US soldiers killed in Iraq

The BBC and Sky News reported earlier today that the two US Soldiers that had gone missing in Baghdad earlier in the week had been found dead, and there was the suggestion that the two had been tortured.

Not good, but I fail to see why this is newsworthy. Soldiers get killed in battles, and at times in unpleasant ways, but I am not sure this is front page news.

The Economist had a good lead article on Iraq and America this last week, which suggested that Bush's recent visit was a really counter productive thing to do for the Iraqi government and just made them look like even bigger quislings in the eye's of ordinary Iraqis. I think that might be over egging it slightly, but I think the Economist's basic argument was correct. Bush and Blair would we well advised to stay away from Iraq now, unless invited by the local politicians, but I guess neither man can.

They are drawn like moths to the fire to the country that will forever be against their names. Both men have failed domestically, and when a politician realises that their domestic agenda has run in to the sand they usually turn to foreign affairs to try and look the Statesman. In Bush's case I would add another reason for criticising the recent visit - it was clearly political and connected to the mid terms.

Hurumph!