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Iraqis Provide New Details of Abuse WaPo — Permalink Previously secret sworn statements by detainees at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq describe in raw detail abuse that goes well beyond what has been made public, adding allegations of prisoners being ridden like animals, sexually fondled by female soldiers and forced to retrieve their food from toilets. | |
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Jeanne D'Arc: Sworn statements by Abu Ghraib prisoners describe nightmares the photos only hint at. Dale Franks: The long roll-out continues — Scott Higham and Joe Stephens of the Washington Post continue the rollout of allegations from Abu Ghraib. Kevin Drum: ABU GHRAIB....More pictures and testimony about Abu Ghraib. I don't really have the heart to write about this today, though. |
Rich Lowry: One thing I noticed in the Washington Post coverage today is that specialist Graner seems to be in at least four of the pictures. Adam Mordecai: It Can't Get Worse Claim #347 - 353 — From the Washington Post: "Previously secret sworn statements by detainees at... Dan Gillmor: Un-American — Washington Post: New Details of Prison Abuse Emerge . |
| Also: Noam Scheiber, Kevin Raybould, Matthew Yglesias, Phil Carter, Jan Haugland, John Cole, Mitch Berg, Captain Ed, Gregory Djerejian, Cori Dauber, The Big Trunk, Digby, Tbogg, Steve M., KJL | |
AP: Kerry Considers Delaying Nomination AP — Permalink BOSTON - Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry is considering delaying accepting his party's nomination to gain time to raise and spend private contributions and lessen President Bush 's multimillion-dollar financial advantage, The Associated Press has learned. | |
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Captain Ed: And from the AP comes more of the questions this desperate move provokes: "Television networks were uncertain Friday... Smash: The Money Game — Kerry may delay Accepting nomination To raise more funds. Betsy Newmark: Here's another way to get around the campaign finance laws. |
Harley: Well. We'll see. Kerry is considering delaying his acceptance of the Dem party nomination at the July convention. Mathew Gross: And the Nominee Is... This is a great idea, and one I support whole-heartedly: [snipped quote] Show your support for the... Steve Soto: Kerry's camp said just a while ago that they are considering delaying the date that Kerry actually accepts the... |
| Also: Taegan Goddard | |
George Bush never looked into Nick's eyes By / WaPo — Permalink My son, Nick, was my teacher and my hero. He was the kindest, gentlest man I know; no, the kindest, gentlest human being I have ever known. He quit the Boy Scouts of America because they wanted to teach him to fire a handgun. | |
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Charles Johnson: He makes it appallingly clear that his signature on a statement from International ANSWER was no fluke—and that... Mitch Berg: Again, I'm trying to be charitable. But his article in the WaPo today makes charity difficult. It counts, I think, as ex post facto child abuse. Jeff Goldstein: But don't you dare call him unpatriotic... **** More. And etc. |
Jon Henke: The Real Enemy is...(fill in the blank) My deepest sympathies on the loss of your son, Mr. Berg, but... Baldilocks: From Michael Berg, father of Nicholas Berg, infamously slaughtered by Islamists: [snipped quote] "I am sure that the one... Captain Ed: However, Michael Berg has completely exhausted my sympathy and patience with a twisted and craven opinion piece... |
| Also: Damian Penny, Cori Dauber, Jeff Jarvis | |
'Rock Solid' Evidence Chalabi Spied for Iran AP — Permalink BAGHDAD, Iraq — U.S. officials believe they have "rock solid" evidence that Iraqi Governing Council member Ahmad Chalabi (search), once a darling of the American government, passed secrets to Iran, Fox News has learned. | |
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Smash: An Iranian Spy — Officials now claim Chalabi spied for Iran: Proof is "rock solid." Jeff Goldstein: Iran so far away (I couldn't get away) My Chalabi has a first name, it's t-r-a-i-t-o-r... My Chalabi has a second name,... |
Glenn Reynolds: "ROCK SOLID EVIDENCE" that Chalabi spied for Iran? This is likely to embarrass some people. UPDATE: Including some at The New York Times, apparently. Jan Haugland: Update: InstaPundit points out a Fox article saying the US government has "rock solid" evidence that Chalabi passed secrets to Iran. |
Iraq sarin shell is not part of a secret cache By / Christian Science Monitor — Permalink DELMAR, N.Y. - In the mid-1980s I served as the intelligence officer for a Marine artillery battalion. Stationed in Twentynine Palms, Calif., I would often find myself deployed in the field, on exercises where thousands of live artillery rounds were fired downrange. | |
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Kevin Drum: Scott Ritter says it's pretty easy to find out: [snipped quote] Note that there's nothing here that depends on whether you consider Ritter a reliable source. The Poor Man: Scott Ritter on the Sarin Gas Shell — Scott Ritter thinks the official story stinks: [snipped quote] Not a ringing endorsement. |
H.D. Miller: The Lone Shell — Scott Ritter is now saying that discovery of an artillery shell containg nerve agent in Iraq weren't nothing but a thing. Smash: UPDATE: Scott Ritter provides an alternative explanation in today's Christian Science Monitor. |
Many Iraq Prison Abuses Occurred in Nov. By / AP — Permalink WASHINGTON - Many of the worst abuses that have come to light from the Abu Ghraib prison happened on a single November day amid a flare of insurgent violence in Iraq , the deaths of many U.S. soldiers and a breakdown of the American guards' command structure. | |
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Charles Johnson: Stop the Presses! Abu Ghraib Duration: One Day Most of the Abu Ghraib prisoner abuses occurred in a single day. Rich Lowry: Drudge is linking to this story about most of the abuses happening on one day—would seem to indicate that they weren't widespread. |
Betsy Newmark: Here's some context for the Iraqi prison story. Almost all the photos were taken on the same day, November 8, 2003. |
Poll: Little Movement in Bush-Kerry Matchup By / AP — Permalink The latest Fox News poll finds that while President Bush's job rating remains below 50 percent and pessimism about the nation's economy grows, the election matchup shows little movement. | |
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Glenn Reynolds: THIS POLL suggests that the media really are out of touch on Iraq. Note these questions: "20. Josh Chafetz: I was looking at the latest Fox News-Opinion Dynamics Poll (taken May 18-19), and something interesting stood out. Hindrocket: In other polling news, Fox reports the absolutely bizarre finding that 49% of Americans say that for them and their families, it "feels like the economy is getting worse." |
Cori Dauber: That's a pretty good clue this is the real deal.) Oliver Willis: $130 Million spent, and even in the Fox News/Opinion Dynamics poll he's tied with John Kerry. |
Press can't let abuse story go By / Washington Times — Permalink Accounts and graphic photos of Iraqi prisoner abuse persist in the press despite the fact that the story has run its course. The world already knows salient details of the prisoner humiliation and nudity, the causes of the abuse are under official investigation, and the courts-martial have begun. | |
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Donald Sensing: I summarized this phenomenon a week ago, and many other writers have, too, including some traditional media outlets. Betsy Newmark: The Washington TImes looks at the disparity between the media's coverage of bad and good news from Iraq. |
