I know I just posted this in open thread, and that it's not election news, but it's important.

International support is already crumbling.

Following countries leaving or making substantial reductions to forces within the next months:

Hungary
Moldova
Thailand
New Zealand
Singapore
Bulgaria
The Netherlands

Not to mention Poland (we didn't forget).

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/04/international/europe/04hungary.html

My uncle, who is a staunch Republican, recently sent me what appears to be a chain letter email from a "soldier in Iraq" extolling the virtues of the war and occupation and discrediting virtually every report by the media as a blatant lie.

Needless to say, I don't subscribe to such contrafactually tautological nonsense. The "soldier," is most likely a concoction of some overzealous, unscrupulous e-propagandist (if he is real, however, I hope he'll accept my apologies but please get in touch with the reality of Iraq). Unfortunately, many people do, and (there's more)...

I guess Bush's favourite coalition member isn't as loyal as he'd hoped. Or maybe they were just severely embarrassed at being the catch phrase of every joke mocking his pathetic debate performance. In any case, CNN reports:

Poland may reduce its commitment of forces to the war in Iraq by 40 percent by January 2005 and have all its troops out by the end of that year, Polish officials said Monday...

Sounds petty, but probably important to some apathetic swing voters in Ohio and Wisconsin (sigh). And no Fox News propaganda this. From the Guardian:

Can John Elway win the US election for Bush?
Dave Hannigan in New York
Friday September 24, 2004
The Guardian

John Elway was the All American hero personified when he introduced President George W Bush at a rally in Greenwood Village, Colorado, last week. "This man knows how to make the right calls when the pressure is on," said the former Denver Broncos quarterback, during a cameo equivalent of Alan Shearer speaking up for an MP seeking re-election in Newcastle.

In a state where Bush and the Democratic challenger John Kerry are running neck and neck, the potential impact of an athlete with the status of a demi-god locally could be crucial. The Republicans are well aware of that, and having the most revered sports star in a state endorse their candidate has become a recurring theme in Bush's bid for re-election.

Jack Nicklaus stepped up to the plate at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio three weeks back and had to wait five minutes for a crowd of 21,000 to stop cheering before he could formally introduce Bush and his wife Laura at another Republican campaign stop.

Sidney Blumenthal nails it in a Guardian article which consists almost exclusively of quotes from military personnel.

A preview...

Retired general Joseph Hoare, the former marine commandant and head of US Central Command, told me: "The idea that this is going to go the way these guys planned is ludicrous. There are no good options. We're conducting a campaign as though it were being conducted in Iowa, no sense of the realities on the ground. It's so unrealistic for anyone who knows that part of the world. The priorities are just all wrong."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uselections2004/story/0,13918,1294572,00.html

No 10's silent support for Kerry
Patrick Wintour, chief political correspondent
Wednesday September 1, 2004
The Guardian

John Kerry supporters in America have been told by Peter Hain that Downing Street is hoping the Democratic candidate wins the US presidential election in November.

Those who met him had the strong impression that he was acting with No 10's support, and that a Democratic victory was clearly sought. Such a supposition ought to be natural, but historic ties have been jolted by the strategic and sometimes personal alliance between George Bush and Tony Blair over Iraq. Mr Hain's visit may be seen by some as diplomatic ground-covering in the event of a Kerry victory.

My father sent me this link today (he reads Fox News for some godunknown reason):

Successfully Stopping Santa and A-Caroling We Won't Go

This was my reply...

Saddam Hussein has been irrelevant and insignificant to Iraq for months. Perhaps as a source of fear for those who believed their assistance of the resistance might engender his return to power, or as a source of moral support for a certain contingent of militants, he had some meaning in the distant sense of psychological motivation.

A roast turkey presented to US troops in Iraq for Thanksgiving by President George W Bush was reportedly only used for decorative purposes.

The Bush administration has expropriated the word "freedom" as a shield for nearly every criticism.

Rumours have been circulating in Britain that part of Bush's visit to London will involve a surrender of steel tariffs imposed by the US.