Top Items:
Edward Wong / New York Times:
As Violence Ebbs, U.S. Envoy Warns of Danger to Iraq's Future — BAGHDAD, Iraq, Feb. 24 — The American ambassador to Iraq said today that sectarian violence this week was a threat to the future of Iraq, and that Iraqi leaders would have to come together and compromise if they wanted to save their homeland.
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National Review:
Standoff in Iraq — The insurgency in Iraq has no military capability either to drive the United States military from Iraq or to stop the American training of Iraqi police and security forces — or, for that matter, to derail the formation of a new government.
Sabrina Tavernise / New York Times:
Violent Cycle of Revenge Stuns Iraqis — BAGHDAD, Iraq, Feb. 23 — After a day of violence so raw and so personal, Iraqis woke on Thursday morning to a tense new world in which, it seemed, anything was possible. — The violence on Wednesday was the closest Iraq had come to civil war, and Iraqis were stunned.
Alexandra Zavis / Associated Press:Violence After Mosque Attack Kills 111
Discussion:
In From the Cold, Roger L. Simon, Agence France Presse, The Huffington Post and tehrantimes.com
David Ignatius / Washington Post:
Taste of the Future — "Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myself." The acidulous wisdom of Mark Twain speaks to us across the ages, and never more than this week during the great congressional mobilization to save America's ports from the dreaded hand of Dubai.
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Rowan Scarborough / Washington Times:
Chertoff unaware of ports deal until after OK — Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff was not aware a Dubai-owned company was seeking to operate terminals in six U.S. ports and that his agency was leading the review until after the deal's approval, an administration official said yesterday.
Charles Krauthammer / Washington Post:
A Dubai Finesse — If only Churchill were alive today, none of this would be happening. The proud imperialist would have taken care that the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Co., chartered in 1840 by Victoria ("by the grace of God . . . Queen defender of the faith" on …
Salah Nasrawi / Associated Press:
Attack Fails at Huge Saudi Oil Site — CAIRO, Egypt - Suicide bombers in explosives-laden cars attacked the world's largest oil processing facility Friday, but were prevented from breaking through the gates when guards opened fire on them, causing the vehicles to explode, officials said.
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Andrew Cochran / The Counterterrorism Blog:
Terrorists Attack Saudi Oil Facility (updated) — One of the "nightmare scenarios" in the counterterrorism community apparently almost happened, with an attempted terrorist attack on a major oil refinery in Abqaiq (a.k.a. Buqayq) in eastern Saudi Arabia today.
MSNBC:
Oil refinery attack foiled, Saudis say — Vehicles reportedly were packed with explosives; pipeline fire started — RIYADH, Saudi Arabia - Suicide bombers in explosives-laden cars attempted to attack an oil processing facility that handles about two-thirds of Saudi Arabia's petroleum output on Friday …
Lori Aratani / Washington Post:
'Gifted' Label Takes a Vacation in Diversity Quest — Middle school magnet programs in Montgomery County have traditionally operated as schools within schools, offering specialized curriculum to a few select students — who have been mostly Asian and white. — But this fall, educators decided to try a different approach.
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Jane Hamsher / firedoglake:
Kansas Roots Action — Phase I — Today as part of our Roots project we're asking people from Kansas (or those with ties to Kansas) to write in to local papers regarding the Senate hearings into the illegal NSA wiretaps. Kansas is the home of both Pat Roberts, chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee …
Discussion:
Vichy Democrats
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Carol D. Leonnig / Washington Post:
Special Counsel in Plame Case Invalid, Libby Contends — Attorneys for Vice President Cheney's former top aide argued yesterday that a federal court should dismiss all charges against him because a special prosecutor lacked the legal authority to bring the charges.
Discussion:
The Corner on National …, JustOneMinute, The American Thinker, firedoglake, TalkLeft and On the fringes …
Associated Press:
South Dakota Senate passes abortion ban — PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — South Dakota moved closer to imposing some of the strictest limits on abortion in the nation as the state Senate approved legislation that would ban the procedure except when the woman's life is in danger.
Minneapolis Star Tribune:
Anti-gay fury mars funeral of a soldier in Anoka — Protesters from Kansas say God is killing our soldiers because the U.S. tolerates homosexuality. — On her way into the church where the funeral was to be held for her 23-year-old son Thursday morning, Deirdre Ostlund approached six men …
Vital Perspective:
A Rally for Freedom — Thanks to the inspiration of Christopher Hitchens, Washingtonians showed their peaceful solidarity on Friday with the people of Denmark. A sampling of the rally for freedom at the Embassy of Denmark below:
Mary Dalrymple / Associated Press:
IRS: Charities Overstepping Into Politics — WASHINGTON - IRS exams found nearly three out of four churches, charities and other civic groups suspected of having violated restraints on political activity in the 2004 election actually did so, the agency said Friday.
Discussion:
IntoxiNation-News …
David Kaspar / Davids Medienkritik:
SPIEGEL's Karen Hughes Translation Nightmare: Bush "A Wonderful Führer" — (By Ray D.) — After releasing it's English version of an interview with US Undersecretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Karen Hughes, SPIEGEL ONLINE today released its German version of the same interview.
Guy Dinmore / Financial Times:
US marines probe tensions among Iran's minorities — The intelligence wing of the US marines has launched a probe into Iran's ethnic minorities at a time of heightened tensions along the border with Iraq and friction between capitals. — Iranian activists involved in a classified research project …
Discussion:
War and Piece
