A Democratic-controlled Senate has passed legislation that would require the start of limited US troop withdrawals from Iraq by October 1. The 51-46 vote was largely along party lines. With House doing the same earlier Congress has moved towards a historic veto showdown with President George W. Bush on the war, who immediately promised a veto. Congress needs the two-thirds margin to overturn the president's threatened veto.

Though President Bush says that he is more than willing to meet with Democratic leaders to resolve the differences, between them he always signals that he has no intention to compromise with them on the funding bill for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Bush is not going to change his mind on Iraq. The US occupying force in Iraq looks like it's planning to stay forever under the Bush /Cheney scenario. That means the US continues to occupy a sovereign Muslim country indefinitely, against the wishes of a clear majority of Iraqis; even though this project has little chance of success and considerable chance of creating ever more problems as long as it continues.

So we can expect more of the fear-based rhetoric, an intentional simplification of a complex situation into victory versus surrender, a demonization of those who hold alternative views and unwillingnes to respect people who hold opposing viewpoints.

The President has the option to continue the war in Iraq by using the mercenary army of the corporate security companies.

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