Adam's Briefing - The Archives: December 1-15, 2003

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The Archives: December 1-15, 2003

Monday, December 15, 2003

National Security / Foreign Affairs	U.S. Politics / Election 2004
Hussein's Capture Is Yesterday's News Christopher Scheer AlterNet The TV talking heads tell us that the 2004 elections and the future of Iraq were decided this morning when Hussein was found in a hole. In my humble opinion, that's perhaps the stupidest comment since Paris Hilton speculated that Wal-Mart is a store that sell The two faces of liberation Thomas Oliphant The Boston Globe ALMOST WISTFULLY, a senior American official said yesterday he regretted that the hole Saddam Hussein was found cowering in was so small, the former dictator's primitive redoubt so solitary. How much better, he said, if the hole had led to a large room with computers, satellite telephones, three-dimensional maps, and briefing books Attacks on US forces expected to continue Susan Milligan and Bryan Bender The Boston Globe The capture of Saddam Hussein will deliver a sharp psychological blow to his loyalists, but is not likely to incapacitate the broader array of angry citizens and militants from other Arab countries who have been fighting the American occupation How much will it matter? Nicholas Blanford The Christian Science Monitor It may be too soon to judge the impact of the capture on the resistance, since the exact makeup remains unknown Resistance to occupation will grow Sami Ramadani The Guardian (UK) Saddam's surrender is likely to embolden the political forces in Iraq which, until now, feared that a call for the immediate end to the occupation might help Saddam return to power Saddam Gone David Corn The Nation The apprehension of Hussein does not justify the war. In a way, it is the least that Bush could have done, after invading under false pretenses Will Insurgency Wane? Robert Collier, Zachary Coile The San Francisco Chronicle Despite jubilant speculation in Iraq and the United States, it is far from certain that the capture of Saddam Hussein will greatly weaken the eight-month-long guerrilla insurgency against the U.S.-led occupation Tyrant's capture can't cure all Susan Taylor Martin The St. Petersburg Times Other than Santa delivering all 538 electoral college votes, the Bush administration could not have gotten a better Christmas gift than the capture of Saddam Hussein Complex Tasks Remaining on Several Fronts Robin Wright and Glenn Kessler The Washington Post Saddam Hussein's arrest symbolizes major progress in wrapping up Iraq's past, but the United States still faces complex challenges in sorting out Iraq's future and winning support from the outside world Belief That Insurgency Will Fade May Be Misplaced Rajiv Chandrasekaran, Thomas E. Ricks and Anthony Shadid The Washington Post In the towns and villages to the north and west of the capital, where anger at the occupation is most intense, Hussein's arrest may have little impact on the insurgency that has roiled the country in recent months What happens now inside Iraq? Ewen MacAskill The Guardian (UK) There was optimism in Washington and London after the killing in July of Saddam's two sons, Uday and Qusay, that their removal would weaken the insurgents. In fact, in the following fortnight 18 US soldiers were killed Only the Iraqis can decide if this is to be a happy ending Malcolm Rifkind The Guardian (UK) However obvious it might have been to those with a logical frame of mind that Saddam's regime had been overthrown and was never to return, that was not how it has been seen by millions of Iraqis More violence after Saddam's capture MSNBC The latest violence followed an attack Sunday on a police station in Khaldiyah, west of Baghdad, that killed at least 17 and wounded 33 others Capture should speed progress in Iraqi politics Betsy Pisik and David R. Sands The Washington Times Saddam Hussein's capture will provide oxygen to the sputtering Iraqi political process and lead, over time, to a lessening of attacks on U.S. troops and coalition officials, politicians and military officials said A Difficult Marriage Reuel Marc Gerecht The Weekly Standard Shiites will determine the fate of a democratic Iraq; they will likely determine the political future of George W. Bush Guerrilla effort could shrink fast -- or grow even bigger Dave Moniz and Tom Squitieri USA Today Hesitant Iraqis might now become tipsters, but nationalism could fuel fire Celebrations overshadowed by ongoing problems Glen C. Carey USA Today Some Iraqis fired their weapons in celebration Sunday, but the reaction to Saddam Hussein's capture was mostly muted, overshadowed by the past eight months of violence and complaints about a lack of jobs and security What does Saddam's capture mean for Iraq? Fred Kaplan Slate Last month, the CIA estimated that the Iraqi population was starting to lean toward the insurgents because they seemed to be winning, and the U.S.