You've got to laugh...

From the BBC website's piece on Iraqi self-rule.

Observers say Washington hopes the now daily attacks on US troops in mainly Sunni central Iraq will decline if Iraqis feel authority is being transferred to local leaders.

.Fair enough, I guess. But then the article ends with:

Meanwhile, in Baghdad, one Iraqi policeman was killed and four wounded when they were fired on by US troops in what appears to have been a misunderstanding.

...and whoever's technically "running" the country, if US troops keep shooting the wrong people (which, to be fair, is almost unavoidable in this sort of situation), the resentment's not going to go away, is it?

Oh, and from the Independent - Blair Seeks New Powers To Attack Rogue States.

Tony Blair is appealing to the heads of Western governments to agree a new world order that would justify the war in Iraq even if Saddam Hussein's elusive weapons of mass destruction are never found.

It would also give Western powers the authority to attack any other sovereign country whose ruler is judged to be inflicting unnecessary suffering on his own people.

Eeek. Lovely in theory, but with Bush and Blair making the judgement as to which countries are suitable targets for change (Cuba, anyone?), and with scant evidence that they're actually prepared to effectively rebuild as well as invade? Scary as hell.