memeorandum: New Questions About Blackwater Actions in Iraq (Committee on Oversight …)

11:40 PM ET, October 1, 2007

Top Items:

Gibson aired edited Limbaugh clip to "prove" Media Matters had edited Limbaugh clip … During the September 28 broadcast of his nationally syndicated radio show, in response to Media Matters for America's documentation of Rush Limbaugh's recent description of service members who advocate U.S. withdrawal …

Discussion: The Anonymous Liberal and TalkLeft

Amanda / Think Progress:

Harkin: 'Maybe Limbaugh was high on drugs again.' — Today on the Senate floor, Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) condemned Rush Limbaugh's "phony soldiers" comment, saying that the radio host makes these "provocative things to make more money." He then offered another possible explanation for Limbaugh's "over-the-line" remarks:

Discussion: Hot Air, Taylor Marsh, DownWithTyranny!, TBogg and Riehl World View

Michelle Malkin:

Fake war hero Tom Harkin smears Rush Limbaugh — Update: Glenn Reynolds wonders: "I noted back in 2004, the last time Harkin made this an issue, that the press was giving him a pass. Will it do so again? And why are the Democrats letting Harkin, of all people, get out front on this issue?"

Discussion: protein wisdom, The Corner, The Oxford Medievalist, Instapundit.com, Macsmind and Gateway Pundit

RushLimbaugh.com Home:

Rush's Challenge to Senator Reid — BEGIN TRANSCRIPT — RUSH: Ladies and gentlemen, in the last half hour, Harry Reid took to the floor of the Senate and proceeded to spend five-to-seven minutes denouncing me, spreading the smear that started last week on this phony soldiers business.

Discussion: The American Street, NewsBusters.org, Hot Air, Sister Toldjah, TIME, Gateway Pundit, Washington Times, Weekly Standard and Conservative Belle

Klaus Marre / The Hill:
Democrats go after Limbaugh

Discussion: Wizbang and The Jawa Report

The Corner:
Limbaugh in the House

Discussion: TPM Election Central and BLACKFIVE

Amanda / Think Progress:
Rep. Kingston Introduces Resolution 'Commending' Rush Limbaugh

Discussion: RushLimbaugh.com Home, The Carpetbagger Report and The American Street

Democrats.senate.gov:
Reid Calls On Senators To Join In Condemning Limbaugh's Attack On Our Troops

Discussion: Don Surber, Riehl World View and The Huffington Post

Jane Hamsher / Firedoglake:
Take Rush Off Armed Forces Radio Network

Discussion: Crooks and Liars, Hullabaloo and Think Progress

Greg Sargent / TPM Election Central:
Harry Reid Blasts Rush Limbaugh As "Unpatriotic" …

Discussion: The Carpetbagger Report, Horses Mouth, Take Our Country Back and Riehl World View

CNN Political Ticker:
Top Democrat slams Limbaugh over 'phony soldiers'

Discussion: The Politico

New York Times:

Report Depicts Recklessness at Blackwater — Guards working in Iraq for Blackwater USA have shot innocent Iraqi civilians and have sought to cover up the incidents, sometimes with the help of the State Department, a report to a Congressional committee said today.

Discussion: The Gavel, AlterNet.org, The Swamp, The Newshoggers, Middle Earth Journal, The Carpetbagger Report, The Gate, BlueNC, Brave New Films blog and Prairie Weather

Patrick O'Connor / The Politico:

Republicans urge Blackwater hearing delay — Seven House Republicans have urged Oversight and Government Reform Chairman Henry A. Waxman (D-Calif.) to postpone an expected hearing this week about Blackwater USA until the State Department and a separate commission release reports …

Discussion: New York Times, New York Times, The Huffington Post and skippy the bush kangaroo

Josh Marshall / Talking Points Memo:

PARODY SURGE HITS MIL CONTRACTORS IN IRAQ — A few days ago the State Department released what it called a "first blush" report on the Blackwater incident in Baghdad, a report which largely exonerated the Blackwater personnel involved. — I noted at the time that "first blush" …

Discussion: CNN, On Deadline, TPMmuckraker and The American Street

Spencer Ackerman / TPMmuckraker: Email Shows State Officials Doing Blackwater Damage Control

Richard Lardner / Associated Press:
FBI Sending Investigators to Iraq

Discussion: Blue Girl, Red State and On Deadline

Committee on Oversight and Government Reform:
New Questions About Blackwater Actions in Iraq

Discussion: Associated Press, Think Progress, Truthdig and Pam's House Blend

Taylor Marsh:

BREAKING: Clinton to Join Webb on Iran Bill — In March, James Webb introduced legislation demanding that the President seek congressional approval before striking Iran. — I've just learned that Senator Hillary Clinton will co-sponsor legislation with Webb and re-introduce it into the Senate.

Discussion: TPM Election Central, The Huffington Post, The Washington Note, DownWithTyranny!, The Democratic Daily, MyDD and Booman Tribune

clinton.senate.gov:
Senator Clinton Announces Co-Sponsorship of Webb Legislation …

Discussion: Pacific Views

World Tribune.com:

Last letter from doomed Al Qaida chief: 'We are so desperate for your help' — BAGHDAD — The U.S. military is eliminating Al Qaida's chain of command in Iraq. — Officials said several leading aides to Al Qaida network chief Abu Ayoub Al Masri have been killed by the U.S.-led coalition.

Discussion: PrairiePundit, In From the Cold, Wizbang, Weasel Zippers, Patterico's Pontifications and Gateway Pundit

WSJ.com:

Ron Paul's Fund-Raising Takes Off — Mary Jacoby reports on the 2008 presidential campaign. — Rep. Ron Paul is bucking trends in the political money race. — While both Democrats and Republicans in the presidential race are finding it more difficult to pass the hat …

Discussion: The Sundries Shack and Reason Magazine

Des Moines Register:

Thompson: Iraq had WMDs before U.S. invaded — Newton, Ia. — Former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson said today he was certain former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction prior to the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, a point of contention in the 4.5 years since the war began.

Discussion: MSNBC, MyDD, The Right's Field, Flopping Aces, The Carpetbagger Report, Chuck Adkins, Real Clear Politics and Daily Kos

Washington Post:

Public Favors Democrats to Handle Iraq, Health Care — Most Americans oppose fully funding President Bush's $190 billion request for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and a sizeable majority supports an expansion of a children's health insurance bill the president has promised to veto …

Discussion: Democratic Strategist, The Atlantic Online, Daily Kos and Oliver Willis

Faiz / Think Progress:

Lindsey Graham Sets 90 Day Deadline For Iraq — In February, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) warned against setting any kind of deadline for Iraq. Appearing on Fox News Sunday, he said, "I cannot guarantee you success, but I can promise you this: The day you set timelines and deadlines, it's lost in Iraq."

Ronny Sofer / Ynetnews:

Israel officially denies responsibility for death of al-Dura in 2000 — Seven years after death of Gaza boy captured by France 2 cameraman was blamed on Israel, Prime Minister's Office issues first official document stating incident was staged. French reporter defends video, calling it 'authentic'

Discussion: YID With LID, Israel Matzav, Mere Rhetoric and Solomonia