memeorandum: Last letter from doomed Al Qaida chief: 'We are so desperate for your help' (World Tribune.com)

3:30 AM ET, October 2, 2007

Top Items:

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: The Gun Toting Liberal™, The Politico, Wizbang, The Oxford Medievalist, protein wisdom, Instapundit.com, Gateway Pundit, Macsmind and The Corner

Media Matters for America:

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 Hullabaloo

Klaus Marre / The Hill:

Democrats go after Limbaugh — Democrats on Monday called on the chief executive of Clear Channel Communications to denounce remarks by radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh, whom they say made a "hateful" and "unpatriotic" attack on U.S. troops opposed to the war in Iraq.

Discussion: Drudge Report, The Radio Equalizer, Wizbang, The Jawa Report and Althouse

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, Slapstick Politics, THE ASTUTE BLOGGERS, Taylor Marsh, The Carpetbagger Report, DownWithTyranny!, TBogg and Riehl World View

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: Hot Air, Democrats.senate.gov, CNN Political Ticker, Firedoglake, TPM Election Central, Slapstick Politics, NewsBusters.org, The American Street, The Carpetbagger Report, TIME, Crooks and Liars, Washington Times, Think Progress, Sister Toldjah, Gateway Pundit, Weekly Standard and Conservative Belle

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: AlterNet.org, The Swamp, Middle Earth Journal, The Gate, The Carpetbagger Report, The Newshoggers, 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, Los Angeles Times, The Huffington Post and skippy the bush kangaroo

Josh Marshall / Talking Points Memo:
PARODY SURGE HITS MIL CONTRACTORS IN IRAQ

Discussion: On Deadline, CNN and The American Street

John M. Broder / New York Times:
Report Says Firm Sought to Cover Iraq Shootings

Discussion: THE ASTUTE BLOGGERS

Jesse Lee / The Gavel:
Oversight Committee Raises New Questions About Blackwater Actions in Iraq

Discussion: TPMmuckraker, Think Progress and Upper Left

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, Pam's House Blend and Truthdig

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

Adam B / Daily Kos:
Presidential Public Financing Primer

Discussion: Open Left

Michael Cooper / New York Times:
Democrats Surpass Republicans in Fund-Raising

Discussion: ParaPundit

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, DownWithTyranny!, The Democratic Daily, The Washington Note, 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, Wizbang, In From the Cold, Weasel Zippers, Patterico's Pontifications and The Strata-Sphere

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: Israel Matzav, Mere Rhetoric, YID With LID, Confederate Yankee and Solomonia

Arutz Sheva:
State: Al-Dura Death Video was Staged

Discussion: Atlas Shrugs

Anita Hill / New York Times:

The Smear This Time — ON Oct. 11, 1991, I testified about my experience as an employee of Clarence Thomas's at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. — I stand by my testimony. — Justice Thomas has every right to present himself as he wishes in his new memoir, "My Grandfather's Son."

Discussion: First Draft

The Corner:
A GRANDFATHER'S SON

Discussion: Power Line and Captain's Quarters

Jeff Zeleny / New York Times:

Obama to Urge Elimination of World's Nuclear Weapons — Senator Barack Obama will propose on Tuesday setting a goal of eliminating all nuclear weapons in the world, saying the United States should greatly reduce its stockpiles to lower the threat of nuclear terrorism, aides say.

Discussion: Likelihood of Success

Washington Post:

Most in Poll Want War Funding Cut — Most Americans oppose fully funding President Bush's $190 billion request for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and a sizable majority support an expansion of a children's health insurance bill he has promised to veto, putting Bush and many congressional Republicans on the wrong side of public...

Discussion: Democratic Strategist, The Atlantic Online, Booman Tribune, 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."