Maliki the firebrand Zero

Accusations against Maliki vary. Some charge him with being a stooge for the Mehdi Army. Others say he is a stooge for the Americans. Still others claim he is a puppet of Iran. Reportedly, last week Maliki flew into a fit of rage at accusations of being pro-American, telling US Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad: "I am a friend of the United States, but I am not America's man in Iraq." White House spokesman Tony Snow rushed to save the premier, saying: "He's not America's man in Iraq. The United States is there in a role to assist him. He's the prime minister - he's the leader of the Iraqi people."