-led coalition appeared to be reeling. By capturing Saddam, the American forces may have reversed this popular perception in one stroke For U.S. Foes, a Major Blow: Fighters Now Lack a Symbol Michael R. Gordon The New York Times Apprehending Saddam Hussein was a necessary step toward defeating the insurgents in Iraq. But it is not enough to achieve a lasting victory Spy Agencies Vindicated After String of Setbacks Douglas Jehl The New York Times For American intelligence agencies, the capture of Saddam Hussein is a much needed vindication after many months of failures and frustrations Bearing Questions, 4 New Iraqi Leaders Pay Hussein a Visit Ian Fisher The New York Times The carefully managed event gave the four men who had spent decades opposing the ruler they regard as an oppressor of their country a rare chance to confront him Hussein Disoriented, Defiant, Sources Say Dana Priest and Walter Pincus The Washington Post The guidelines allow handlers to subject captives to limited pain and discomfort. In some cases, they have deprived captives of sleep, restroom facilities and comfortable seating positions. In at least one case, they have denied pain medication Editorial: To catch a tyrant The San Francisco Chronicle THE CIRCUMSTANCES surrounding the capture of Saddam Hussein suggest he was in no position to have directed much if any of the lethal postwar resistance against the United States How Hussein is prosecuted poses difficult choice for Bush Reynolds Holding The San Francisco Chronicle The option holding sway in the Bush administration would put the deposed dictator before the Iraqi Governing Council's special tribunal Squelching dissent in the name of security David Cunningham The Boston Globe DESPITE THE FBI's denials, recent disclosures of intelligence efforts against lawful antiwar protesters are strong reminders of the bureau's intensive undercover operations of the 1960s and '70s A tribute to freedoms Nat Hentoff The Washington Times No one in modern times has done more than Attorney General John Ashcroft — though unintentionally — to inspire Americans to preserve and protect not only the First Amendment Media's silence speaks clearly about their loyalties Edward Wasserman The Miami Herald Remember Joseph Wilson? Valerie Plame? Probably not. They had a moment of fierce media notoriety a few months ago. The full story has never been told, but they're not in the news anymore Karzai Calls for Strong Presidential System Pamela Constable The Washington Post President Hamid Karzai dominated the opening of a national constitutional assembly Sunday with a forceful, campaign-style speech that called for adoption of a strong presidential system of governance An Arab liberal's anguish Alia Fattouh The Christian Science Monitor By supporting authoritarian governments in the region, the US is generally viewed by Arab liberals - who would like to see change in their societies and leadership - as a belligerent external force Israel's 'cloud of demographics' Cameron W. Barr The Christian Science Monitor A dovish politician is forcing even hawkish Israelis to consider ceding land to the growing population of Palestinians N Korea rejects U.S. nuke proposal Associated Press CNN North Korea has rejected a U.S. proposal to end a nuclear dispute and warned that Washington's "delaying tactics" would only prompt the communist government to step up development of atomic weapons U.S. must abandon its anachronistic foreign policy Abraham F. Lowenthal The Miami Herald The kind of society for which we are fighting in Iraq could well be destroyed without a shot in Latin America, heretofore the best Third World candidate for successful transition to the political and economic order we prefer	Dean: Saddam doesn't change my mind about Iraq Mark Follman Salon.com Displaying the graciousness of a frontrunner, the Democratic candidate gives Bush a pass for a day on Iraq -- but keeps pummeling him on everything else Is Dean Toast? William Saletan Slate That's how you beat a successful administration. You dissolve the successes into history and ask what the administration has accomplished with those successes. You move the goalpost Democrats' Anger at Bush Still Fueling Dean's Effort T.R. Reid The Washington Post The war in Iraq is part of his case against the president, but only part. Thus the capture of Saddam Hussein seems unlikely to change Dean's focus Despite Capture, Poll Indicates Wariness on Iraq Claudia Deane The Washington Post Americans greeted the news of Saddam Hussein's capture with measured optimism while acknowledging the breadth of the challenges still facing the United States in Iraq, according to a Washington Post-ABC News poll Hussein's Arrest Gives Bush Political Boost Dan Balz and David S. Broder The Washington Post His dramatic arrest provides a major political boost for President Bush and considerably complicates the task for the Democrats who have argued that Bush's foreign policy needs a significant overhaul Amid the Cheering, Questions