Gary Farber: UH-OH. They've gotten into the brown acid over at the Moonie paper. The Big Trunk: Coincidental with the new Post stories, Jennifer Harper writes in the Washington Times: "Press can't let abuse scandal go." |
Season of Apologies NRO — Permalink It's time for reckless critics to own up. President Bush and Secretary Rumsfeld were both asked to apologize recently for the illegal and amoral behavior of a few miscreant soldiers at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq. | |
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Betsy Newmark: Victor Davis Hanson knows who should really be apologizing. Ted Kennedy is number one in line. Dale Franks: Not as bad as it seems — Victor Davis Hanson urges us to keep a sense of perspective in Iraq, and not to forget that... |
Tom Smith: Mort is dead right — Mort is dead on in this column. And so is Victor in this one. Charles Johnson: Must Be the Season of Apologies — Ready for some Victor Davis Hanson humor? |
Kerry Considers Delaying Nomination AP — Permalink John Kerry is considering delaying his acceptance of the Democratic presidential nomination at the party's July convention so that he can keep spending the millions of dollars that he raised during the primaries, The Associated Press has learned. | |
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Captain Ed: UPDATE II: Another perspective from the myway news portal, via Memeorandum: "When the Democratic Party scheduled its... KJL: KERRY CONSIDERS DELAYING NOMINATION so he can spend his primary money longer. What will John McCain, all-powerful CFR guru, think? |
Joe Drymala: Kerry Might Delay His Acceptance — AP reports that Kerry may postpone his acceptance of the Democratic nomination for... |
Lying into the Mirror NRO — Permalink Misunderstaning the war on terror. Shortly after moving to Washington from Rome — we're talking late Seventies — I did a long interview with Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan about the Carter administration's foreign policy. | |
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Charles Johnson: Lying into the Mirror — Michael Ledeen has a rather different take on Ahmed Chalabi than the current media pile-on: Lying into the Mirror. |
Joseph Alexander Norland: The last article on the topic to land on my desk comes from the pen of Michael Ledeen, who states, inter alia: "I am... |
Justice Memos Explained How to Skip Prisoner Rights By / NYT — Permalink WASHINGTON, May 20 — A series of Justice Department memorandums written in late 2001 and the first few months of 2002 were crucial in building a legal framework for United States officials to avoid complying with international laws and treaties on handling prisoners, lawyers and former officials say. | |
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Jeralyn Merritt: The Department of Justice wrote several memos to Pentagon officials advising them how to avoid being charged with war crimes while denying prisoners their rights. Tarek @LiquidList: The New York Times this morning is reporting that a series of Justice Department memos were drafted by UC Berkeley law... |
Jeanne D'Arc: Speaking of war crimes, we have a Justice Department that spends its time figuring out how to commit them with impunity. |
Videos Amplify Picture of Violence WaPo — Permalink The video begins with three soldiers huddled around a naked detainee, his thin frame backed against a wall. With a snap of his wrist, one of the soldiers slaps the man across his left cheek so hard that the prisoner's knees buckle. | |
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James Joyner: Videos Amplify Picture of Violence "The video begins with three soldiers huddled around a naked detainee, his thin frame backed against a wall. The Big Trunk: The Post also runs a companion story: "Videos amplify picture of violence." Captain Ed: UPDATE: Another Post story details more of the images from the photos and videos coming out of Abu Ghraib, seen by Congress but not yet released to the public. |
Steve M.: There's more — a gallery with six newly obtained photos, some video of abuse, and a description of the video: The video... Gary Farber: Sick. ADDENDUM: The video begins to come out. |
THE AMERICAS & ASIA: Republicans line up to finance top Democrat By / Financial Times — Permalink In a campaign seasonwhen President George W. Bush has shattered records for campaign fundraising, John Thune has the dubious distinction of being the rarest of political creatures: a Republican Senate candidate strapped for cash. | |
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Edward Driscoll: STRANGE BEDFELLOWS: Why is Steve Largent donating money to fund Tom Daschle's re-election campaign? (Via The Corner.) |
Ramesh Ponnuru: HILL REPUBLICANS are also talking today about this story on Republican lobbyists' campaign contributions to Tom Daschle. |
Afghan Policies on Questioning Prisoners Taken to Iraq NYT — Permalink WASHINGTON, May 20 — The interrogation center at Abu Ghraib prison was run by a military intelligence unit that had served in Afghanistan and that had taken to Iraq the aggressive rules and procedures it had developed for the Afghan conflict, according to documents and testimony. | |
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Cori Dauber: But lets take a look at how the Times handles this story. It's on the front page, no less. But it's the little things that matter. QD @SouthernAppeal: Iraqi Prisoner Abuse: This New York Times article is deeply frustrating. |
Tarek @LiquidList: It now seems clear that Haynes was assured by Yoo's memos and that complacency permitted — tacitly or otherwise — the... Gregory Djerejian: Not to mention that such abuses and/or tortures almost certainly occurred in locales beyond Abu Ghraib. |
Obama admits he dislikes his most loyal follower Chicago Sun Times — Permalink SPRINGFIELD — For the past 10 days, U.S. Senate candidate Barack Obama hasn't been able to go to the bathroom or talk to his wife on his cell phone without having a camera-toting political gofer from his Republican rival filming a few feet away. | |
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Taegan Goddard: Chasing Obama — "For the past 10 days, U.S. Senate candidate Barack Obama hasn't been able to go to the bathroom or... |
Josh Marshall: For the last ten days, according to the Chicago Sun-Times, Ryan has had a campaign staffer, Justin Warfel, follow Obama with a video camera all day. |
Raid on Chalabi Puts 'NYT' Even More on the Spot By / Editor and Publisher — Permalink In a front page New York Times article this morning, David E. Sanger quotes a senior U.S. intelligence official's assessment of Ahmad Chalabi's information on weapons of mass destruction, which was distributed so avidly by the Times itself in the run-up to the Iraq war: "useless at best, and misleading at worst." | |
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Atrios: Right After the Whitewater Corrections... Stupid NYT: [snipped quote] Gerth and Miller must have pictures of the publishers with goats. |
Glenn Reynolds: This is likely to embarrass some people. UPDATE: Including some at The New York Times, apparently. |
In April, Kerry's Fundraising Nearly Doubled Bush's By / WaPo — Permalink Sen. John F. Kerry's fundraising receipts surged strongly ahead of President Bush's last month, with the presumptive Democratic nominee pulling in almost twice what the president raised. At the same time, Bush's campaign is spending money at an unprecedented rate. | |
