The title of this article is something all my readers (all 8 or 10 of you,) know in English: “If you wish peace, prepare for war.”

LONDON (Reuters) - The United States and Britain are planning to pull all their troops out of Iraq by the spring of 2007, two British newspapers reported in their Sunday editions, quoting unnamed senior defense ministry sources.

The Sunday Telegraph said the planned pull-out followed an acceptance by the two governments that the presence of foreign troops in Iraq was now a large obstacle to securing peace.

While good news, this is undoubtedly a Rovian jiu-jitsu ploy. We have mid-term elections this year, and the massive anti-Bu$hCo sentiment in this country and in the UK is palpable. People are finally stirring themselves in their Corporate Media induced sleep.
Even The good puppy press feels the wind of change and is beginning to slowly flex its muscles by reporting some of the truth, in order to put itself in a good tactical position.

“See? We knew this was a Bad Thing, and we reported it as such, so please don’t cancel your subscription.”

And if the “getting out of Dodge” escape doesn’t come true they can fall back on the alternate position.

“But, Karl, we do have to report some bad news, once in a while, otherwise people will stop buying our papers.”

But there is every likelihood this is a deliberately leaked Orwellian ploy, because that’s just what Bu$hCo does best.

Cf: leopard, spots.

There is a chance, of course, that this story has some truth to it. Just in case it comes about, I want all 10 of you to remember something. This was Mr Bush’s war. He wanted it and the Republican Party and all its MSM enablers stood behind him 100%. Not just the Congress, but Fox News – Rupert Murdoch, Roger Ailes, Brit Hume, Hannity & Colmes, and even Captain Loofah backed it, in between sexual harassment phone calls. Over at Certainly Not News, Wolf Blitzer giggled in glee as we were treated to live video of 2,000 pound bombs killing Iraqi citizens wholesale during the “shock and awe” phase. Chris Matthews at MSGOP has been an early and strident fellator of Mr Bush. There are rumors that he was presented with a pair of kneepads personally by the Big Cowboy in our White House. CBS and ABC are both equally complicit.

And let’s not forget the dead tree press: the NY Times and Washington Post have discredited their reputations for 50 years knowingly spreading Karl Rove’s lies.

So, when the chorus begins that we, the ones who warned about the stupidity and danger of this flim-flam, are responsible, be ready to shove it right back down your friends’ gullible throats.

This was Mr Bush’s war. It was a Republican war. When we warned, cautioned, and advised them all against it we were labeled traitors.

Now, if they finally admit Mr Bush’s Most Excellent adventure has failed, do not let them blame you. First guy who says it to me will get a eyeful of spit.

"The British government is understood to be the driving force behind the withdrawal plan but all 24 coalition members are likely to welcome the move, given the growing international unpopularity of the war," the Telegraph said.

I can see it now:

Mr Bush is on the phone. “Yes, Tony. No, I think you’re right. We’re backing a pair of deuces. We can’t win. It’s time to get out. Yes, I know. We did our best. Thanks very much. Take care now.”

Mr Bush hangs up the phone and turns to Karl, smiling. “It worked. Fuck him. We don’t need them Brits, anyway. And we still ain’t cleaned out the Social Security funds."

However, the Telegraph, quoting a defense official, said that if civil war were to break out, it would likely cause the withdrawal plan to be put off.

"Hey, Karl? Tell Negroponte to move phase two of the plan forward.”