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Afghan Court Drops Case Against Christian — KABUL, Afghanistan - An Afghan court on Sunday dismissed a case against a man who converted from Islam to Christianity because of a lack of evidence and he will be released soon, officials said. — The announcement came as U.S.-backed President …
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ABDUL RAHMAN TO BE RELEASED — ***scroll for updates...Video: Condi Rice thinks Afghanistan has "come a long way" because when the Taliban ruled, they "wantonly" executed people for playing music (as opposed to now, you know, where executions of people for abandoning Islam are contemplated in a much more civilized, non-wanton manner.)

Harris puts her faith in religion … As Katherine Harris' rocky Senate campaign takes an increasingly evangelical Christian bent, her remaining top campaign staffers are preparing to jump ship. — Colleagues say Harris' closest confidante lately appears to be spiritual adviser Dale Burroughs …
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Campaign says Harris won't turn to inheritance
Discussion:
The Sideshow

'Guest Workers' Won't Work — A Path to Permanent Citizenship Would Benefit Everyone — The conventional wisdom is all but unanimous, so much so that even those who hold the opposing view pay homage to it. Sure, some people dispute even the notion that we need foreign workers to keep the U.S. economy growing.
Discussion:
Right Wing Nut House, Decision '08, Don Surber, The Washington Monthly, Norwegianity and Michelle Malkin
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A G.O.P. Split on Immigration Vexes a Senator
Discussion:
The Agonist

The Democrats' plan for midtern elections — If the elections were held today, top strategists of both parties say privately, the Republicans would probably lose the 15 seats they need to keep control of the House of Representatives and could come within a seat or two of losing the Senate
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CNN RELIABLE SOURCES — Are Media Turning Against War in Iraq? — THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED. — HOWARD KURTZ, HOST (voice over): Souring on the war. As President Bush goes toe to toe with White House reporters, are news organizations turning against the war in Iraq?
Discussion:
Eschaton
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Lara Logan smacked down the "negative Iraq War Coverage" charges
Discussion:
Firedoglake


Supreme Court: Detainees' Rights-Scalia Speaks His Mind — Scalia at the New England School of Law on March 15 — April 3, 2006 issue - The Supreme Court this week will hear arguments in a big case: whether to allow the Bush administration to try Guantánamo detainees …
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Putin accused of plagiarising his PhD thesis — THE career of President Vladimir Putin of Russia was built at least in part on a lie, according to US researchers. A new study of an economics — thesis written by Putin in the mid-1990s has revealed that large chunks of it were copied from an American text.


Size of L.A. March Surprises Authorities — LOS ANGELES - Thousands of immigration advocates marched through downtown Los Angeles in one of the largest demonstrations for any cause in recent U.S. history. — More than 500,000 protesters — demanding that Congress abandon attempts …
Discussion:
The Glittering Eye, Vox Baby, Wampum, TalkLeft, Los Angeles Times, David E's Fablog and Pam's House Blend


Saddam planned to deploy 'camels of mass destruction' — Saddam Hussein planned to use "camels of mass destruction" as weapons to defend Iraq, loading them with bombs and directing them towards invading forces. — The animals were part of a plan to arm and equip foreign insurgents drawn …

The Forgotten War In Central Asia Continues — More fighting in Talibanistan, and Helmand province, Afghanistan — Miranshah by air. — The current fighting in Pakistan and Afghanistan are not isolated events, but intricately linked to the rise of the Taliban in Pakistan's lawless tribal belts.
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'I have 600 suicide bombers waiting for your soldiers'
Discussion:
In the Bullpen

The New York Times Magazine has a story on Michael Steele's candidacy to replace Paul Sarbanes as senator from Maryland. The title tells you the tone of the piece. … There is that whole marveling tone as if the author is observing a circus performer and just can't figure the whole act out.

Jews in France Feel Sting as Anti-Semitism Surges Among Children of Immigrants — SARCELLES, France — In working-class Parisian suburbs like this one, heavily populated by North African immigrants, the word "Jew" is now a standard epithet. It appears in graffiti on middle school walls …
Discussion:
Peaktalk


Dose of Tenacity Wears Down a Horrific Disease — OGI, Nigeria — Whatever secrets the turgid brown depths of the Sacred Pond of Ogi may keep, there is one they betray quite easily: why it is so infuriatingly hard to wipe even one disease off the face of the earth.

Testing Presidential Waters as Race at Home Heats Up — CULPEPER, Va., March 21 — George Allen makes little secret that he is bored with life in the Senate. — "I made more decisions in half a day as governor than you can make in a whole week in the Senate," Senator Allen said earlier …

Norgs: the unconference: "this is the day that the war ends" — I wanted to post this quickly to point you to a few participants and their reports, the day was too big skip without getting at least this up. I will have more later, about the day, the format (hey - the unconference format works!), and thoughts for the future.