Continue Lee Hockstader The Washington Post Elated Americans cheered the capture of Saddam Hussein on Sunday, but in a nation bitterly divided over the wisdom and conduct of the war, few seemed fundamentally swayed by the news Candidates Celebrate First and Worry Second Adam Nagourney The New York Times The successful capture of Saddam Hussein could rob Democrats, particularly Howard Dean, of a campaign issue Democrats keep cool amid loss of key campaign issue Adam C. Smith The St. Petersburg Times Some Democrats skeptical about Dean's ability to beat Bush in November hope Hussein's capture might give Democrats pause about basing their primary votes mainly on anger over the war Dean retools talk on foreign policy Glen Johnson The Boston Globe The capture of Saddam Hussein prompted Howard Dean to draft a new opening for a foreign policy address scheduled for today, but aides, supporters, and analysts argue that it will not diminish his strength in the Democratic presidential race Ans important image at home, abroad Cragg Hines The Houston Chronicle Dean may yet be unstoppable in the primary season, and Bush is not out of the woods on the Iraqi mission, but Dean is looking more and more like George McGovern (and President Nixon even lost the Vietnam War and never got hold of Ho Chi Minh) Anti- and pro-war Democrats praise capture CNN Democratic presidential candidates Joe Lieberman and John Kerry used the dramatic capture of Saddam Hussein to take aim at their anti-war rival, front-runner Howard Dean Clark: Howard Dean can't win Josh Benson Salon.com Wesley Clark says Dean lacks national security credibility -- and throws cold water on the idea of a Dean-Clark dream ticket. But after Saddam Hussein's capture, will his own war-critic stance work against him? Editorial: Rescuing U.S. Democracy The Washington Post Like the McCain-Feingold case, Vieth asks the Supreme Court to consider some of the most basic ground rules for democratic government in America: in this instance, whether the Constitution imposes any meaningful restraint on state legislatures' rigging of congressional elections by manipulating legislative districts Comics, critics pounce on Halliburton 's bid flap David Ivanovich The Houston Chronicle "It kind of symbolizes what many Americans are very uneasy about, what appears to be an excessively cozy relationship between the Bush administration and large corporate interests"
The Right Wing	Funny stuff
Iraq's poison will abate Edward Luttwak The Globe and Mail (Toronto, Canada) It would be surprising if Saddam Hussein's capture does not lead to a drastic reduction in the attacks against U.S. and coalition forces, policemen and other Iraqis co-operating with the coalition, moderate Shia leaders, international agencies, and the oil industry From the 'Spider Hole' William Safire The New York Times Why did Saddam Hussein not use his pistol when he was caught? Because he is looking forward to the mother of all genocide trials The Politics of Saddam Fred Barnes The Weekly Standard What Saddam's capture means for the 2004 race and the Democratic contenders. Hint: It's bad for Howard Dean Editorial: 'We Got Him' The Wall Street Journal "Enlightened" minds in the West are already calling for an international tribunal to try Saddam Godfather II: Gore Makes Dean an Offer Daniel Henninger The Wall Street Journal Maybe Saddam's capture changes the dynamics of the race for the Democratic presidential nomination. But I doubt it Right Kick Joel Miller The American Spectator Conservatives always trusted Republicans with power (or came close to it) because of the assumption that their principles would rein in abuse. Our bad Lessons From Nuremberg George F. Will The Washington Post The tyrant's capture has triggered a predictable chorus from those who have consistently subordinated the interests of Iraq, and other things, to their agenda for aggrandizing international institutions Plain enough? Mark Steyn The Washington Times I would be in favor of pointing out the laziness of the "root cause" crowd — all the poverty-breeds-resentment, resentment-breeds-desperation, desperation-breeds-terrorism, terrorism-breeds-generalities, generalities-breed-cliches stuff

Sunday, December 14, 2003

National Security / Foreign Affairs	U.S. Politics / Election 2004
