Top Items:
Guardian:
Annan: Israel bombed UN base for hours — Staff and agencies — The UN general secretary, Kofi Annan, today accused the Israeli military of carrying out a sustained bombing of the UN base on the Lebanon-Israel border that culminated in the killing of four unarmed monitors.
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Independent:
Annan accuses Israel over attack on UN post — The UN secretary general Kofi Annan says an Israeli attack on a UN observation post was "apparently deliberate". Four unarmed military observers were killed in the air strike in southern Lebanon. — The Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, spoke by phone to Mr Annan.
Discussion:
NO QUARTER
Wretchard / The Belmont Club:
A Knife-Thrower at the Carnival — Kofi Annan has accused Israel of deliberately targeting UN position in southern Lebanon. According to the Independent: … In order to have some sense of how plausible this accusation is, it would be useful to examine the statements of the UNIFIL itself prior to this incident.
David Ignatius / Washington Post:
A Way Forward — To stop the war in Lebanon, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will need to start with some basics: The best strategy for containing a militia such as Hezbollah is to build a strong Lebanese state; any lasting solution for this conflict will be political, not just military …
Discussion:
QandO, Blue Crab Boulevard, TPMCafe blogs, Power Line, The Real Ugly American.com and Jerusalem Post
Think Progress:
McCain Falsely Claims the Iraqi Prime Minister Has 'Condemned Hezbollah' — Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has repeatedly refused to condemn Hezbollah for its role in initiating the Lebanon-Israel conflict. Yesterday, in a press conference with President Bush, he …
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Vicki Allen / Reuters:
Some Democrats say will shun Maliki speech — WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. congressional Democrats voiced alarm on Tuesday over Iraq's denunciation of Israel in the Middle East conflict, and some said Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's upcoming address to Congress should be canceled unless he apologizes.
Washington Post:
Bush to Add Troops in Baghdad, Citing 'Terrible' Sectarian Strife — President Bush said yesterday that he will send more U.S. forces and equipment to Baghdad as part of a fresh strategy to put down rising sectarian violence, abandoning a six-week-old operation that failed to pacify …
Discussion:
Informed Comment, Shakespeare's Sister, Taylor Marsh, Whiskey Bar and The Poor Man Institute
Fox News:
Hastert Rejects Calls to Disinvite al-Maliki to Speak to Congress
Hastert Rejects Calls to Disinvite al-Maliki to Speak to Congress
Discussion:
Unqualified Offerings, The Corner, Right Wing News, Bull Moose, Booman Tribune, Say Anything, The Agonist and Brad DeLong's Semi …
Carl Hulse / New York Times:
Senate Removes Abortion Option for Young Girls — WASHINGTON, July 25 — The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would make it a federal crime to help an under-age girl escape parental notification laws by crossing state lines to obtain an abortion. — The bill was approved on a 65-to-34 vote …
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Guardian:
Iran warns the west: ignore us at your peril — Tehran predicts summit failure as UN observers die in Israeli airstrike — Iran warned the west yesterday that attempts to broker a Lebanon peace deal at today's Rome summit are destined to fail and it predicted a backlash across …
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The Aardvark / Abu Aardvark:
Rome conference fails. — I'm watching al-Jazeera's live coverage of the Rome conference right now. Al-Jazeera bumper sticker summary: Rome conference fails because United States rejects a ceasefire. The camera captured Condoleeza Rice looking visibly uncomfortable Lebanon's Prime Minister Seniora calmly …
Nell Henderson / Washington Post:
Tax Cuts May Come At a Price, Study Says — The federal government will need to either cut spending or raise taxes down the road to pay for extending President Bush's recent tax cuts, the Treasury Department said in a report released yesterday, dismissing the idea popular with many Republicans that such sacrifices can be avoided.
SEIXON:
Browner Still — At approximately 7:00 AM Central European Time I received a phone call from a blocked number. The person on the phone told me I had written naughty things on my blog, and then laughed when I asked them who they were. — "You're a dead man."
Shawn Pogatchnik / Associated Press:
Ireland worker finds ancient psalms in bog — DUBLIN, Ireland - Irish archaeologists Tuesday heralded the discovery of an ancient book of psalms by a construction worker who spotted something while driving the shovel of his backhoe into a bog. — The approximately 20-page book has been dated to the years 800-1000.
Mohammed Khaku / aljazeerah.info:
Senator Santorum Repugnant Remarks on Islam, Iran, and Syria — Sen. Rick Santorum (R., Pa.) remarks at the National Press Club on Wednesday July 19th 2006 calling for regime change in Iran and described "Islamic fascism" as the "great test" of this generation, as threatening to the United States …
Insight:
Dump Condi: Foreign policy conservatives charge State Dept. has hijacked Bush agenda — Conservative national security allies of President Bush are in revolt against Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, saying that she is incompetent and has reversed the administration's national security and foreign policy agenda.
Radioblogger.com:
Chris Matthews comes unglued on the Imus In The Morning program. — If you're a rancher, according to Matthews, you can't be president. — Here is an excerpt of audio from Chris Matthews from earlier today on the Imus In The Morning program. Listening is fine, but you need to really read what he had to say.
Associated Press:
ConocoPhillips profit leaps 65 pct. in 2Q — HOUSTON - Lofty oil prices fueled a 65 percent surge in ConocoPhillips' second-quarter net income, the company announced Wednesday. Its shares rose 2 percent in morning trading. — The nation's third-largest oil company earned $5.18 billion …