We Now Return You to Our Previously Scheduled Disaster, Already in Progress

Maybe this will go down as the history as the week Bush lost not just one, but two cities.

BAGHDAD, Sept. 5 -- Fighters loyal to militant leader Abu Musab Zarqawi asserted control over the key Iraqi border town of Qaim on Monday, killing U.S. collaborators and enforcing strict Islamic law, according to tribal members, officials, residents and others in the town and nearby villages.

Residents said the foreign-led fighters controlled by Zarqawi, a Jordanian, apparently had been exerting authority in the town, within two miles of the Syrian border, since at least the start of the weekend. A sign posted at an entrance to the town declared, "Welcome to the Islamic Republic of Qaim."

Given their past tactics, we can assume they don't intend to hold the city, and as soon as we mount a counter-attack large enough to destroy significant portions of the place, they will withdraw, leaving a ruined city while they take over somewhere else. Turmoil, and destruction that can be linked to the Americans, and therefore drive more recruits, are in their interest. At least there are some folks in Iraq working to a plan.