In July, an anonymous U.S. official famously described the US-Iraq basing agreement as "a bridge to have the authority in place so we don't turn into a pumpkin on December 31" - because the U.N. mandate that authorizes the U.S. military occupation of Iraq expires at midnight, just like the spell that turned Cinderella's carriage back into a pumpkin.

Several times since, Busheviks have declared the US-Iraq agreement a "done deal." But each time, that declaration proved to be a lie. And so it is again:

Chances of completing the signing of an agreement... retreated following the optimism caused by the statements of [Condi Rice] in Baghdad last week. The two sides said negotiations are still going on in an attempt to solve their differences, and one of the members of the Iraqi negotiating team told AlHayat that the two sides are in agreement on the broad lines, but there are particular conceptual and legal differences respecting these clauses and the methods for applying them and their timing. Meanwhile parliamentary sources [said they] are inclined to think that putting this through Parliament will be delayed until next year.

Delayed until next year? It looks like Condi's carriage will turn into a pumpkin in 127 days...