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Jesse Taylor: John Kerry's floundering campaign, which has been rumored by such august resources as the National Review and Dick... Taegan Goddard: Kerry's Fundraising Surges — Sen. John Kerry's fundraising receipts "moved ahead of President Bush's last month, with... The Poor Man: Dem Panic Watch — Foundering Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry raises twice as much money in April as President George W. Bush. |
Oliver Willis: In April, Kerry's Fundraising Nearly Doubled Bush's At the same time, Bush's campaign is spending money at an unprecedented rate. Kos: Post updated accordingly. Update: Kerry's numbers are out. Our guy raised $30 million to Bush's $15 million. |
Get Out Your Boards: Extreme Ironing May Soon Be Hot By / NYT — Permalink BOSTON, May 20 - Clawing up ice-crusted, razor-sharp mountain peaks can get a little boring. And dangling upside down from a bungee cord over jagged cliffs is, face it, rather ho-hum. | |
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Pejman Yousefzadeh: This seems to be about as much fun as watching paint dry: [snipped quote] Indeed. If you are a chronic insomniac, that is. Gary Farber: Yes, the Times has, seven years after the fact, discovered extreme ironing. Probably via press release. |
Micah Sifry: I read the news today, oh boy It's tempting to try to come up with some witty remark about the "Extreme Ironing" story... |
'Gooks' to 'Hajis' By / NYT — Permalink The hapless Jeremy Sivits got the headlines yesterday. A mechanic whose job was to service gasoline-powered generators, Specialist Sivits was sentenced to a year in prison and thrown out of the Army for accepting an invitation to take part in the sadistic treatment of Iraqi detainees at Abu Ghraib prison. | |
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Cori Dauber: Yet this morning, before the verdict was handed down, a famous New York Times columnist, a doyenne, dare I say, of the... Captain Ed: However, today's column covers the story of Sgt. Camilo Mejia, whose story I noted in a post late last night. |
Charles Johnson: Bob Herbert accepts every word as gospel truth, and says it shows once again what a hopelessly racist and corrupt... Chris Bertram: His case is described in Bob Herbert's column in the NYT . His testimony about the morally corrosive circumstances in... |
Cutting Off Chalabi By / WaPo — Permalink The warnings to Ahmed Chalabi from U.S. officials who run the increasingly troubled occupation of Iraq have been both subtle and brutal in recent weeks. They have ranged from a small bureaucratic victory for the CIA, which persuaded the Bush... | |
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Matthew Yglesias: Jim Hoagland, meanwhile, returns from yesterday's moment of lucidity to his traditional rhetorical trick of equating efforts to impose the rule of an exile leader with "democracy." James Joyner: WaPo's Jim Hoagland — Cutting Off Chalabi "More recently Chalabi added White House staffers and occupation chief Paul... |
Dale Franks: But the Washington Post's Jim Hoagland seems willing to cut him some slack. Is that because as a WaPo writer, it serves as a good excuse to bash the administration? |
Senator undecided on firing aide over sex blog Arizona Republic — Permalink WASHINGTON - Sen. Mike DeWine said Thursday that he has not decided whether to fire an aide who allegedly posted her exploits in an Internet diary, including accepting $400 from a married man for sex. "We're in the process of completing a review," the Ohio Republican said. | |
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Jeralyn Merritt: But there's real news today: Gannett News reports that Senator DeWine has issued a statement. Taegan Goddard: Senator May Fire Blogger — A follow-up on the Capitol Hill blog scandal: Sen. Mike DeWine (R-OH) said "that he has not... |
Steven Taylor: Giving Blogs and Interns a Bad Name — Of course, the Clinton administration did more for giving interns a bad name than... |
Why We Built the Ivory Tower By / NYT — Permalink After nearly five decades in academia, and five and a half years as a dean at a public university, I exit with a three-part piece of wisdom for those who work in higher education: do your job; don't try to do someone else's job, as you are unlikely to be qualified; and don't let anyone else do your job. | |
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Tom Maguire: Fish Gotta Swim, Birds Gotta Fly — Academics gotta interpret the world, not proselytize it, according to Stanley Fish, writing in today's NY Times. Captain Ed: Instead, Fish exhorts his colleagues to focus on the truly academic roles of analysis and scholarship |
Ken Masugi: In his NY Times op-ed "Why We Build the Ivory Tower," this retiring Prospero gives what appears to be a stirring defense... |
The Growing Gap NRO — Permalink Bremer has alienated Iraqis. On May 20, U.S. forces raided the home and office of Iraqi National Congress leader Ahmad Chalabi. At a press conference following the operation, Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) spokesman Dan Senor told assembled journalists that U.S. forces did not participate. | |
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The Big Trunk: The raid on Chalabi — Former Coaliton Provisional Authority adviser Michael Rubin has written a column for NRO... |
Matthew Yglesias: Michael Rubin, by contrast, thinks this was a big mistake, one of many Paul Bremer has made to "alienate" Iraqis. |
New front in Iraq detainee abuse scandal? By / MSNBC — Permalink BAGHDAD - With attention focused on the seven soldiers charged with abuse at the Abu Ghraib prison, U.S. military and intelligence officials familiar with the situation tell NBC News the Army's elite Delta Force is now the subject of a Pentagon inspector general investigation into abuse against detainees. | |
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Jeanne D'Arc: Does it come as any surprise that there may be worse prisons in Iraq than Abu Ghraib? Matthew Yglesias: In addition to The Washington Post's new photos you might want to check out this nice scoop from NBC News: [snipped quote] Sounds like a fun, albeit potentially nonexistent, place. Harley: Well surely we can agree... How about now? (In case you want to continue the conversation. The other thread is getting a little unwieldy.) |
Adam Mordecai: And if you say it's just seven sick people (even with all the damning evidence proving otherwise), well then, I turn your attention to this tidbit at MSNBC. Steve M.: And beyond Abu Ghraib, there's NBC's report (which Atrios linked last night) about another prison in Iraq: ...a top-secret site near Baghdad's airport. Atrios: Rummy Rum Tum Tum NBC: BAGHDAD - With attention focused on the seven soldiers charged with abuse at the Abu Ghraib... |
| Also: Jeralyn Merritt, Matt Yglesias | |
Ovation for Moore's 'Fahrenheit' lasts longer than Bush dawdled Chicago Sun Times — Permalink CANNES, France — Two questions involving the duration of events: (1) So how long, exactly, was the standing ovation for Michael Moore's "Fahrenheit 9/11"? And (2) Did President Bush actually remain in a Florida classroom, reading from My Pet Goat, for seven minutes after he was informed of the second attack on the World Trade Center? | |
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Robert Prather: Michael Moore's Latest "Documentary" Ovation for Moore's 'Fahrenheit' lasts longer than Bush dawdled Moore has a... |
Pessimist: 10 REASONS BUSH WANTS TO BAN MOORE FILM [snipped quote] Ovation for Moore's 'Fahrenheit' lasts longer than Bush dawdled... |
Mutiny by 4 Republicans Over Bush's Tax Cutting Forces Delay on the Budget Vote By / NYT — Permalink WASHINGTON, May 20 - Unable to a squelch a six-week mutiny over President Bush's tax-cutting agenda, Senate Republican leaders on Thursday conceded that they could not muster enough votes to pass a $2.4 trillion budget plan and abruptly postponed a vote until at least next month. | |
