Shiites Burn Bush Effigy in Protest

On Friday, supporters of a radical Shiite cleric, while chanting "no to America" burned an effigy of President Bush. This was in a protest demanding parliament scuttle a U.S.-Iraqi security pact and American troops begin withdrawing from Iraq immediately. The demonstration drew nearly 20,000 followers of Muqtada al-Sadr to Firdous Square, the same spot where U.S. Marines toppled a statue of Saddam Hussein and exultant Iraqis pummeled it with debris in what became an iconic image of the fall of Baghdad and the end of the dictator's rule. It is too bad there are so many different factors among the Iraqi. They can't seem to agree on anything.

Friday's protest was the latest display of opposition to an accord that could push Iraq into new political turmoil even though the ruling coalition appears to have enough parliamentary votes to narrowly approve the deal. Monday Parliament is scheduled to vote on the pact. I wonder how this is going to come out. Guess we will find out soon.

Iraqi Kurds Sign Four Oil Deals

The Kurdish regional government in northern Iraq has announced four new oil exploration deals with international energy companies. The news is likey to upset the central government in Baghdad and the United States. Both have been pressing the Kurds to hold off negotiations until national oil and gas laws for opening up Iraqi's energy wealth are in place.