Top Items:
Guardian:
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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BBC:
Pope 'sorry' for offence to Islam — Pope Benedict XVI has said he is sorry that a speech in which he referred to Islam has offended Muslims. — In a statement read out by a senior Vatican official, the Pope said he respected Islam and hoped Muslims would understand the true sense of his words.
Discussion:
Captain's Quarters
New York Times:
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 …
Discussion:
Hot Air
Little Green Footballs:
Out of the Mosque, Into the Street — On several TV news shows …
Out of the Mosque, Into the Street — On several TV news shows …
Discussion:
Jihad Watch
R. Jeffrey Smith / Washington Post:
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 …
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Digby / Hullabaloo:
"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.
Discussion:
White House, The Next Hurrah, Townhall, protein wisdom, The Sundries Shack, The Mahablog, The Heretik, Daily Kos, Hoffmania! and Andrew Sullivan
CNN:
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.
Andrew Kirtzman / WCBS-TV:
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 …
Discussion:
Liberty and Justice
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Jonathan Singer / MyDD:
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.
Discussion:
The News Blog
Edward Wong / New York Times:
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.
Adam Zagorin / Time:
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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Brian Faler / Bloomberg:
Republican Voters Dismayed by Biggest Spending Rise Since 1990 — Sept. 15 (Bloomberg) — Republican voters are angry, not for the first time, at big-spending politicians in Washington. This year, their wrath is aimed at their own party. — The Republican-controlled Congress heads …
Real Cities:
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
Eric Herman / Chicago Sun Times:
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 …
Bill Roggio / The Fourth Rail:
Pakistan Releases over 2,500 Taliban, al-Qaeda — Pakistan follows the truce to the letter and releases thousands of Taliban and al-Qaeda members captured since 2001 — The Pakistani government is living up to its commitments on the "Waziristan Accord," and has emptied the prisons of Taliban …
Discussion:
The Moderate Voice, Counterterrorism Blog, Donklephant, The Left Coaster and Atlas Shrugs