Iran to supply Hezbollah with surface-to-air missiles  —  LONDON (AFP) - Iran will supply Hezbollah with surface-to-air missile systems in the coming months, boosting the guerrillas' defences against Israeli aircraft, according to a report by specialist magazine Jane's Defence Weekly, citing unnamed Western diplomatic sources.

CT-SEN: Richard Goodstein: "Email Me The Last Good Story You Wrote About Joe Lieberman"  —  So I just reached D.C. lobbyist Richard Goodstein on his cellphone.  Goodstein the lobbyist confirmed that he is indeed the guy on the front-page of today's Record-Journal who appeared to be heckling Lamont in a diner.

Bush Starts 10-Day Texas Vacation  —  Shorter Summer Break Reflects Post-Katrina Criticism  —  President Bush arrived here Thursday evening to begin a 10-day stretch at his Prairie Chapel ranch, his longest planned period away from Washington during this summer vacation season.

Ambassador claims shortly before invasion, Bush didn't know there were two sects of Islam  —  [New to RAW STORY?  Be sure to check out our front page for all the latest-breaking news.  Latest: Raw acquires Republican campaign plan for summer recess...]  —  Former Ambassador …

Grazing Moose  —  The Moose offers some summer thoughts before taking a brief break from the blog.  —  A few years back the Moose broke with the Republican Party on a range of issues dealing with economic justice.  His reasons for leaving the GOP are explained  —  here.

Star's man in Havana caught by Castro  —  Star reporter in Havana gets a taste of official Cuba at its most oppressive  —  HAVANA—"Mr. Timothy, you must come with me.  There is a problem in your room."  —  I had just tucked into a pork sandwich at the hotel bar when the ominous voice from behind stopped me in mid-bite.

Hagel: Begin Iraq withdrawal within 6 months  —  The United States needs to begin withdrawing troops from Iraq within the next six months, Sen. Chuck Hagel said Thursday, rather than ratcheting up its military commitment now.  —  With Iraq exploding in sectarian violence and …

The Flags of Our Sons  —  WHEN you fly as often as I do you learn to mind your own business as soon as you take your seat.  But that wasn't possible once I saw the military honor guard boarding US Airways' 1:45 p.m. flight from Boston to Washington earlier this week.

A Bit of History for Global Warmers: Look at 1930  —  (CNSNews.com) - People sweltering from a heat wave in the Mid-Atlantic region of the U.S. might find cold comfort in the fact that the temperatures of the past few days are not the hottest on record.  That "honor" belongs to a summer 76 years ago …