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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:
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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.
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 …
CBS News:
Political Backlash Over Port Deal — (CBS/AP) If there is one thing Congressional leaders and the White House can agree on, it is that neither knew the port deal with a United Arab Emirates company was even in the works, reports CBS News political analyst Gloria Borger.
Kevin Drum / The Washington Monthly:(MUCH) MORE ON THE DUBAI PORT DEAL....I'm still open to argument …
Discussion:
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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.
Patrick Cockburn / Independent:Destruction of holiest Shia shrine brings Iraq to the brink of civil war
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 .
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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?
MSNBC:
Documents support Cheney's shooting account — Affidavits obtained by NBC News corroborate vice president's recollection — WASHINGTON - — NBC News has obtained new documents regarding the shooting accident involving Vice President Dick Cheney. — NBC News filed an Open Records Act request …
