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Political Web, page A1 … for 11:00 AM ET, February 23, 2006
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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 …
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:
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.
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 …
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
Bill Roggio / The Fourth Rail:
Looking for Signs of Civil War in Iraq
Discussion: Booman Tribune
Reuters:   Sunnis boycott Iraq talks, slam government
Washington Post:   Sectarian Violence Surges After Shrine Bombing
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.
RELATED ITEMS:
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.
Discussion: Argghhh! and Andrew Sullivan
Associated Press:
DeLay says Bush making mistake on port sale  —  U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay said Wednesday that President Bush is making a big mistake backing a sale of shipping operations at six major U.S. seaports to a state-owned business in the United Arab Emirates.  —  The former Republican majority leader …
New York Times:
White House Says Bush Played No Role in Port Deal
Discussion: OxBlog and Instapundit.com
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 …
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 .
RELATED ITEMS:
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.
Associated Press:
South Dakota Senate passes abortion ban bill
Discussion: Iowa Voice and Simianbrain
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.
Discussion: Betsy's Page and The Next Hurrah
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?
Captain Ed / Captain's Quarters:
Behind The Scenes At Able Danger  —  An inside source on the Able Danger controversy — one that has provided CQ with reliable background information in the past — gives some interesting background information about the recent hearings on the data-mining program that the 9/11 Commission did its best to ignore.

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More Items:

Glenn Reynolds / Instapundit.com:
The Glenn and Helen Show …
Katherine Kersten / Minneapolis Star Tribune:
The DFL's attack on TV war ad is hypocritical
Discussion: Shot In The Dark
Thomas Sowell / Townhall.com:
Another academic casualty
Discussion: radioblogger.com
National Review:
Fanatical Swedish Feminists
Discussion: Vox Popoli and Dr. Sanity

Earlier Picks:

Washington Post:
Prejudice Wins  —  UNIVERSITIES EXIST to pose tough questions …
David Neiwert / Orcinus:
Say No to Nazis  —  Following the recent outbreak of neo-Nazism …
Discussion: Jesus' General and ArchPundit
 
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