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Muslim leaders demand apology for Pope's 'medieval' remarks — John Hooper in Rome and Luke Harding in Berlin — Pope Benedict XVI was last night facing angry demands from Muslims that he apologise for a speech in which he appeared to say the concept of jihad was "unreasonable" …
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The Pope's Words — There is more than enough religious anger in the world. So it is particularly disturbing that Pope Benedict XVI has insulted Muslims, quoting a 14th-century description of Islam as "evil and inhuman." — In the most provocative part of a speech this week on …
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Hot Air


Pontiff cites text that calls some teachings of Muhammad 'evil and inhuman' — ISTANBUL, Turkey - Pakistan's legislature unanimously condemned Pope Benedict XVI. Lebanon's top Shiite cleric demanded an apology. And in Turkey, the ruling party likened the pontiff to Hitler and Mussolini …

"You're Looking Beautiful Today, Dave" — Here is Bush getting pissed off at David Gregory for suggesting that North Korea or other countries might adopt Bush's new way of dealing with the Geneva Conventions — "interpret" them however it suits them and change them at will.
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protein wisdom, Daily Kos, The Sundries Shack, The Mahablog, Big Brass Blog, The Heretik and Andrew Sullivan
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Toobin: Bush 'playing chicken' with senators — (CNN) — President Bush warned on Friday that a CIA interrogation program for terror suspects is in jeopardy unless Congress approves his proposals seeking to reinterpret America's application of the Geneva Conventions.


Behind the Debate, Controversial CIA Techniques — President Bush's push this week for legislation that narrowly defines U.S. obligations under the Geneva Conventions is motivated by his aides' conviction that the CIA must continue using a small number of highly controversial interrogation techniques …


Press Conference of the President — THE PRESIDENT: It's always a pleasure to be introduced into the Rose Garden. Thank you, Wendell. Thank you for coming. I'm looking forward to answering some of your questions. — This week our nation paused to mark the 5th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.

Bush Pushes for Terror Legislation
Discussion:
Legal Fiction, The Left Coaster, Talking Points Memo, AMERICAblog and The Democratic Daily

Bloomberg Secretly Considers Presidential Campaign — CBS 2 Exclusive: Despite Public Denials, Mayor Has Secret Meeting With National Political Strategist, Wall Street Money Man — (CBS) NEW YORK New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg has always denied it, but CBS 2 has learned the details of a secret meeting …
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Liberty and Justice
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Excommunicate the DLC — For some time we have known about the DLC's interest in an independent presidential bid by Michael Bloomberg, so it should not come as a major surprise that the organization is helping New York City's Republican mayor plan his potential campaign. Andrew Kirtzman has the scoop for WCBS-News.
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The News Blog

Who's the Next Target in the Abramoff Probe? — Former Ohio Congressman Bob Ney has admitted his role in Washington's influence-peddling scandal, but prosecutors still have other politicians in their sights — After months of defiant protestations of innocence about his role …
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Iraqis Plan to Ring Baghdad With Trenches — The Iraqi government plans to seal off Baghdad next month by ringing it with a series of trenches and setting up dozens of traffic checkpoints to control movement in and out of the city of seven million people, an Interior Ministry spokesman said today.

In a replay of Iraq, a battle is brewing over intelligence on Iran — WASHINGTON - In an echo of the intelligence wars that preceded the U.S. invasion of Iraq, a high-stakes struggle is brewing within the Bush administration and in Congress over Iran's suspected nuclear weapons program and involvement in terrorism.
Discussion:
Talking Points Memo

Hynes to Obama: Run for president — Barack Obama's one-time rival for the U.S. Senate wants him to run for president in 2008 — a move that could leave Obama's Senate seat vacant again. — State comptroller Dan Hynes, a fellow Democrat whom Obama trounced in the 2004 primary …


'Time is running out,' president says, rejecting criticism by Powell, others — WASHINGTON - Faced with a revolt by some fellow Republicans over treatment of foreign terrorism suspects, President Bush on Friday vigorously defended his strategy at a press conference.