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.

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.

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.

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.

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 …

Flight 93 Hijacker: 'We Have a Bomb on Board'  —  ALEXANDRIA, Va. — In the last few minutes before United Flight 93 crashed into a rural Pennsylvania field on Sept. 11, 2001, hijackers aboard the plane ordered passengers to "shut up" and "sit" as they issued a terrifying message: "We have a bomb on board."

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 …

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.

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.

Gingrich Criticizes Bush, Aids Enemy  —  As Bush apologists realize their leader is presiding over a dying presidency, they are straining to distance themselves from him.  —  Tools  —  A slightly different version of this story first appeared on Unclaimed Territory.

Morality, Humanity and Civilization: "Nothing remains...but memories"  —  The San Francisco Chronicle is offering a ten-part series about the Great Earthquake of 1906 and its aftermath.  The opening installment begins: … Nature frequently does not announce in advance her intentions to fundamentally alter the world.

TUCSON REGION  —  City man arrested after Mexican-flag burning  —  A Tucson man was arrested Tuesday for his role in the burning of a Mexican flag as part of a counterprotest at a pro-immigration rally.  —  At about 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Tucson police cited Roy Warden, 58, on suspicion of assault …