Can Poppy clean up Junior's messes, one more time?

Let's hope the old man can, once again, clean up Junior's messes.

Not sure there is any other hope.

US casualties surge in Iraq - Yahoo! News:

"BAGHDAD (AFP) - American military casualties in
Iraq are mounting dramatically amid reports that allies of US
President George W. Bush are pushing him for a new exit strategy.

US troops were meanwhile ordered by Iraq's prime minster to free a detained Shiite militant, in more evidence of the political wrangling undermining their mission to halt a wave of sectarian violence.

The US military said at least 10 soldiers were killed Tuesday -- including four in a single roadside bomb attack on their vehicle -- as the toll for the first half of the month hit 67, or almost four per day.

US spokesmen say the casualty surge is partly to be blamed on a spike in violence during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, but the grim news will pile further pressure on the White House.

In another setback for US plans, Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki ordered the release of a leading member of radical cleric Moqtada al-Sadr's political organisation who had been detained by American troops.