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Noam Scheiber: From today's New York Times: [snipped quote] Hastert then added, "If you call me fat one more time, I'm going come over there and pound your face in." |
Pessimist: While he hasn't yet done so, I noted with great satisfaction that he is starting to act toward that result: Mutiny by 4... |
U.S. Aids Raid on Home of Chalabi By / WaPo — Permalink BAGHDAD, May 20 — Iraqi police backed by U.S. soldiers on Thursday raided the home of Ahmed Chalabi, a Governing Council member who was once the Pentagon's pick to run postwar Iraq. | |
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Rich Lowry: The Washington Post reports: "At the center of the inquiry is [Sabah] Nouri, whom Chalabi picked as the top anti-corruption official in the new Iraqi Finance Ministry. Gary Farber: MY OWN TIN-FOIL HAT FANTASY: This whole "raid Chalabi, Chalabi splits with CPA, Chalabi and US at each other's throats"... Josh Marshall: Now read this: a few grafs at the end of Post's piece on the Chalabi raid ... [snipped quote] Speaks for itself. |
The Big Trunk: The Washington Post's account of the raid goes into some detail regarding the alleged corruption that provided the grounds for the raid: "U.S. aids raid on home of Chalabi." Digby: Not that Chalabi has a history of bank fraud or anything like that, but it doesn't seem unreasonable to think that he... |
America's 'Best Friend' A Spy? By / CBS News — Permalink Ahmad Chalabi displays a family photo he says was smashed during the raid on his home. (CBS/AP) In the latest setback for a man once seen as the possible leader of a free and democratic Iraq, Iraqi police backed by U.S. troops raided the Baghdad home and offices of Iraqi politician Ahmad Chalabi. | |
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Josh Marshall: From a trickle to a torrent ... [snipped quote] In truth, and not to defend Chalabi, but I think we need to wait and watch these reports closely. Atrios: Dances With Enemies — From CBS: "Senior U.S. officials told 60 Minutes Correspondent Lesley Stahl that they have... |
Steve Antler: Who knows... The most serious possible charge (or smear?) delivered in the most effective way. |
Cutting through to good news from Sy Hersh By / The Hill — Permalink How can you tell that the national security experts who are the unnamed sources for journalist Seymour Hersh's latest New Yorker exposé of the Abu Ghraib prison scandal are tough-minded, no-nonsense insiders? They say "s**t" a lot. | |
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Noam Scheiber: And Byron York attempts an answer by sifting through the quotes from intelligence officials in Seymour Hersh's latest New Yorker article. |
Josh Chafetz: In The Hill, Byron York points out that, according to Seymour Hersh, America's tough interrogation techniques have been successful in getting good intelligence. |
Stifle It, Denny: Don't impugn McCain's honor Dallas Morning News — Permalink If you're keeping a list of the most idiotic things politicians say this election year, here's a lollapalooza: House Speaker Denny Hastert's suggestion this week that Sen. John McCain, the ex-POW and torture survivor, does not know the meaning of sacrifice. | |
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Ramesh Ponnuru: McCAIN AND HASTERT — Rod, Kathryn: I cannot agree with that Dallas Morning News editorial, which I found rather more disgraceful than Hastert's comments. |
Dale Franks: Dennis Hastert is an Idiot — The Dallas Morning News editorializes this morning: [snipped quote] I don't like John McCain much personally. |
Hussein-Era Videos Released to Contrast Prison Scandal By / WaPo — Permalink Video images of brutal treatment of prisoners by Saddam Hussein's government resurfaced this week as part of an effort by some members of the Bush administration and Congress to remind viewers in Iraq and the United States of the previous horrors. | |
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Jonah Goldberg: HEALTHY REMINDER — Of how bad the Hussein regime was. These tapes will probably vanish without much of a ripple, of course. Betsy Newmark: The administration is starting to release video of Saddam's people torturing prisoners at Abu Ghraib. |
Steve M.: And in the BIF's six interrogation rooms, Delta Force soldiers routinely drug prisoners, hold a prisoner under water... |
Gates backs blogs for businesses BBC — Permalink Blogs are good for business, Microsoft chairman Bill Gates has said. In a speech to an audience of chief executives, Mr Gates said the regularly updated journals, or blogs, could be a good way for firms to tell customers, staff and partners what they are doing. | |
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Kim du Toit: The End Of Blogging — Steve Den Beste is despondent:That's it! The party's over now. Everyone go home; there's nothing left to see here. |
Steven Den Beste: (On Screen): That's it! The party's over now. Everyone go home; there's nothing left to see here. Blogging is now officially passé. |
Chalabi aide suspected as agent for Iran By / Union Leader — Permalink WASHINGTON - Administration officials believe that Iraqi Governing Council member Ahmad Chalabi's intelligence chief - named in an arrest warrant issued during a raid of Chalabi's home and offices Thursday - is an Iranian spy. | |
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Donnel Jones: The Department of Defense has cut off funding to the INC. Earlier this week, Iraqi and U.S. security forces searched... |
Roger L. Simon: Given Chalabi's dubious history, I was willing to give our government (and Bremer) a pass on the raid on his... |
Wall Street to Toast Its G.O.P. Overseers During Convention By / NYT — Permalink Despite the talk about protesters overwhelming the Republican National Convention in New York City this summer, one sector of the city is rolling out the red carpet: Wall Street and its investment banks. | |
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Kevin Drum: DOG BITES MAN....New York Times headline today: "Wall Street to Toast Its G.O.P. Overseers During Convention" Funny, I thought it was the other way around.... |
Joe Drymala: Friends With Benefits — The New York Times does a story today about a little bit of friendly paid access that will be... |
New Details of Prison Abuse Emerge WaPo — Permalink Previously secret sworn statements by detainees at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq describe in raw detail abuse that goes well beyond what has been made public, adding allegations of prisoners being ridden like animals, sexually fondled by female soldiers and forced to retrieve their food from toilets. | |
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Smash: Sadism — What is described here Is unjustifiable! Throw the book at them. Gary Farber: More. [snipped quote] Of course, if it weren't for the pictures, we would hear these were terrorists, and these are made-up stories for propaganda. |
Nick Gillespie: ' I said, 'Yes.' They said, 'If your wife saw you like this, she will be disappointed.' One of them said, 'But if I saw... |
KERRY'S NEW 'FLIP' FLAP OVER ANTI-ABORT COURT By / New York Post — Permalink Democrat John Kerry yesterday did a backward somersault and retreated from his suggestion just one day earlier that he might appoint right-to-life justices to the Supreme Court as long as the majority stayed pro-choice. | |
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Howard Kurtz: Kerry later issued a clarification. The New York Post sees Kerry twisting himself into a pretzel: "Flip-flop-flip. Tom Maguire: John "Let me make one thing perfectly clear" Kerry clarifies: "I want to make myself clear," said a Kerry statement issued by his campaign. |
