Top Items:
Katherine Shrader / Associated Press:
Iraq is 'cause celebre' for extremists — WASHINGTON - A declassified government intelligence report says the war in Iraq has become a "cause celebre" for Islamic extremists, breeding deep resentment of the U.S. that is likely to get worse before it gets better.
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Brian Knowlton / New York Times:
Bush Makes Public Parts of Report on Terrorism — The Bush administration released late this afternoon declassified parts of a major intelligence report stating that intelligence agencies found the Iraq war had become a "cause célèbre" for Islamic militants …
New York Times:
The Fine Art of Declassification — It's hard to think of a president and an administration more devoted to secrecy than President Bush and his team. Except, that is, when it suits Mr. Bush politically to give the public a glimpse of the secrets. And so, yesterday, he ordered …
Michelle Malkin:
The NIE — ***updated with my first read*** — Here's the link to the PDF document of the NIE's key judgements at the DNI site. If the server is down, we've got it here. — Some of what you didn't read in the NYTimes: … Andy Cochran writes: "I wish they could declassify more or …
Discussion:
Op For, Flopping Aces, The Political Pit Bull, Hot Air, Oliver Willis, Scribbling Monk, Althouse and PrestoPundit
Hindrocket / Power Line:
THE AP GOES OVER THE TOP FOR THE DEMOCRATS
THE AP GOES OVER THE TOP FOR THE DEMOCRATS
Discussion:
The Belmont Club, TigerHawk, Blue Crab Boulevard, Strange Women Lying in Ponds and protein wisdom
New York Times:
Deal Is Likely on Detainees but Not on Eavesdropping — Senator John W. Warner, right, Republican of Virginia, after a party caucus meeting Tuesday. Mr. Warner is one of three senators who have resisted the administration on wording of legislation on terrorism suspects.
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Richard Miniter / Opinion Journal:
What Clinton Didn't Do . . . . . . .and when he didn't do it. — Bill Clinton's outburst on Fox News was something of a public service, launching a debate about the antiterror policies of his administration. This is important because every George W. Bush policy that arouses the ire of Democrats …
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White House:
President Bush Welcomes President Karzai of Afghanistan to the White House — PRESIDENT BUSH: Thank you. Please be seated. It's my honor to welcome President Karzai back to the White House. Mr. President, Laura and I fondly remember your gracious hospitality when we met you in your capital.
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Randolph E. Schmid / Associated Press:
White House said to bar hurricane report — WASHINGTON - The Bush administration has blocked release of a report that suggests global warming is contributing to the frequency and strength of hurricanes, the journal Nature reported Tuesday. — The possibility that warming conditions …
Reuters:
Russia rejects move to give Putin third term — MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia's top election authority on Wednesday threw out a call for a people's poll that would clear the way for President Vladimir Putin to stay on in power, making it more likely he will step down as he plans in 2008.
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Joe Gandelman / The Moderate Voice:
Opera Cancelled In Germany For Being Offensive To Muslims — How far have political correctness and political fears gone? This far: … Perhaps you didn't know that Mozart is considered offensive and should be banned. — But the uproar has been over the more modern staging …
Discussion:
Liberty and Justice
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Adam Nagourney / New York Times:
New Campaign Ads Have a Theme: Don't Be Nice — Clockwise from top, Connecticut: Representative Rob Simmons, a Republican, points out his challenger's lack of service. New Mexico: A Democratic spot details campaign contributions to Representative Heather A. Wilson.
John Ward Anderson / Washington Post:
Romania, Bulgaria Favored to Join E.U. — The European Commission recommended Tuesday that Romania and Bulgaria be admitted to the European Union on Jan. 1 but attached unprecedented conditions, signaling that there is still deep unease about the union's expansion eastward and the potential economic …
Discussion:
The Moderate Voice
Peter Whoriskey / Washington Post:
States, Counties Begin to Enforce Immigration Law — CHARLOTTE — Police here operated for years under what amounts to a "don't ask, don't tell" policy toward illegal immigrants. — As elsewhere in the United States, law enforcement officers did not check the immigration status of people …
Discussion:
The Bullwinkle Blog
David Corn:
Corn versus Hitchens — I said I would eventually get to Christopher Hitchens and his claims that Iraq had indeed sought uranium in Niger and that the Plame leak was not connected to a White House vendetta against Joe Wilson (and that I had promoted this "delusion.")
Paul Alexander / Associated Press:
Pakistan Explains Stance on Israel — NEW YORK (AP) — Pakistan's government will eventually have to recognize Israel, but it would be political suicide to do so today, President Gen. Pervez Musharraf said Tuesday. — Such recognition would end any hopes of Pakistan serving as bridge between …
Bashir Goth / Washington Post:
Community Censorship Plagues the House of Islam — Even worse than the official censorship is censorship imposed by the community, which then becomes self-censorship. Friends, colleagues and even ordinary acquaintances all impose strict censorship rules on me under the guise of being concerned about my personal safety or honor.
Harold Meyerson / Washington Post:
The 'Moderate Republican' Scam — Sen. Lincoln Chafee, Republican of Rhode Island, is seeking reelection in his heavily Democratic state by insisting he's not really a Republican, or at least not part of the gang responsible for the decade's debacles. He didn't even vote for George W. Bush in 2004, he protests.
Discussion:
MyDD
Think Progress:
Falwell Refuses To Apologize For Lucifer Attack, Swears To Repeat It 'Over And Over Again' — Appearing on MSNBC today, Rev. Jerry Falwell responded to criticism of his recent attack comparing Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) to Lucifer. Asked whether his remarks were disrespectful, Falwell said, "I do not."
David B. Caruso / Associated Press:
NYC Mulls Ban on Trans Fats in Eateries — NEW YORK (AP) — Three years after the city banned smoking in restaurants, health officials are talking about prohibiting something they say is almost as bad: artificial trans fatty acids. — The city health department unveiled a proposal Tuesday …