Analysts Say a Nuclear Iran Is Years Away  —  Western nuclear analysts said yesterday that Tehran lacked the skills, materials and equipment to make good on its immediate nuclear ambitions, even as a senior Iranian official said Iran would defy international pressure and rapidly expand its ability to enrich uranium for fuel.

Hydrogen Warfare  —  It seems as if the war to drown the Bush administration in old news presented as scandals has begun.  Who will be able to come up with the most hot air?  Walter Pincus, David Sanger & David Barstow, David Shuster, (three Davids, how about that - an Army of Davids...) …

WHERE IS BILAL HUSSEIN?  —  Where is Bilal Hussein—and who is he working for?  —  A year ago, I blogged about a controversial, Pulitzer Prize-winning photo taken by an unidentified Associated Press stringer in Iraq.  More background from the blogosphere here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.

Here is the Democratic message on Iran  —  George Bush has decided to use Iran as a foil to help his sagging poll numbers and to help Republicans in the fall congressional elections.  I'm going to discuss why this is true, and what the Dems should do about it.  —  Iran is ten years away from developing nukes.

Migrants rush to Arizona border anticipating passage of guest-worker plan  —  NOGALES, Mexico (AP) - At a shelter overflowing with migrants airing their blistered feet, Francisco Ramirez nursed muscles sore from trekking through the Arizona desert - a trip that failed when his wife did not have the strength to go on.

Late Night Filing: Libby Responds to Fitzgerald  —  Scooter Libby has just filed a 29 page Reply Memorandum (pdf) (to Patrick Fitzgerald's Response) to Libby's Third Motion to Compel Discovery, and 25 pages of exhibits.  —  I just obtained them and am about to start reading.  Details soon.

Rumsfeld Rebuked By Retired Generals  —  Ex-Iraq Commander Calls for Resignation  —  The retired commander of key forces in Iraq called yesterday for Donald H. Rumsfeld to step down, joining several other former top military commanders who have harshly criticized the defense secretary's authoritarian style …

At Trial, Flight 93 Myth Finally Becomes Reality  —  It began with a muted series of thumps from a sharp knife or maybe clenched fists.  The sounds were muffled but unmistakable, one body blow after another, ending with a squishy thud.  —  "No, no, no, no, no. No," came the high-pitched voice …

The s-word  —  Golfer Tiger Woods has been criticised for saying he played like 'a spaz'.  Can using the word ever be right?  —  Two years ago I was involved in a linguistic incident at work.  I called a disabled colleague a spaz after hearing he'd spilt coffee over yet another expensive bit of computer kit.

Coalition Launches 'Operation Mountain Lion' in Afghanistan  —  WASHINGTON, April 12, 2006 - Coalition forces, in cooperation with the Afghan National Army, began "Operation Mountain Lion" yesterday to establish security, deter the re-emergence of terrorism, and enhance the sovereignty of Afghanistan, military officials reported today.

THE BATTLE FOR FRAN O'BRIEN'S  —  Greyhawk  —  I was about to call it a night, then I got an email from Buzz Patterson: … The rest is below, including contact info.  —  MAYDAY!  MAYDAY!!  MAYDAY!!!  —  Flight, we need your help!  —  This is long but you need to read it all.

Back to Iraq Part III - The Kurdish Disaster  —  This is the third installment in a Back to Iraq series which is basically a single long essay.  Don't miss Part One and Part Two.  —  TURKISH KURDISTAN - Sean and I dragged our sorry, exhausted, and malnourished selves to the car at 6:30 …

Exaggerating Dire 'Scientific' Warnings  —  If you're a scientist working for private industry, it helps to invent something useful.  But if you're a scientist trying to get funding from the government, you're better off telling the world how horrible things are.  —  And once people are scared, they pay attention.