Top Items:
Will Lester / Associated Press:
Poll: Most Iraqis Oppose Troops' Presence — WASHINGTON - Most Iraqis disapprove of the presence of U.S. forces in their country, yet they are optimistic about Iraq's future and their own personal lives, according to a new poll. — More than two-thirds of those surveyed oppose the presence …
Discussion:
Dohiyi Mir
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BBC:
Survey finds optimism in new Iraq — An opinion poll suggests Iraqis are generally optimistic about their lives, in spite of the violence that has plagued Iraq since the US-led invasion. — But the survey, carried out for the BBC and other media, found security fears still dominate most Iraqis' thoughts.
ABCNEWS:
Poll: Broad Optimism in Iraq, But Also Deep Divisions Among Groups — On the Eve of the Elections, Most Iraqis Want Iraq To Stay Unified — Dec. 12, 2005 — Surprising levels of optimism prevail in Iraq with living conditions improved, security more a national worry than a local one, and expectations for the future high.
Discussion:
The Jawa Report v3.0 Beta
Captain Ed / Captain's Quarters:
The Eighty Percent Lie — A new poll by ABC/Time shows that the Iraqi polling numbers tossed around by Democrats for the past month in defense of their cut-and-run "strategy" were bald-faced lies. The Oxford study underwritten by the network and news magazine determined …
Ellen Knickmeyer / Washington Post:
Abuse Cited In 2nd Jail Operated by Iraqi Ministry — Official Says 12 Prisoners Subjected to 'Severe Torture' — BAGHDAD, Dec. 11 — An Iraqi government search of a detention center in Baghdad operated by Interior Ministry special commandos found 13 prisoners who had suffered abuse serious enough …
Discussion:
Informed Comment
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Ceci Connolly / Washington Post:
Frist Cautions Senators Against Stalling Alito Vote — Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) threatened yesterday to strip Democrats of the power to filibuster if they block the vote on Supreme Court nominee Samuel A. Alito Jr. — "It would be against the intent of the Founding Fathers …
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BBC:
New Hariri report 'blames Syria' — UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has received the second report into the killing of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. — The report is said to detail Syria's alleged role in the murder. — It comes days after United Nations investigator …
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Joseph Kahn / New York Times:
Military Officer Tied to Killings Is Held by China — BEIJING, Monday, Dec. 12 - The commander of paramilitary forces who opened fire on villagers protesting land seizures has been detained by the authorities in connection with the shootings, an extraordinary response that suggested high-level concern …
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Dan Balz / Washington Post:
Hillary Clinton Crafts Centrist Stance on War — At a time when politicians in both parties have eagerly sought public forums to debate the war in Iraq, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) has kept in the shadows. — Clinton has stayed steadfastly on a centrist path …
Tim B. / Tim Blair:
BEACH TRASH DUKE IT OUT — Wild scenes at a Sydney beach: … Let's hope that report turns out to be untrue. Other (confirmed) reports are almost as disgusting: … How did this situation come to be? Splat Guy puts together a concise time-line: … Absolutely.
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Scott Shiloh / Arutz Sheva:
Abbas Approves Monthly Grant To Families of Suicide Bombers — The head of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, has approved a new law, providing monetary grants to the families of suicide bombers. — Abbas gave his approval just six days ago, a day before a suicide bomber struck …
The State:
Sanford rules out bid for presidency in 2008 — Governor says he'll serve 4 years if re-elected — Gov. Mark Sanford "absolutely" will not run for president in 2008. — In a wide-ranging interview with The State newspaper in his State House office last week, Sanford said he would not be a candidate …
Gina Holland / Associated Press:
Court Agrees to Review Texas Redistricting — Supreme Court Agrees to Review GOP-Friendly Redistricting in Texas Engineered by Rep. Tom DeLay — WASHINGTON Dec 12, 2005 — The Supreme Court said Monday it would consider the constitutionality of a Texas congressional map engineered …
Discussion:
The Carpetbagger Report
Pat Toomey / Opinion Journal:
Laffey vs. Chafee — The first skirmish in a very important war. — Describing his 1976 challenge to incumbent Republican President Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan wrote, "It was time to scale back the size of the federal government, reduce taxes and government intrusion in our lives …
Discussion:
Hugh Hewitt
Countertop / The Countertop Chronicles:
The Rino Rodeo — Well, its 1:00 am on Monday. I've had a hellacious week (topped off with a visit to Hell this afternoon), so while I planned something good and great and in the Christmas Spirit for this weeks Rhino Rodeo, alas, you will have to suffer through something perhaps not as worthy of the honor.
Discussion:
Argghhh!
Guy Dinmore / Financial Times:
Bush plans overhaul of US foreign aid system — President George W. Bush's administration is drawing up plans to carry out the biggest overhaul of the US foreign aid apparatus in more than 40 years in an attempt to assert more political control over international assistance, according to officials and aid experts.
