Picture of the Day - 3

Iraqis rest on the roof of their vehicle as they wait in a queue outside a gas station, in Baghdad, Iraq, Saturday Aug. 12, 2006. (AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed)

This is becoming a real problem, one that Juan Cole says is beginning to threaten the government. His source is in Arabic, so I don't know.

An AP story on the shortage here.

Also, I think the Khalilzad claim that Sadr is losing control is spin. I could be wrong, but he's been working the Iran angle very hard lately, and such a claim weaken and fracture Sadr's control, as well as seeking some political cover for the attacks on the Shia militias. Just a feeling.