memeorandum: No Results in Damascus (Washington Post)

Atrios / Eschaton:

The Reeds and Brass Have Been Weaving — Often people, usually in the course of needing to explain the almighty power of blogs to people who don't get it, want to describe blogs in terms of specific tangible successful events. You know, "blogs took down Trent Lott," and whatnot.

Discussion: Firedoglake, Hullabaloo, TalkLeft and My Left Wing

Scott Shane / New York Times:

Former C.I.A. Chief's Memoir Irritates Some High-Ranking Readers — In January 2002, George J. Tenet, the man who oversaw all American spy agencies, was asked by a visiting Italian intelligence official what he knew about United States officials making contact with exiled Iranian opposition figures.

Discussion: Flopping Aces, Captain's Quarters and Booman Tribune

Glenn Greenwald / Salon:

A genuine political sea change? — There were two seemingly unrelated incidents this week which, taken together, reflect some extremely important political developments. — First was the amazing letter to The Washington Post jointly sent by all 50 Democratic Senators other than Harry Reid …

Discussion: NewsBusters.org, Shakesville and Brilliant at Breakfast

Atrios / Eschaton:
More Broder — We normally think of "High Broderism" …

Discussion: CorrenteWire

PBS: Talkingpointsmemo.com's Josh Marshall on the prosecutor firings

Matt Stoller / MyDD:

Global War on Terror: Clinton Fails, Edwards Shines — I believe I was the first blogger to note the importance of Edwards not raising his hand when asked whether there is a Global War on Terror. Ben Smith at the Politico posted it a few hours later, followed by Wonkette. And now it's moving outward.

Discussion: The Agonist and Oliver Willis

Ben Smith / The Politico:

Edwards: No Terror "War" — This is a quite big deal that most of us totally missed last night: John Edwards doesn't believe there's a "global war on terror," at least not in the simple-show-of-hands sense. — This is something a lot of Democrats say privately — and something mainstream …

Discussion: Taylor Marsh, First Read, Jihad Watch, Wonkette, Sister Toldjah, Hyscience and Riehl World View

Dan Balz / Washington Post:
Clinton Campaign Tries to Keep Heat on Obama Over Debate Response

Discussion: Heading Right, The Caucus, Liberal Values, New York Times and Captain's Quarters

James Glanz / New York Times:

Rebuilt Iraq Projects Found Crumbling — In a troubling sign for the American-financed rebuilding program in Iraq, inspectors for a federal oversight agency have found that in a sampling of eight projects that the United States had declared successes, seven were no longer operating as designed …

Discussion: The Newshoggers, Balloon Juice, Hullabaloo, Brian Beutler and Middle Earth Journal

Hindrocket / Power Line:

SCANDALS AND "SCANDALS" — Eleanor Clift's current column in Newsweek is unremarkable, but I was struck by this line: … That's the liberal line, of course: the White House is consumed by scandals. Certainly Newsweek, along with pretty much every other mainstream news outlet, has done its best to convey this impression.

Discussion: NewsBusters.org

Eleanor Clift / Newsweek:

A Third Way? — Fred Thompson isn't the only 'Law and Order' character eyeing the 2008 presidential campaign. Inside Sam Waterston's efforts to help promote a third-party ticket. — A WEB-EXCLUSIVE COMMENTARY — The actor Sam Waterston, who plays the hard-hitting assistant D.A. in "Law and Order," has a confession to make.

Karen Armstrong / Financial Times:

Balancing the Prophet — Ever since the Crusades, people in the west have seen the prophet Muhammad as a sinister figure. During the 12th century, Christians were fighting brutal holy wars against Muslims, even though Jesus had told his followers to love their enemies, not to exterminate them.

Discussion: Little Green Footballs, THE ASTUTE BLOGGERS and Liberal Values

Robert / Jihad Watch: Karen Armstrong reviews Spencer's The Truth About Muhammad!

Nico / Think Progress:

Official Caught Using Escort Service Demanded Anti-Prostitution 'Loyalty Oaths' — Former U.S. AID director Randall Tobias, who resigned yesterday upon admitting that he frequented a Washington escort service, oversaw a controversial policy advocated by the religious right that required …

Discussion: Firedoglake

Michelle Malkin:
The D.C. madam and the scandal-hungry MSM strike

Discussion: The Caucus, The Moderate Voice, Norwegianity, Hot Air, Riehl World View, Wake up America and protein wisdom

Roy Sekoff / The Huffington Post:
Randall Tobias: Another GOP Hypocrite Bites the Dust

Discussion: Don Surber and Obsidian Wings

Matthew L. Wald / New York Times:
Federal Official Resigns in Escort Service Inquiry

Discussion: Power Line, TalkLeft, Washington Post, US Department of State, The Blotter, Redstate and Roger Ailes

The Sandmonkey / Rantings of a Sandmonkey:

Done — Today is going to be the day that I've been dreading for quite sometime now. Today is the day I walk away from this blog. Done. Finished. — There are many reasons, each would take a post to list, and I just do not have the energy to list them.

Discussion: Little Green Footballs and Atlas Shrugs

Mark Silva / Chicago Tribune:

Unusual split over GOP race — WASHINGTON — As President Bush carefully avoids backing any of those seeking to succeed him in the Oval Office, an unusual split has developed between his top political advisers and immediate family members. — Many of Bush's key operatives from campaigns past …

Washington Post:

Political Appointees No Longer to Pick Justice Interns — The Justice Department is removing political appointees from the hiring process for rookie lawyers and summer interns, amid allegations that the Bush administration had rigged the programs in favor of candidates with connections …

Discussion: The Volokh Conspiracy and The Next Hurrah

SilentPatriot / Crooks and Liars:

Sen. Durbin Drops Bombshells on the Senate Floor — Senator Dick Durbin, who was on the Senate Intelligence Committee during the lead up to the war, fills us in on what was going on behind the intel scenes in 2002-2003 and how accurately it matched up with what we were being told publicly.

Financial Times:

Defra in storm over discredited EU carbon plan — The government department spearheading Britain's effort to reduce carbon output is driving companies and individuals towards paying for emissions cuts that do not take place. — The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs …

Discussion: NewsBusters.org

Gateway Pundit:

Iranian Regime Is "Proud to Be Democrat" — The Iranian Regime is stumping for the democrats... Boy, the Iranian press is about as biased as the American press. — Republicans just can't catch a break! — Click to Enlarge — The story above was published in the official Iranian Fars News on Friday.

Discussion: Wake up America

Noam N. Levey / Los Angeles Times:
Congress sets terms of Iraq exit

Discussion: Think Progress and At-Largely

CBS News:
Poll: Most Back Congress In Iraq Showdown

Discussion: Daily Kos and BobGeiger.com