Betsy Newmark: Kerry flips his flop on abortion stance, but abortion activists don't care. |
Race Against History By / TNR — Permalink Another thing not likely to warm the hearts of advance men: watching the warm-up act for your boss rant about the infernal treachery of politicians. George W. Bush carried Will County by a few percentage points in 2000; in 2002, Republicans swept just about every local office here. | |
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Taegan Goddard: Update: Noam Scheiber has an excellent profile of Obama in The New Republic this week. Andrew Sullivan: INTEGRATION DAY, CONTINUED: Noam Scheiber profiles Barack Obama, the Illinois Senate candidate. |
Josh Chafetz: WORTH READING: Noam Scheiber on Barack Obama and Masha Gessen on pro-democracy sentiment in Russia, both in TNR. |
Her husband embattled, Mrs. Bush plays rescuer By / Boston Globe — Permalink LAS VEGAS — This neon city of slot machines and showgirls seemed an unlikely place for the first lady of family values to debut her solo number. But George W. Bush is in reelection trouble, so his soft-spoken librarian wife is coming to his rescue, stepping out of the shadows and into the spotlight for what she calls ''our last campaign." | |
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SLZoll: Well, here's more on that meme, from the Boston Globe piece entitled Her husband embattled, Mrs. Bush plays rescuer:... |
Taegan Goddard: Laura To The Rescue — With President Bush "in reelection trouble," his "soft-spoken librarian wife is coming to his... |
Now's Not the Time for Bush to Go Soft By / Front Page Magazine — Permalink In his column last week, Robert Novak talked to a big bunch of Beltway insiders about Donald Rumsfeld's future, or his lack thereof. Among my colleague's sources was ''one senior official of a coalition partner,'' who, apropos the Defense secretary, put it this way: ''There must be a neck cut, and there is only one neck of choice.'' | |
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Nick Confessore: There's this idea out there that The Boston Globe had actually run what were already known to be fake pictures of American soldiers raping and urinating on Iraqi prisoners. |
Howard Kurtz: I've criticized the Boston Globe for its recent photo blunder, but this long post from Dan Kennedy shows that some are... |
The McCain Choice By / WaPo — Permalink If this were a normal political year, the reluctance of Republican John McCain to consider running for vice president with Democrat John Kerry would be understandable. The right choice, in conventional terms, would be to stay safely within the Republican fold. | |
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Dale Franks: They want it so bad, they can taste it — The Washington Post's David Ignatius spends his 750 words today begging John McCain to join a Kerry-McCain ticket. |
The Big Trunk: For David Ignatius, the logic of the events unravelling in Iraq and the partisanship that impels the Democrats to... |
Memo Gave Intelligence Bigger Role By / WaPo — Permalink Shortly before the physical abuses of Iraqis were photographed in Abu Ghraib prison outside Baghdad last year, the top U.S. military official in Iraq signed a classified memorandum explicitly calling for interrogators to assume control over the "lighting, heating . . . food, clothing, and shelter" of those being questioned there. | |
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Cori Dauber: And for a short article there are quite a few items I have to raise. |
Gregory Djerejian: To what extent were such policies, for instance, to blame? |
Prenuptial Jitters By / Slate — Permalink This week, Massachusetts began handing out marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Amid the cheers, there are the doomsayers who predict that same-sex weddings will mean the end of civilization as we know it. | |
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Stanley Kurtz: The other piece, is by M. V. Lee Badgett, a professor of economics and gay and lesbian studies at U. Mass Amherst, is a lengthy attempt to rebut my Scandinavia work. Andrew Sullivan: CONTRA KURTZ: Stanley Kurtz's argument that marriage rights for gays in Scandinavia somehow led to a decline in marriage... |
Julian Sanchez: One More Nail... ...in the already well-sealed coffin of the "gay partnerships killed Scandinavian marriage" argument in Slate. |
Blind Faith By / Opinion Journal — Permalink Muslim reaction to the beheading of Nicholas Berg tells us a lot about what's happening in the Islamic world. More than that, it reveals what's not happening, yet needs to, if Muslims are going to transcend the intellectual and moral crisis in which we find ourselves today. | |
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Donald Sensing: Over time, the United States engenders deep-rooted reformist impulses in the Islamic lands, leading their societies away... Steve Antler: MEMRI makes this strategy somewhat less reliable. UPDATE: And there's this as well. Dean Esmay: Muslim Call For Reform — Self-proclaimed Muslim Refusenik Irshad Manji — an admirable woman — has an editorial in... |
Joseph Alexander Norland: Irshad Manji's latest article at Opinion Journal sheds light on this and related questions. Cori Dauber: Well, maybe Irshad Manji's piece in today's OpinionJournal.com will convince you that you need to hear what a Canadian... |
Friends Like This NYT — Permalink Before the war, Ahmad Chalabi told Washington hawks exactly what they wanted to hear about Saddam Hussein's weapons of mass destruction and the warm welcome American troops could expect from liberated Iraqis. | |
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Tom Tomorrow: Newspapers published in glass houses... The Times editorial page chastises the Bushies for having been taken in by Chalabi. |
James Joyner: NYT — Friends Like This [RSS] "Yesterday, American and Iraqi security forces raided and ransacked Mr. Chalabi's home... |
Kofi's cover up Washington Times — Permalink Despite U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan's promises to fully investigate the scandal in the Oil for Food program, United Nations officials have been doing their level best to conceal information from investigators and the public. | |
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Glenn Reynolds: UNSCAM UPDATE: More charges of an oil-for-food coverup at the U.N. |
The Big Trunk: More troubling news — In addition to the new revelations of abuse at Abu Ghraib, the troubling news from Iraq includes... |
Chalabi's Seat of Honor Lost to Open Political Warfare With U.S. By / NYT — Permalink WASHINGTON, May 20 — By all appearances, Ahmad Chalabi reached the pinnacle of influence in Washington four months ago, when he took a seat of honor right behind Laura Bush at the president's State of the Union address. | |
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Howard Kurtz: "By all appearances," says the New York Times, "Ahmad Chalabi reached the pinnacle of influence in Washington four... |
James Joyner: NYT — Chalabi's Seat of Honor Lost to Open Political Warfare With U.S. |
From Ally to Outcast in U.S. Eyes LAT — Permalink WASHINGTON — The raid on Ahmad Chalabi's Baghdad home offered proof Thursday of collapsing U.S. support for the former exile once viewed by Bush administration officials as their greatest hope to lead a new Iraq. | |
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Howard Kurtz: The Los Angeles Times portrays the Chalabi raid as the result of a very bad gamble: "Over 15 years, the... |
James Joyner: LA Times — From Ally To Outcast In U.S. Eyes "Although Chalabi, a member of the Iraqi Governing Council, may still... |
