Iraq "sovereignty" handed over today

Sovereignty (such as it is) was turned over today. But it was far, far from what Karl Rove wanted when he set the June 30, 2004 date.

I know what he imagined. George Bush would visit Iraq, and a ceremonial event replete with symbolic meaning would take place, as he personally handed on power to beaming Iraq Arabs, would would throw flowers in tribute to their "liberators."

Instead, with Iraq nearly ungovernable, they had to sneak the swearing in of the new "sovereign" government two days early, so that the terrorists would not be able to attack the swearing in ceremony and kill the new leaders. Iraq is far too unsafe to let the US Commander in Chief to come to the big ceremony of Rove's imagination. Nor is it even safe for Bush to sneak into one of Saddam's palaces and do it in some hidden undocumented location. The terrorists appear to be able to strike at will, even in the green zone, with the synchronous multiple attack signature of Al Qaeda.

The handover today should be interpreted as what it truly is - an act of utter desperation by a President who knows he is unlikely to be re-elected.