FOUROBOROS. Oct. 26:
Attack viewed as Assassination Attempt.
Claims of US Progress in Iraq Hobbled.
APB for Actress Kathy Bates Issued.

The Rashid Hotel? Again? it has more patched holes than an Irish bucket by now. Not to mention that it has to have been sighted to memory by every RPG-toting Iraqi angry young man.

So where does Dep. Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz stay on his visit? The Rashid Hotel. Granted, other visiting gov't weenies on safari chopper back to Kuwait for their mint on a pillow, so you've got to commend Wolfowitz's willingness to go into the belly of the beast. But it does make me wonder two things:

1. Why would the administration place one of it's most symbolic and intellectual champions of the "rectitude" of this war in such obvious harms way? As a chess piece in the game for hearts and minds, he's a Bishop at least. (Probably higher, since Cheney and Bush aren't really in play for the purposes of this match.)

2. Does he really view it as "the beast"? In other words, maybe he and the masterminds behind this operation really do view "Iraq" as being on the tipping point in regards to rolling over and "seeing things our way", rose-petals and stable-muslim-democracy-wise? Seymour hersh seems to think so. My mind tends to ask: How big a house has to fall on you before you 'recalibrate' your position? Silly me. Any ideas?