Sworn Statements by Abu Ghraib Detainees WaPo — Permalink These documents, obtained by The Washington Post, are the offical English translations of previously secret sworn statements by detainees at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq. Some of the names have been withheld from these statements by washingtonpost.com because they are alleged victims of sexual assault. | |
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Gregory Djerejian: Then begin to read over these sworn statements from former Abu Ghraib detainees. |
Cori Dauber: Update: Sorry, I missed the originals. Here are the prisoner statements, which I haven't read yet. |
Jimmy's party By / Washington Times — Permalink The relentless needs of election-year punditry draw out a lot of fanciful analysis, so it shouldn't be a great surprise to find Hotline's Chuck Todd arguing in the latest issue of the Washington Monthly that President Bush is the new Jimmy Carter — a failed incumbent ripe for crushing defeat at the hands of John Kerry. | |
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The Big Trunk: Jimmy's party — In the Washington Times our friend Steve Hayward (author of The Real Jimmy Carter) demolishes Chuck... |
Betsy Newmark: Steven Hayward demonstrates how the Democratic Party has become the perfect representation of Jimmy Carter. |
Standing of Former Key U.S. Ally in Iraq Falls to New Low By / WaPo — Permalink A year ago, as U.S. troops swept toward Baghdad, Ahmed Chalabi and about 400 hastily assembled fighters were secretly airlifted into southern Iraq to rally other Iraqis and begin a march toward Baghdad to help topple Saddam Hussein, an operation that won the concurrence of U.S. officials all the way up to Vice President Cheney's office. | |
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Rich Lowry: Here is how the Washington Post today describes what was supposed to be his grand march on Baghdad last year: "'It was... |
Josh Marshall: From Robin Wright's piece in Friday's Post ... [snipped quote] Ask not for whom the memory-hole sucks, Ahmed; it sucketh for you ... |
Pelosi questions Bush's competence CNN — Permalink WASHINGTON (CNN) — House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi on Thursday sharply questioned President Bush's competence as a leader, suggesting his policy in Iraq is to blame for the loss of U.S. lives. That assessment drew a furious response by Republicans who called on the Democratic leader to apologize. | |
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Jesse Taylor: The New Official Platform Of The GOP — In a word: bulls**t. Nancy Pelosi said that Bush's leadership showed incompetence. Garance Franke-Ruta: Nancy Pelosi sharply attacked Bush's competence Thursday, saying, among other things: "The emporer has no clothes...The... |
Tbogg: Nancy Pelosi points out the obvious and the Republicans piddle all over themselves with outrage: "The situation in Iraq... |
Bush to launch new anti-Kerry ad blitz By / USA Today — Permalink ARLINGTON, Va. — President Bush's campaign will accuse Sen. John Kerry of "playing politics with national security" in a TV ad assault that begins next week. Bush will replace his other ads with one attacking Kerry's stance on the USA Patriot Act. | |
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Jerome Armstrong: Bush to Voters: You are stupid (and we are desperate) USA Today (w/video): George Bush will release a political ad in which he accuses John Kerry of politicizing the war in Iraq. |
Kos: Bush spends like a drunken sailor — Damn, homeboy doesn't know how to control costs. |
Douglas Feith By / Slate — Permalink Of all the revelations that have surfaced about the Abu Ghraib prison-abuse scandal so far, the least surprising is that Douglas Feith may be partly responsible. | |
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Kevin Drum: General Tommy Franks, 2000-2003: Doug Feith is "the f**king stupidest guy on the face of the earth." Matt Yglesias: Feith Note — Chris Suellentrop writes, in the course of a Feith-bashing piece: [snipped quote] No need to rely on the... |
Steve Soto: Douglas Feith: PNAC Loser — If you want to see a good account of how Douglas Feith, PNAC poster boy and true believer,... Josh Marshall: In Slate this afternoon, Chris Suellentrop, has a short profile of Doug Feith, the man who put the FU in the FUBAR that is the American adventure in Iraq. |
Hasselhoff Has Rapping Down To An Ice-T BSkyB — Permalink Rap legend Ice-T is risking his massive reputation on his latest recruit - middle-aged former beach bum David Hasselhoff.The original gangsta believes he can turn the ex-Baywatch star into hip hop's next big thing.Ice and Hasselhoff, 51, are neighbours in Los Angeles and have struck up a close friendship. | |
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Gary Farber: No, that's not quite it. This is. [snipped quote] Amygdala is proud to now bring you the following startling news. |
The Poor Man: So f**kin Gangstah — Mommy, make the bad man stop: [snipped quote] I'm certainly surprised that Ice-T would be willing to risk his massive reputation on such a scheme. |
Ore. Lawyer Held in Spain Attack Released By / AP — Permalink PORTLAND, Ore. - A lawyer who was arrested two weeks ago in connection with the terror attacks in Spain was set free Thursday after evidence pointed to another suspect in the deadly train bombings. | |
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Michael Totten: Turns out the fingerprint belonged to an Algerian national. He was released today. (Hat tip: Karrie Higgins via email.) Charles Johnson: Mayfield Released — Brandon Mayfield, the Portland Oregon lawyer arrested in connection with the Madrid train bombings, has been released. |
Jeralyn Merritt: American Lawyer Misidentified and Released in Spain Bombing Probe — Whoops, never mind. |
Jordanian soldier opens fires on Israelis at Allenby Bridge Haaretz — Permalink A Jordanian soldier opened fire Thursday afternoon at a group of four Israelis at the Allenby Bridge border crossing between Israel and Jordan. There were no casualties in the incident. The soldier managed to infiltrate into the VIP room of the border crossing. | |
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Christopher Kanis: I found myself thinking of that story while reading this account of a Jordanian soldier's attempt to murder several... |
Stefan Sharkansky: Another soldier abuses civilians — The Arab street will surely be outraged. Quick, somebody call Al-Jazeera. And NPR. |
Hersh's History By / NRO — Permalink This week we saw the first court martial in connection with the Abu Ghraib prisoner abuses. As the investigations continue and legal actions proceed — as they should — it is important for our soldiers in the field that information about these actions be sober, factual, and accurate. | |
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Matthew Yglesias: Today's National Review Online gives us a good example of the genre from Barbara Comstock, which includes such... Glenn Reynolds: SEYMOUR HERSH: Some surprising people have been criticizing him. Arthur Schlesinger: "the most gullible investigative reporter I've ever encountered." |
Clayton Cramer: This article quotes a number of people who now think highly of Hersh's work—but just a few years ago, had tremendously harsh criticism of Hersh's integrity and sense. The Big Trunk: More hash — On NRO Barbara Comstock provides a telling overview of Seymour Hersh's truth-challenged career: "Hersh's history." |
Police Destroy Bomb Found Near Olympic Venue AP — Permalink ATHENS — Police destroyed a small time bomb found near a major complex for the Olympics. The device, blown apart Wednesday in a controlled explosion, appeared similar to alarm clock-triggered bombs that damaged an Athens police station May 5, police said. | |
