Speed bumps and blobs of paint

Julian Borger in the Guardian covers Gen. William Caldwell, Military Moron, exquisitely, starting with the headline: “Iraq a ‘Work of Art in Progress’ Says US General After 49 Die.”

“Every great work of art goes through messy phases while it is in transition. A lump of clay can become a sculpture. Blobs of paint become paintings which inspire,” Maj Gen Caldwell told journalists in Baghdad’s fortified green zone.

Dude, those blobs... they’re not... paint.

Caldwell says the final test won’t be these “isolated incidents” (Borger notes there were 1,272 isolated incidents of Iraqi deaths reported in October), but “the country that the Iraqis build.” In another not-entirely-felicitous metaphor, Caldwell added, “A transition is not always a pleasant thing to watch as it happens. But when common goals are achieved, speed bumps and differences of opinion along the way are soon forgotten.” Speed fucking bumps.