It's quiet over there, Kate ... too quiet.

And once upon a time, control of the provinces of Iraq was, slowly but surely, being turned over to the Iraqis, and there was much rejoicing in the Retard-o-sphere as the denizens of SDA stroked themselves into blissful ecstasy over how terrifically the Global War on Terror™ was going.

And it came to pass, just a few days ago, that an eighth Iraqi province was turned over to the Iraqis, and yet from the Retard-o-sphere, there was a puzzling silence and lack of celebratory braying, and lo, once you dug into it a bit deeper, you started to see what was going on:

U.S. forces to turn over security in Karbala
The Associated Press
Published: October 28, 2007

BAGHDAD: U.S. forces will turn over security to Iraqi authorities in the southern Shiite province of Karbala on Monday, the American commander for the area said, ...

OK, that sounds promising, so why isn't Canada's favourite neo-con screech harpy shouting this from the rooftops? Oh ... here's why:

... despite fighting between rival militia factions that has killed dozens.

Karbala will become the eighth of Iraq's 18 provinces to revert to Iraqi control, though U.S. President George W. Bush had predicted in January that the Iraqi government would have responsibility for security in all of the provinces by November.

The target date has slipped repeatedly, highlighting the difficulties in developing Iraqi police forces and the slow pace of economic and political progress in areas still troubled by daily violence.

Who -- I ask you, who -- could have seen that reaction coming? Oh, look:

And since cheerleading wanks like Kate were so excited when things were going "well," one should, of course, expect that they'll be fair and balanced and report on when things like this start to go south in a hurry, because that would be the "fair and balanced" thing to do, right? Right?

Thank you, thank you very much. I'm here until Thursday, don't forget to tip your waitress.