Top Items:
New York Times:
Sectarian Fury Turns Violent in Wake of Iraq Shrine Blast — BAGHDAD, Iraq, Feb. 23 - At least 95 people, some of them prominent Sunni Arab clerics, were killed in revenge in Baghdad and the surrounding areas in the chaotic 24 hours following the bombing Wednesday morning …
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Ziad Khalaf / Associated Press:
Mosque Attack Pushes Iraq Toward Civil War — efe7f6f417c0@news.ap.org Insurgents posing as police destroyed the golden dome of one of Iraq's holiest Shiite shrines Wednesday, setting off an unprecedented spasm of sectarian violence. Angry crowds thronged the streets, militiamen attacked Sunni mosques …
Bill Roggio / The Fourth Rail:
Looking for Signs of Civil War in Iraq — Reviewing the leading indicators that Iraq is sliding into a full scale civil war. — After the destruction of the dome of the Golden Mosque Samarra, the fashionable meme in the media is to declare Iraq is on the verge of a full civil war - if not already in the midst of one.
Swopa / Needlenose:
Blowing a hole in Iraq's political process — The bad news you've probably already heard, from the Associated Press: … The Los Angeles Times provides further detail about that last part: … And Reuters adds a bit more about how the context of that message, and how it is being interpreted:
Mohammed / IRAQ THE MODEL:
In the aftermath of the shrine attack... Today is a day off in Iraq, emergency situation now officially declared with extended curfews 8pm-6am. — Sistani has been calling for restraint and calm but it seems that some Shia factions are not listening to him but instead they are listening …
Robert F. Worth / New York Times:
Blast at Shiite Shrine Sets Off Sectarian Fury in Iraq — BAGHDAD, Iraq, Feb. 22 — A powerful bomb shattered the golden dome at one of Iraq's most revered Shiite shrines on Wednesday morning, setting off a day of sectarian fury in which mobs formed across Iraq to chant for revenge and attacked dozens of Sunni mosques.
Alexandra Zavis / Associated Press:
Dozens Slain in Iraq Sectarian Violence — BAGHDAD, Iraq - Gunmen shot dead 47 civilians and left their bodies in a ditch near Baghdad Thursday as militia battles and sectarian reprisals followed the bombing of a sacred Shiite shrine. Sunni Arabs suspended their participation in talks on a new government.
River / riverbendblog.blogspot.com:
Tensions... Things are not good in Baghdad. — There was an explosion this morning in a mosque in Samarra, a largely Sunni town. While the mosque is sacred to both Sunnis and Shia, it is considered one of the most important Shia visiting places in Iraq.
Discussion:
Scrutiny Hooligans
Patrick Cockburn / Independent:Destruction of holiest Shia shrine brings Iraq to the brink of civil war
Sam Knight / Times of London:Al-Askariya shrine: 'Not just a major cathedral'
Discussion:
The Heretik, Dr. Sanity, CALIFORNIA YANKEE, Andrew Sullivan, Daimnation!, lgf and USS Neverdock
Ted Bridis / Associated Press:
Arab Co., White House Had Secret Agreement — WASHINGTON - The Bush administration secretly required a company in the United Arab Emirates to cooperate with future U.S. investigations before approving its takeover of operations at six American ports, according to documents obtained by The Associated Press.
Discussion:
Talking Points Memo, Outside The Beltway, Unfogged, The Mahablog, PoliBlog, Daily Kos, TKS on National Review Online, Shakespeare's Sister, California Conservative, Six Meat Buffet, Wizbang, The Left Coaster, Running Scared, Instapundit.com, outragedmoderates.org, CorrenteWire, Iowa Voice, Jihad Watch and The American Mind
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David E. Sanger / New York Times:
Big Problem, Dubai Deal or Not — WASHINGTON, Feb. 22 — In the political collision between the White House and Congress over the $6.8 billion deal that would give a Dubai company management of six American ports, most experts seem to agree on only one major point: The gaping holes in security …
tcsdaily.com:
Good for America — Just last week, the shareholders of P&O, that venerable relic of the British Empire, agreed to sell their company to a group called Dubai Ports World, for $6.8 billion. DP World won a bidding war with another company from a developing country, Temasek Holdings of Singapore.
Washington Post:
A Failure of the Press — There was a time when the press was the strongest guardian of free expression in this democracy. Stories and celebrations of intrepid and courageous reporters are many within the press corps. Cases such as New York Times v. Sullivan in the 1960s were litigated …
Discussion:
TigerHawk, Austin Bay Blog, Norwegianity, Hit and Run, AMERICAN FUTURE, Argghhh!, Media Blog on National …, History News Network and Dr. Sanity
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Evelyn Nieves / Washington Post:
S.D. Abortion Bill Takes Aim at 'Roe' — Senate Ban Does Not Except Rape, Incest — South Dakota lawmakers yesterday approved the nation's most far-reaching ban on abortion, setting the stage for new legal challenges that its supporters say they hope lead to an overturning of Roe v. Wade .
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Monica Davey / New York Times:
Ban on Most Abortions Advances in South Dakota — PIERRE, S.D., Feb. 22 — Setting up South Dakota to become the first state in 14 years to start a direct legal attack on Roe v. Wade, lawmakers voted on Wednesday to outlaw nearly all abortions. — Across the country, abortion rights advocates reacted with outrage and dismay.
George F. Will / Washington Post:
Smile if (and Only if) You're Conservative — To bemused conservatives, it looks like yet another example of analytic overkill by the intelligentsia — a jobs program for the (mostly liberal) academic boys (and girls) in the social sciences, whose quantitative tools have been brought to bear to prove the obvious.
Peggy Noonan / Opinion Journal:
If Cattle Flew — Look at the airports. Why would terrorists bother with seaports? — We are debating port security. While we're at it, how about airport security? Does anyone really believe that has gotten much better since 19 terrorists hijacked four planes five years ago?
