memeorandum: The Message in the Body Count (Turcopolier/Sic Semper Tyrannis 2007)

11:10 AM ET, February 4, 2007

Top Items:

Al-Qaeda tells British cells to carry out wave of beheadings — ISLAMIC terror cells in Britain have been instructed to carry out a series of kidnappings and beheadings of the kind allegedly planned by the nine terrorist suspects arrested in Birmingham last week.

Discussion: Jules Crittenden

Observer:

MI5, police and SAS practise for a 'Beslan' siege — The intelligence services fear that Britain could be subject to a Beslan-style siege, with multiple hostages forced to plead for their lives on camera. — Whitehall sources have said that the threat is considered so credible that MI5 …

Telegraph:

Muslim unrest as police carry out new raids — Police raided three more addresses in Birmingham yesterday as they continued to question nine men over their involvement in the alleged plot to kidnap and behead a serving British Muslim soldier. — No further arrests were made but West Midlands Police …

Discussion: Jules Crittenden

Allahpundit / Hot Air:
Good news: UK commandos preparing for British Beslan

Discussion: Telegraph

Telegraph: Top secret army cell breaks terrorists

Captain Ed / Captain's Quarters: AQ To British Cells: Let The Beheadings Begin

Faiz / Think Progress:

Kristol: Iraq Chaos Shows That Insurgents Are 'Worried,' Recent News Is 'Slightly Optimistic' — Weekly Standard editor Bill Kristol said on Fox News this morning that the recent surge in Iraqi violence is a sign that the extremists are "worried." Kristol said, "If I were a Sunni extremist and was worried …

Discussion: St. Petersburg Times

Ernesto Londoño / Washington Post:

At Least 125 Killed in Blast at Baghdad Market — Toll in Deadliest Single Bombing in Capital Is Expected to Rise After Victims Are Pulled From Rubble — A suicide bomber detonated more than a ton of explosives in a market in central Baghdad late Saturday afternoon, killing at least 125 people …

New York Times:
At Least 130 Die as Blast Levels Baghdad Market

Discussion: Lawyers, Guns and Money and Hot Air

Dan Balz / Washington Post:

Democrats Split on How to End the War — Those Who Aren't In Congress Press Clinton and Obama — The war in Iraq is shaping the opening stages of the contest for the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination, just as it did in the 2004 campaign. — After 10 candidates' speeches over two days …

Discussion: The Democratic Daily, The Impolitic, Liberal Values and Associated Press

Rick Perlstein / New York Times:

The Operator — I was standing there having a casual conversation with King Juan Carlos, my occasional hunting partner, when we were joined by Blair and his charming, outspoken wife, Cherie, and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi," Terry McAuliffe, former chairman of the Democratic National Committee …

Discussion: Hullabaloo

Nedra Pickler / Associated Press:
Clinton Promises to End War if Elected

Discussion: Old War Dogs and PoliPundit.com

Reuters:

U.S. adjusting tactics in Iraq after copters downed — BAGHDAD (Reuters) - The U.S. military is adjusting its tactics in Iraq after four helicopters were shot down over the past two weeks, U.S. military spokesman Major General William Caldwell said on Sunday.

Washington Post:

Vice President's Shadow Hangs Over Trial — Testimony Points Out Cheney's Role in Trying to Dampen Joseph Wilson's Criticism — Vice President Cheney's press officer, Cathie Martin, approached his chief of staff, I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, on Air Force Two on July 12, 2003 …

Discussion: Talking Points Memo

Turcopolier / Sic Semper Tyrannis 2007:

The Message in the Body Count — The message is clear in attacks like this. The message is that we (the attackers) will persist until you Americans give up in disgust with the slaughter, the mindless (to you) inter-communal violence, the loss of life and limb on your side …

Discussion: CNN and The Glittering Eye

New York Times:

In Washington, Contractors Take on Biggest Role Ever — In June, short of people to process cases of incompetence and fraud by federal contractors, officials at the General Services Administration responded with what has become the government's reflexive answer to almost every problem.

Discussion: NewsHog, Prairie Weather, Gun Toting Liberal ™, The Heretik, Beat the Press and DownWithTyranny!

Sudarsan Raghavan / Washington Post:

War in Iraq Propelling A Massive Migration — Wave Creates Tension Across the Middle East — AMMAN, Jordan — Inside his cold, crumbling apartment, Saad Ali teeters on the fringes of life. Once a popular singer in his native Baghdad, he is now unemployed. To pay his $45 monthly rent, he borrows from friends.

Discussion: Sadly, No! and Prairie Weather

Washington Post:

Balking on Bundling — DISTURBING, though not particularly surprising, rumblings are emanating from the House of Representatives to the effect that some Democrats are balking at requiring lobbyists to disclose the campaign contributions they arrange or collect for lawmakers.

Discussion: Captain's Quarters and Redstate

Neil MacFarquhar / New York Times:

Iraq's Shadow Widens Sunni-Shiite Split in U.S. — DEARBORN, Mich. — Twice recently, vandals have shattered windows at three mosques and a dozen businesses popular among Shiite Muslims along Warren Avenue, the spine of the Arab community here. — Although the police have arrested no one …

Discussion: The News Blog

Dean Calbreath / San Diego Union-Tribune:

Wilkes staves off auction as more ills swirl — With the threat of a federal indictment looming, Poway defense contractor Brent Wilkes also is facing mounting personal and financial troubles. — In the past two months, Wilkes' wife has filed for divorce, his company, ADCS Inc. …

Discussion: The Left Coaster