideast Tour

The estimable Badger points out another interesting fact about Condi's last trip to the Middle East. After the disaster with Olmert and Abbas she went to Amman to meet with the heads of intelligence of four states, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, and the UAE. Apart from from the oddity of a Secretary of State meeting with operations people rather than diplomats, the goal of the meeting raises speculation that she is shoring up support for moves against Iran. This, I suppose, goes with the strategy of turning over southern Iraq to the Iranians.

Also on the ME front, Jim Lobe at the Asia Times points out that Elliot Abrams is causing trouble for Condi at the White House. Is that who sabotaged the meeting in Jerusalem?

Finally, Paul Rogers speculates that Blair's withdrawal plans were forced on him by the British military, and it anticipates the ultimate failure of the entire Iraq adventure.