Top Items:
Charles Krauthammer / Washington Post:
Middle East Volcano — On Sept. 6, something important happened in northern Syria. Problem is, no one knows exactly what. Except for those few who were involved, and they're not saying. — We do know that Israel carried out an airstrike. How do we know it was important?
Discussion:
Crooks and Liars, New York Times, Israel Matzav, SWJ Blog, Soccer Dad and Blue Crab Boulevard
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Washington Post:
Israel, U.S. Shared Data On Suspected Nuclear Site — Bush Was Told of North Korean Presence in Syria, Sources Say — Israel's decision to attack Syria on Sept. 6, bombing a suspected nuclear site set up in apparent collaboration with North Korea, came after Israel shared intelligence …
Discussion:
TPMmuckraker, ArmsControlWonk, The Next Hurrah, SyriaComment, Israel Matzav, Washington Monthly and The Gate
Patrick Graham / Macleans.ca:
How George Bush became the new Saddam — COVER STORY: Its strategies shattered, a desperate Washington is reaching out to the late dictator's henchmen. — It was embarrassing putting my flak jacket on backwards and sideways, but in the darkness of the Baghdad airport car park I couldn't see anything.
Discussion:
Firedoglake, Jules Crittenden, On Deadline, Rising Hegemon, JammieWearingFool and Washington Monthly
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USA Today:
Iraqi alliances spread, U.S. says — Most of the major tribes in a strategic province northeast of Baghdad have signed agreements to support U.S. and Iraqi forces, a sign the alliance-building initiative that started in Anbar province is spreading. — In Diyala province …
David M. Herszenhorn / New York Times:
Senate Approves Resolution Denouncing MoveOn.org Ad — The Senate approved a resolution on Thursday denouncing the liberal antiwar group MoveOn.org over an advertisement that questioned the credibility of Gen. David H. Petraeus, the American commander in Iraq.
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Michael Kinsley / Time:
How Dare You! — Goodness gracious. oh, my paws and whiskers. Some of the meanest, most ornery hombres around are suddenly feeling faint. Notorious tough guys are swooning with the vapors. The biggest beasts in the barnyard are all aflutter over something they read in the New York Times.
Jerome R. Corsi / WorldNetDaily:
Sheikdom shakedown: Dubai moves on Nasdaq — Arab ownership of U.S. stock exchange raises flag in Congress — In a complex set of transactions, Dubai is moving to acquire 19.9 percent of the Nasdaq in New York, placing the Arab government in an ownership position of the key U.S. stock exchange and raising concerns in Congress.
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Jennifer C. Kerr / Associated Press:
Do Not Call listings to expire in 2008 — WASHINGTON - The cherished dinner hour void of telemarketers could vanish next year for millions of people when phone numbers begin dropping off the national Do Not Call list. — The Federal Trade Commission, which oversees the list, says there is a simple fix.
New York Times:
Guards' Shots Not Provoked, Iraq Concludes — Iraq's Ministry of Interior has concluded that employees of a private American security firm fired an unprovoked barrage in the shooting last Sunday in which at least eight Iraqis were killed and is proposing a radical reshaping of the way American diplomats …
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CBS News:
Ahmadinejad: How Is WTC Visit Insulting? — 60 Minutes Exclusive: Iranian President On Failed Request To Pay Tribute At Ground Zero — (CBS/AP) Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will not press his plan — just denied by New York City police for security reasons …
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Gromer Jeffers Jr / Dallas Morning News:
Thompson calls for stop to Iranian leader's visit
Thompson calls for stop to Iranian leader's visit
Discussion:
Infidels Are Cool
Paul Krugman:
Is This the Wile E. Coyote Moment? — Lots of buzz suddenly about the possibility of a sharp fall in the dollar. The Canadian dollar is back at parity with the greenback; there are rumors that the Saudis are planning to diversify into euros, and maybe even that the Chinese might break the dollar peg.
Discussion:
Telegraph
Josh Marshall / Talking Points Memo:
GROW UP — Am I the only one embarrassed by the dingbat brouhaha over Iranian President Ahmadinejad's attempt to visit Ground Zero to lay a wreath? Given relations between our countries I could see denying him a visa, but as long as we're hosting the UN that's not an option.
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Andrew Sullivan / The Atlantic Online:
Cheney's Next War — The Bush administration has still more work to do in screwing up the Middle East and fomenting terrorism and Jihadism. Noah Schachtman notes the following developments in Anbar: … It makes sense if we are girding for a war with Iran.
Discussion:
Unqualified Offerings
Michael Saul / NY Daily News:
Hillary Clinton: I'm not a lesbian — Hillary Clinton officially declared she's not a lesbian - not that there's anything wrong with that. — During an interview with The Advocate to be published next week, Sean Kennedy, the gay magazine's news and features editor, asked the presidential candidate …
New York Times:
$6 Billion in Contracts Reviewed, Pentagon Says — Military officials said Thursday that contracts worth $6 billion to provide essential supplies to American troops in Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan — including food, water and shelter — were under review by criminal investigators …
The Atlantic Online:
The Wages of Obstruction — Via Chris Bowers this curious Gallup poll result on rising congressional approval — a phenomenon driven almost entirely by Republicans. The partisan breakout on congressional approval here is crucial to understanding the low ratings the congress gets.