“We Got Him.” Nancy Gibbs Time There are practical reasons to think Saddam’s capture may help quell the resistance Notes from Saddam in Custody Brian Bennett Time When offered a glass of water by his interrogators, Saddam replied, “If I drink water I will have to go to the bathroom and how can I use the bathroom when my people are in bondage?” Good News For Iraq and the U.S. Michael Elliott Time In a part of the world where myths are often as powerful as facts, the capture of Saddam is a huge deal Palestinians Mark 'Black Day' of Saddam Capture Mohammed Assadi Reuters Yahoo! Disbelief and gloom seized many Palestinians Sunday at news of Saddam Hussein's capture as Israel fired off a telegram of congratulations to Washington Saddam's capture a goal, not an end Michael Moran MSNBC With the capture of Saddam Hussein, Iraq’s fugitive dictator, Bush administration officials permitted themselves a moment of celebration but were being very cautious about making predictions about the impact of the achievement on the violent insurgency Iraq's Aziz Helped Identify Saddam, Official Says Reuters Yahoo! Iraq's former Deputy Prime Minister Tareq Aziz, in U.S. custody for seven months, helped to confirm the identity of Saddam Hussein after his capture, an official with the U.S.-led administration said Afghan officials: Saddam capture could help catch bin Laden Associated Press The Dallas Morning News Afghan officials hailed the capture of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, saying Sunday the arrest might blunt the growing insurgency here The 'Republic of Fear' Is Dead Fareed Zakaria Newsweek We've been getting better at making contact with locals. We've been getting better at coordination between intelligence and analysis. As a result, we have more actionable intelligence than before. But there's one other factor. Many Iraqis have been turned off by the insurgency There Is No Crash Course in Democracy John F. Burns The New York Times The way Americans are teaching Iraqis about democracy says much about the differing cultures and histories and aspirations of the teachers and the students Breaking Point Jim Sollisch The Washington Post I am the new antiwar protester. I carry angst, not placards. I march down the aisles of Wal-Mart, not down the streets of America. I am Hamlet, deciding whether to be or not to be, deciding nothing A Notion at War David Rieff The New York Times Iraqification: The idea that won by meaning something different to everyone Iraqi Vice Christian Caryl Newsweek Locals are calling it 'the bad side of freedom': pills, porn, prostitution and booze are rampant now. And it's not only the radicals who blame America Joblessness aggravates Iraq tension Evan Osnos The Chicago Tribune To understand many of the tensions shaping Iraq more than seven months after the U.S. took control, there is perhaps no better place to begin than with the teeming open-air job markets for day laborers How to count the casualties in Iraq Philip Gold/Erin Solaro The Washington Times Whether we should have gone into Iraq is no longer the issue. We're there. We won't be leaving any time soon. Therefore, we must face the possibility this venture may break the United States Army A Baghdad Neighborhood, Once Hopeful, Now Reels as Iraq's Turmoil Persists Alex Berenson The New York Times In ways large and small, life in this neighborhood of 150,000 people has worsened in the eight months since the United States toppled Saddam Hussein In Iraq, an Ayatollah We Shouldn't Ignore Robin Wright The Washington Post A quarter-century ago, the United States misread the power and legitimacy of a Shiite ayatollah -- and ended up "losing" Iran, then one of two pillars of American policy in the Middle East. The impact is felt to this day U.N. Inspector: Little New in U.S. Probe for Iraq Arms Walter Pincus The Washington Post The United Nations's top weapons inspector says most of the weapons-related equipment and research that has been publicly documented by the U.S.-led inspection team in Iraq was known to the United Nations before the U.S. invasion Oily operations in Iraq threaten to swamp Bush John Kass The Chicago Tribune When the families and loved ones of American armed forces personnel bury their dead, the one thing they should not have to consider is whether that life was spent to make some political insider rich Making Iraq safe for sweetheart deals Cragg Hines The Houston Chronicle When a politician says, "It's very simple," you know immediately to reach for your wallet and prepare to take other evasive measures. That's certainly the case in President Bush's virtually hormonal defense of cutting shirker nations out of the post-war lolly in Iraq Al Qaeda's Finances Ample, Say Probers Douglas Farah The Washington Post Governments around the world are not enforcing global sanctions designed to stem the flow of money to al Qaeda and impede the business activity of the organization's financiers, allowing the terrorist network to retain formidable financial resources So, Who's In Charge Here? Mark Mazzetti U.S. News and World Report Pentagon turf battles have slowed the war against terrorists Post-9/11 limits on dissent claimed Charlie Savage The Boston Globe Two years into the post-Sept. 11 era, police across the country are cracking down on street protests, and federal prosecutors are invoking obscure laws to punish activists whose aggressive displays of political expression were once more tolerated, according to groups as diverse as Operation Rescue and Greenpeace Editorial: Captain Yee's Ordeal The New York Times It is already clear how much harm the military's misguided prosecution has done to Captain Yee