memeorandum: They're Baaack — If you doubt that we are now operating under … (Digby/Hullabaloo)

10:15 AM ET, February 9, 2007

Top Items:

Official's Key Report On Iraq Is Faulted — 'Dubious' Intelligence Fueled Push for War — Intelligence provided by former undersecretary of defense Douglas J. Feith to buttress the White House case for invading Iraq included "reporting of dubious quality or reliability" …

Discussion: Firedoglake, TPMmuckraker, Donklephant, The Carpetbagger Report, Booman Tribune, Political Animal, The Democratic Daily, AMERICAblog, Polimom Says and Amygdala

New York Times:

Pentagon Group Criticized for Prewar Intelligence Analysis — A Pentagon investigation into the handling of prewar intelligence has criticized civilian Pentagon officials for conducting their own intelligence analysis to find links between Saddam Hussein and Al Qaeda, but said the officials …

Discussion: Macsmind and The Heretik

Mike Allen / The Politico:

All 435 House Members Can See Iraq Intelligence — and Talk on Iraq Next Week — To the surprise of the Bush administration, the House Intelligence Committee voted unanimously Wednesday night to allow all 435 House members to see the classified version of the National Intelligence Estimate on Iraq sent to the White House last week.

Discussion: Hugh Hewitt's TownHall Blog and Think Progress

Captain Ed / Captain's Quarters:

They Were For Dissent And Alternative Analysis Before They Were Against It — The acting Inspector General of the Defense Department has issued a long-awaited report on the intelligence analysis provided by Douglas Feith during the period between 9/11 and the invasion of Iraq.

Discussion: Dean's World

Robert Burns / Associated Press:
Pentagon Says Pre-War Intel Not Illegal

Discussion: Flopping Aces and TPMmuckraker

Hindrocket / Power Line: THE BUREAUCRATS' WAR CONTINUES

John M. Broder / New York Times:

Edwards Learns Campaign Blogs Can Cut 2 Ways — John Edwards learned the hard way this week of the perils of grafting the raucous culture of the Internet to the decidedly staider world of a presidential campaign. — Mr. Edwards announced on Thursday, after 36 hours of deliberation …

Discussion: BuzzMachine, Discourse.net, Unclaimed Territory, Ankle Biting Pundits, the talking dog and Pam's House Blend

Matt Browner Hamlin / The Huffington Post:

The Bible That Bill Donohue Isn't Reading — It's clear that Bill Donohue of the Catholic League isn't reading the same version of the Bible that other Catholics are reading. Something tells me Donohue is missing out on some key passages when he continues to attack John Edwards for standing by Amanda Marcotte and Melissa McEwan.

Discussion: Firedoglake and Eschaton

Ben Smith / The Politico:
Edwards Blogger Flap Discomforts Religious Left

Discussion: Right Wing Nut House, The Political Pit Bull, Captain's Quarters, Outside The Beltway, PoliPundit.com and Decision '08

Media Matters for America:
CNN, MSNBC aired Donohue's criticism of Edwards bloggers without noting his bigotry

Discussion: The Huffington Post and State of the Day

Edward Epstein / San Francisco Chronicle:

Pelosi finds unlikely ally in flight fuss — Bush spokesman calls GOP's attacks unfair — (02-09) 04:00 PST Washington — The capital saw an unusual tag team in action Thursday when President Bush's spokesman Tony Snow supported House Speaker Nancy Pelosi against an escalating attack …

Digby / Hullabaloo:
They're Baaack — If you doubt that we are now operating under …

Discussion: All Spin Zone and Brilliant at Breakfast

Carl Hulse / New York Times:
Speaker's Plane Becomes a Point of Criticism

Discussion: First Read and Angry Bear

Nico / Think Progress:

Rep. Ackerman: 'A Platoon Of Lesbians' Could 'Chase Us Out Of Baghdad' — Yesterday, during hearings on the State Department's 2008 budget, Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-NY) slammed the U.S. military's ban on gay servicemembers, saying the Pentagon "seems more afraid of gay people than they are …

Discussion: sldn.org, The Frontlines, AlterNet.org, skippy the bush kangaroo and Daily. Gay. News. Towleroad

Spencer Ackerman / TPMmuckraker:
Ex-Rice Aide: Memory Lapse on Iran "Really Quite Curious"

Discussion: The Carpetbagger Report, Brilliant at Breakfast, Washington Post and Discourse.net

Carpetbagger / The Carpetbagger Report:
Be on the lookout for a 'platoon of lesbians'

Discussion: Althouse

Neil A. Lewis / New York Times:

NBC's Russert Wraps Up Prosecution Case in Libby Trial — The prosecution finished presenting its case in the perjury trial of I. Lewis Libby Jr. on Thursday, leaving his defense lawyers to try to undo the government's contention that Mr. Libby lied under oath during an investigation into the leak of a C.I.A. officer's identity.

Discussion: JustOneMinute and Washington Post

Jane Hamsher / Firedoglake:
Libby Trial: No Love For Imus

Discussion: TalkLeft, JustOneMinute and Maine Web Report

Kim Murphy / Los Angeles Times:

Dissent grows in Iran — Critics of President Ahmadinejad's defiance of the U.S. and U.N. become bolder. — TEHRAN — Iran's leadership is facing mounting public unease and the seeds of mutiny in parliament over the combative nature of its nuclear diplomacy.

Discussion: Hot Air and Political Animal

Jules Crittenden:
Al-Khamenei Press — I'm no fan of the Associated Press.

Discussion: Associated Press and PoliBlog (TM)

Ian Sample / Guardian:

The brain scan that can read people's intentions — Call for ethical debate over possible use of new technology in interrogation — A team of world-leading neuroscientists has developed a powerful technique that allows them to look deep inside a person's brain and read their intentions before they act.

Discussion: Gun Toting Liberal ™

Ralph Z. Hallow / Washington Times:

'08 slate without standout for GOP — Many conservatives say they pick "none of the above" when faced with a choice of Arizona Sen. John McCain, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and former New York Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani as the 2008 Republican presidential nominee.

Discussion: Power Line and Daily Pundit

Edward Cody / Washington Post:

Despite a Ban, Chinese Youth Navigate to Internet Cafes — GEDONG, China — There was no sign, but Gedong's teenagers knew the way. Down a dusty alley just off Jicui Park and a few minutes' walk from local schools, the curtained door beckoned. Inside, in a dingy back room off the kitchen …

Anna Gorman / Los Angeles Times:

Latinos lob a few words at governor — Leaders label remarks on immigration, heard on tapes, as offensive. — Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's off-the-cuff comments in recently released audio recordings about illegal immigration and the unwillingness of Mexicans to assimilate into American society …

Discussion: ImmigrationProf Blog

Peter Baker / Washington Post:

White House On Sidelines In 2008 Contest — Absence of a Candidate Shapes Race, Bush's Term — No one in the West Wing is booking tickets to Iowa. No one is scouring matchup poll numbers or hiring campaign managers or dialing for dollars. As candidate after candidate jumps into the race for president …

Discussion: First Read

Financial Times:

Climate change concerts 'to dwarf Live Aid' — A series of concerts "bigger than Live Aid" is being planned for July, in a bid to put the subject of climate change before an audience of a global audience of 2bn. — The event, scheduled for July 7, will feature co-ordinated film …

Discussion: Ankle Biting Pundits, NewsBusters.org, The Carpetbagger Report and Liberal Values