While Congress Slept: Bush Sets US Police Role in Iraq--Forever.

With the clock ticking on our "commitments" in Iraq -- the international mandate expires in less than a year -- the Bush administration is left in an interesting position. It could create a plan for a troop withdrawal; instead, the plan being negotiated with the Iraqi government focuses on reasons to stay there, something The New York Times reports is seen by Democrats as a plan that would "bind the next president by locking in Mr. Bush's policies and a long-term military presence."

Various candidates on the Democratic side propose to wind down the occupation in Iraq. Meanwhile, with the exception of the independent-minded Republican, Ron Paul, Republicans say no such thing. Now we know why.

President George W. Bush is laying the groundwork for for a role protecting Iraq from both internal and external threats--forever. This is not what Americans have in mind. It it flies in the face of Constitutional government. The Senate has to ratify treaties. Not to worry. Bush isn't calling it a treaty.

For more on yet another Constitutional disaster in the making, for more on this scam to siphon our tax dollars into contractor's pockets forever, go to The Seattle Post-Intelligencer.