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Kim du Toit: Glenn linked to this story and added: BOMBS, CHAOS, AND PEOPLE WHO HATE US — I think we should pull out of the Olympics.Once the RCOB... Glenn Reynolds: BOMBS, CHAOS, AND PEOPLE WHO HATE US — I think we should pull out of the Olympics. |
Libertarian: PULL OUT OF THE OLYMPICS? Aw, a poor warmonger wants to throw blows and then run and hide behind mommy's skirt? |
Bill Cosby: Blacks can't speak English WorldNetDaily — Permalink In the presence of NAACP President Kweisi Mfume and other African-American leaders, comedian Bill Cosby took aim at blacks who don't take responsibility for their economic status, blame police for incarcerations and teach their kids poor speaking habits. | |
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John Hawkins: Here's what Cosby had to say.... "Cosby said, according to Leiby: "Ladies and gentlemen, the lower economic people are not holding up their end in this deal. Betsy Newmark: The link at the Post isn't working for me, so here's a summary of the article from World Net Daily. |
McQ: The Cos gives 'em hell — Apparently Bill Cosby let the chips fall where they may in a rather "unconventional"... |
Ahmed Chalabi's failed coup By / Salon — Permalink The U.S. command in Baghdad raided Ahmed Chalabi's home and headquarters in Baghdad at dawn today. U.S. soldiers put a gun to his head, according to his nephew Salem Chalabi, the Associated Press rports. Chalabi aides blame the CIA and Paul Bremer, head of the Coalition Provisional Authority. | |
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Howard Kurtz: Says Salon's Andrew Cockburn: "Why did the Bush administration turn against its former favorite Iraqi? Josh Marshall: Another theory — or at least a portion of one — is contained in an article appearing this morning in Salon by Andrew Cockburn. Roger L. Simon: So far the only analysis comes from Andrew Cockburn on Salon (sorry, usual rigmarole to get on) who appears to be the first one online with any interesting info. |
Meteor Blades: And then there's Andrew Cockburn's take on the situation over at Salon.com Ahmed Chalabi's failed coup "The U.S. raids his home and headquarters in Iraq to foil his plot. Daniel Drezner: If that doesn't do it, this anecdote from Salon's Andrew Cockburn just might: "Why did the Bush administration turn against its former favorite Iraqi? |
U.S. kills 40 civilians in village attack San Francisco Chronicle — Permalink Washington — House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco offered her strongest condemnation yet of President Bush on Wednesday, assailing him as incompetent and declaring that the only way for the United States to triumph in Iraq is to replace him as commander in chief. | |
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McQ: And until they are, they're going to hear the nonsense spouted by the likes of Nancy Pelosi all the more. Kevin Raybould: Pelosi is Right — This desperately needed to be said: [snipped quote] Bush has made a colossal mess of everything he has... Atrios: Speaker Pelosi — Link: [snipped quote] You can reward good behavior here. |
Cori Dauber: Then there's what Nancy Pelosi said today in an interview with the San Fransico Chronicle: "He has on his shoulders the... Xrlq: The headline from the front page story in the S.F. Chronicle tells you all you need to know: U.S. kills 40 civilians in... |
We're Doomed Again By / Opinion Journal — Permalink Environmentalist Paul Ehrlich has proved himself to be a stupendously bad prophet. In 1968 he declared: "The battle to feed all of humanity is over. In the 1970s, the world will undergo famines—hundreds of millions of people are going to starve to death." | |
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Jan Haugland: The end of the world, Version 2.0 — Ronald Bailey points out a fact that has puzzled me for quite some time: when doomsayers are proven wrong, it never comes back to bite them. Edward Driscoll: Why does anyone still listen to him?" Dale Franks: Doomed Again — Ronald Bailey reviews Paul Erlich's new book, One With Nineveh, and he asks the one question that matters about Erlich: why does anyone listen to anything he says? |
Robert Prather: Paul Ehrlich Shores Up His Moron Credentials OpinionJournal: We're Doomed Again: Paul Ehrlich has never been right. Pejman Yousefzadeh: BARRELFISHING — Ronald Bailey blasts away at a hopelessly overmatched target by taking to task the latest warnings of... Glenn Reynolds: RON BAILEY: "Paul Ehrlich has never been right. Why does anyone still listen to him?" |
| Also: Jonathan H. Adler, Eugene Volokh, Tim Cavanaugh | |
House Speaker Criticizes McCain WaPo — Permalink A two-month-old House-Senate standoff over the 2005 budget burst into public acrimony yesterday, when the GOP House speaker questioned Sen. John McCain's credentials as a Republican and suggested that the decorated Vietnam War veteran did not understand the meaning of sacrifice. | |
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Ezra Klein: Circling the Wagons, Shooting the Indians — I think the significance of Hastert's denunciation of McCain is being largely missed. Gene @HarrysPlace: According to The Washington Post: On Tuesday, McCain gave a speech excoriating both political parties for refusing to sacrifice their tax cutting and spending agendas in wartime. |
Steve Soto: Hastert Questions McCain's Understanding Of Sacrifice — Here's a sure way for the GOP to prod John McCain into... Von: This is unbelievable, and it deserves to be quoted at length. It reflects a drift in the Republican party that needs to be halted. |
U.S. Soldiers Raid Chalabi's Home in Iraq By / AP — Permalink BAGHDAD, Iraq - U.S. soldiers raided the home of America's one-time ally Ahmad Chalabi on Thursday and seized documents and computers. U.S. officials, meanwhile, disputed Iraqi claims that American aircraft bombed a wedding party, killing more than 40 people. | |
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Ezra Klein: Where Nobody Knows Your Name — Well, this is just peculiar. Glenn Reynolds: CHALABI'S HOUSE RAIDED: No, I'm not sure what to make of this either, though this may be a clue: "U.S. officials... |
Daniel Drezner: However, a key tenet of this group has been the inherent goodness of Ahmed Chalabi, and the U.S. decision to raid his... Jeff Goldstein: News from the front lines — From The Washington Post: "U.S. soldiers raided the home of America's one-time ally Ahmad Chalabi on Thursday and seized documents and computers. |
Officials Seize Files of Top Iraqi Leader Once Backed by U.S. By / NYT — Permalink BAGHDAD, Iraq, May 20 — The offices and home of Ahmad Chalabi, the Iraqi politician once favored by the Pentagon but now at odds with the American authorities, were raided by the authorities today and computers and documents were seized. | |
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Mark Kleiman: The Chalabi raid — Okay, I give up. WTF? Matt Yglesias's take on this makes a twisted kind of sense, I guess. |
Matthew Yglesias: According to The New York Times, there's nothing yet: "American occupation authorities declined to comment this morning on the raids." |
Hastert questions McCain's GOP credentials CNN — Permalink WASHINGTON (CNN) — In a rare public swipe at a fellow Republican, House Speaker Dennis Hastert on Wednesday questioned the GOP credentials of John McCain, a U.S. senator who has often challenged party orthodoxy. | |
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Ramesh Ponnuru: First let's recap. Reporter to Hastert: "[McCain's] observation was never before when we've been at war have we been... Cori Dauber: It's both inter- and intraparty now. For Denny Hastert to say what he did about John McCain last night was absurd. Mark Kleiman: Looks as if you don't have to be a Democrat to have your patriotism questioned by the chickenhawks. |
