Predictions for 2005

Here are a few predictions, and one of these days I'll go back to my previous predictions and see how they panned out:
Those of you who want to test me, be sure to save the perma-link (# sign) at the lower left hand corner of the post, right-click on it and choose "copy link" and then save it as a text file, or otherwise choose "bookmark link" or something. Then, if I forget to link to this later, you can email me or post a comment saying "See! You were wrong! Hahahahahaha."

1) At least 1000 American troops will die in Iraq during 2004. Troop levels will not decrease unless by necessity.
2) The January 30 elections will occur, and there will be many charges of irregularities by the Sunnis, and some charges of irregularities by a few Kurdish and Shiite groups, although the majority of those groups will support the results, or at least be indifferent to them.
3) The insurgency will not be affected in any significant way by the elections.
4) Ahmad Chalabi will get a position of political power.
5) Neither Syria nor Iran will fall on its own, but we will not invade either or them either, as we lack the number of troops to do so. Basically, I don't see the situation in the greater Middle East (i.e. outside of Iraq) changing a whole lot, whatever occurs in the war on terror or in Iraq.
6) Nothing will happen on the Social Security front.
7) Bush's amnesty proposal will begin to cause a break-up of the GOP; not that people will defect, but we will get increasing levels of criticism from the GOP against Bush that will make it difficult for the GOP to get any sort of agenda passed.
8) Nothing new will happen on the gay "marriage" front.
9) There will be a major terrorist attack (>100 deaths) in Europe by Muslims that will cause an anti-Muslim backlash.

That is all - for now.