Iran Could Produce Nuclear Bomb in 16 Days, U.S. Says (Update1)  —  April 12 (Bloomberg) — Iran, which is defying United Nations Security Council demands to cease its nuclear program, may be capable of making a nuclear bomb within 16 days if it goes ahead with plans to install thousands …

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.

Thanks, Colin, You're a Real Hero  —  Can I say how impressed I am by Colin Powell's willingness to throw Dick Cheney under the bus to save George Bush, even as he admit he knew all along that the claims about Iraqi attempts to obtain Niger uranium were bunk?  As Robert Sheer reports:

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.

Moussaoui Jurors Hear Flight 93 Tape  —  ALEXANDRIA, Va. - In the final minutes of doomed United Air Lines Flight 93, on Sept. 11, 2001, hijackers try to shake off passengers clamoring for control of the plane over Pennsylvania.  Amid groans and sounds of a struggle, a voice says, "I am injured."

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.

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.

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 …

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.

'Islamic terrorism' is too emotive a phrase, says EU  —  European governments should shun the phrase "Islamic terrorism" in favour of "terrorists who abusively invoke Islam", say guidelines from EU officials.  —  Backed by diplomats and civil servants from the 25 EU members …

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.

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 …

Spoiling For A Racial Spoils System  —  I don't think we should require everyone who asks for special treatment based on race to wear black or brown armbands to signify their special status, but since foolproof identity cards are now being seriously discussed as one component of dealing …