Kos: Hastert: McCain not a Republican — Since they don't want him, I'm sure Daschle wouldn't mind McCain's vote. Digby: So, it was especially stomach churning to see "Doughboy" Denny Hastert and his posse of Beavis, Butthead, Dilbert and... Tbogg: From the henhouse, it's Chickenhawk Denny Dennis Hastert, who does double duty as both House Speaker and Tom DeLay... |
| Also: Oliver @LiquidList, Steve M. | |
KILL FASTER! By / New York Post — Permalink IN Iraq last month, I learned a great deal about the future of combat. By watching TV. During the initial fighting in Fallujah, I tuned in al-Jazeera and the BBC. At the same time, I was getting insider reports from the battlefield, from a U.S. military source on the scene and through Kurdish intelligence. | |
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Libertarian: "IF WE DO NOT LEARN TO KILL VERY, VERY SWIFTLY, WE WILL CONTINUE TO LOSE SLOWLY" — The Statist motto and rallying cry for producing social order in Iraq. Glenn Reynolds: UPDATE: Ralph Peters writes that the U.S. military has to get inside its enemies' response curve. QD @SouthernAppeal: Information Warfare: Ralph Peters, always an interesting read (if not always correct, in my view) picks up a theme that... |
Bill Hobbs: Target: Al Jazeera — Retired Army officer Ralph Peters, the author of the book Beyond Baghdad, writes in today's New... Dale Franks: Ralph Peters writes in the New York Post that, because the media—both American and international—is increasingly... Cori Dauber: IT'S EVEN WORSE THAN THAT — Ralph Peters argues that the debacle of Fallujah proves that military doctrine has to... |
| Also: James Joyner, Ted Belman, Betsy Newmark | |
U.S. military raids Chalabi's home CNN — Permalink BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) — U.S. military personnel and Iraqi police have raided the compound of the Iraqi National Congress and the nearby home of Iraqi Governing Council member Ahmed Chalabi. Chalabi's nephew, Salim Chalabi, said the forces entered his uncle's home, put a gun to Chalabi's head and threatened him. | |
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Robert Garcia Tagorda: But the most interesting tidbits come from the Financial Times and CNN. Kevin Raybould: Ahmed Chalabi, the neo-con's pet dissident, the source of much — if not all — of their information about the state of... Harley: Better Late Than Never, I Guess — Criticizing the Bush admin. comes with a certain amount of risk. Just ask Richard Clarke. |
Matt Yglesias: Chalabi Toast — I guess Confessore is writing this up for Tapped, so let me just break out by French history reference and say, "like Saturn, the revolution devours its children." Tim Dunlop: UPDATE: a more fulsome account of the action: "Chalabi's nephew, Salim Chalabi, said the forces entered his uncle's home, put a gun to Chalabi's head and threatened him. Josh Marshall: Could this really be happening? US troops raid Chalabi's residence in Baghdad, seize documents? What will Harold say? |
U.S. Troops Raid Chalabi's House in Iraq By / AP — Permalink BAGHDAD, Iraq - U.S. soldiers and Iraqi police raided the residence of Iraqi politician Ahmad Chalabi on Thursday, and aides accused the Americans of holding guns to his head and bullying him over his criticism of plans for next month's transfer of sovereignty. | |
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Libertarian: AHMAD CHALABI: The U.S. is the new Saddam. And, more importantly as far as I'm concerned, what the hell is Paul Volcker... Steven Taylor: Interesting/Odd/Hmm: Chalabi House Raided — U.S. Troops Raid Chalabi's House in Iraq "U.S. soldiers and Iraqi police... Steve Antler: We have this news and this question: will events follow the Tora-Bora historical model, in which truce and negotiation... |
Jeff A. Taylor: Raid the Chalabi — I'm not even gonna guess what is going on with this development. But unusual silence among the Chalabists. Edward _: Another Kind of Evil (part 2) Looks like the Pentagon is now aligned with State and the CIA in their dislike for... |
U.S. Aircraft Reportedly Kills 40 Iraqis By / AP — Permalink BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - A U.S. aircraft fired on a house in the desert near the Syrian border Wednesday, and Iraqi officials said more than 40 people were killed, including children. The U.S. military said the target was a suspected safehouse for foreign fighters from Syria, but Iraqis said a helicopter had attacked a wedding party. | |
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McQ: Wedding Party? At 3am? That's the Iraqi claim. [snipped quote] Check out what they found at the "wedding party":... Wretchard: U.S. Aircraft Reportedly Kills 40 Iraqis May 19, 2004 20:46 Zulu By Scheherezade Faramarzi Associated Press Writer... |
Liz Cox Barrett: For relief, get thee to Democrats Give Conservatives Indigestion where dgci hopes his readers "don't get [all their... Kim du Toit: Slaughter Of The "Innocents" — So apparently the U.S. fired on a wedding party in northern Iraq, killing 40 innocent people. |
"A Travesty of a Mockery of a Sham" By / TCS — Permalink Explaining U.S. policies and actions to the world — and fighting the lies being told about us — has never been more important. But never have we botched the job so badly. This job — promoting the national interest by informing, engaging and influencing — is called "public diplomacy." | |
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Cori Dauber: HEARTS AND MINDS FOR REAL — I've said it before, I'll say it again (and why do I get the feeling I'll end up saying it... Glenn Reynolds: "A TRAVESTY OF A MOCKERY OF A SHAM:" James Glassman says that the Bush Administration is blowing the war of ideas: [snipped quote] Read the whole thing. |
Daniel Drezner: Oh, wait... UPDATE: It should be noted that despite the PR screwup I alluded to earlier in this post, Human Rights... Jon Henke: UPDATE: Serendipity. Instapundit links to more along these lines from TCS. |
Under Tim(e) pressure NY Daily News — Permalink Official respect for the First Amendment is apparently in steep decline. The other day, an intrepid journalist and truth-seeker was grilling a powerful public figure. But before the interview was over, the powerful public figure's press aide abruptly broke in as tape rolled and stopped the interrogation. | |
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Betsy Newmark: At least where portentous and sanctimonious Tim Russert is concerned. KJL: RUSSERT'S THREAT TO THE FIRST AMENDMENT — Jonah, you'll enjoy, if you haven't seen: looks like his staff and Powell's have something in common, like you suggested they might. |
Glenn Reynolds: TIM RUSSERT: Censor? Roger Ailes: Update (5/20): More on the Republican fraud here. |
South Dakota Heats Up By / NRO — Permalink This week a poll of 800 voters conducted by Mason-Dixon Polling for Sioux Falls Argus Leader/KELO-Land television once again indicated that the high-profile South Dakota race will be a squeaker. Senator Tom Daschle is ahead of former Congressman John Thune 49 percent to 47 percent. | |
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Betsy Newmark: Jon Lauck explains why Tom Daschle is having so much trouble in South Dakota. The Big Trunk: An obsolete model — On NRO this morning Professor Jon Lauck assesses the model on which the current Daschle campaign is being run as obsolete: "South Dakota heats up." |
C. D. Harris: 'Tis A Consummation Devoutly To Be Wished — Few things in politics give greater pleasure than the prospect of forcibly retiring Tom Daschle. Glenn Reynolds: I'm sure that Thune's shrewd use of blogads is what's closed the gap. . . . UPDATE: More in this column from Jon Lauck. |