and his family. What is less obvious, but no less real, is the threat this sort of prosecutorial mentality poses to all Americans Editorial: The Cost of Toughness The Washington Post Rather than help the loya jirga, the U.S. actions may have made it more difficult for Afghan President Hamid Karzai to lead the event, which is meant to approve a new constitution Historic Afghan Assembly Set to Open Pamela Constable The Washington Post Amid repeated delays and furious behind-the-scenes negotiations, the country's historic constitutional assembly appeared set to open Sunday, marking a milestone in Afghanistan's erratic journey toward democratic rule Spanish Judge Harbors Bias, Says Reporter in Terror Case Desmond Butler The New York Times Judge Garzón indicted Mr. Alony, along with 34 other terrorism suspects, accusing him of using his job as a journalist as a cover to assist Al Qaeda Bomb targets Musharraf convoy Syed Mohsin Naqvi CNN Pakistan's president has escaped an apparent assassination attempt when a bomb exploded near a bridge after his motorcade passed A Birthday for My Teenager, A Decision for Israel Gershom Gorenberg The Washington Post What kind of country will my son be defending -- a democracy, or an Israel where a Jewish minority rules an Arab majority? Bush Changing Views on Putin Peter Slevin and Peter Baker The Washington Post President Bush, who publicly credited Russian President Vladimir Putin just 10 weeks ago for promoting freedom and democracy, has protested to the Russian leader since then for moving in the opposite direction Europe summit ends in chaos on constitution Gaby Hinsliff The Observer (UK) Two-tier EU threatened after power sharing talks collapse	Saddam's capture could hurt Dean Tom Curry MSNBC Democratic presidential front-runner has been harsh critic of Bush's handling of Iraq operation Saddam's Capture Roils 2004 White House Race Patricia Wilson Reuters Yahoo! With the U.S. economy on the upswing and now the former Iraqi dictator in jail, the nine Democrats vying for the right to challenge Bush next year are once again having to refine their arguments for replacing him Newsweek Poll: Dean Rising Brian Braiker Newsweek 24 percent of those polled rank Dean as their first choice, a big jump from 16 percent one month ago. Retired Gen. Wesley Clark and Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman are tied for a distant second with a distant 12 percent Dean gains in poll of N.H. Anne E. Kornblut The Boston Globe Dean is ahead by 23 percentage points, with 42 percent favoring the former Vermont governor and 19 percent supporting his closest rival, Senator John F. Kerry of Massachusetts Forget the South Ryan Lizza The New York Times Bush's base is rooted in the South, plains and interior West of the country, while the Democratic nominee can take for granted most of New England, the West Coast and a smattering of the Midwest Democrats: Nominee by March 10 Associated Press The Miami Herald ''We'll be down to three or four candidates on the morning of Feb. 4,'' Democratic National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe said in an interview with Associated Press reporters and editors Baker's Return = Cheney's Heartburn Jim Lobe Inter-Press Service CommonDreams.org Baker, like other realists, has also been deeply skeptical, not to say incredulous, about neo-conservative ambitions to ”remake the face of the Middle East” by exporting democracy Insurgency goes mainstream Roger Simon U.S. News and World Report The typical insurgent scenario goes like this: A candidate on the left or right wing of his party wins an upset victory in an early primary state (Pat Buchanan in 1996 or John McCain in 2000, for example). Facing a party takeover by an "extremist," the mainstream rouses itself The Electability Factor Ruth Marcus The Washington Post Among other voters for whom ousting Bush is the overriding goal, there is an accompanying anxiety about Dean -- not because they disagree with him or dislike him but because they fear a general election disaster Dean Working to Be Seen as Foreign Policy Centrist Glenn Kessler The Washington Post In a speech Monday, Dean will seek to counter his image as a darling of the left by positioning himself as a centrist Democrat on foreign policy Dean to offer a foreign policy Sarah Schweitzer The Boston Globe Howard Dean, the Democratic presidential candidate, has the quintessential foreign policy problem of a former governor: He is without portfolio Dean Formulates a Nuanced Approach to Foreign Policy David E. Sanger and Jodi Wilgoren The New York Times Dr. Dean's candidacy has been defined by his opposition to the war in Iraq, the position that most energizes his supporters. But more quietly, he is formulating a worldview that has surprising intersections with Mr. Bush's Dean gains endorsements in the South CNN Challenging his critics' view that he lacks appeal in the South, Howard Dean won the endorsement Saturday of the Congressional Black Caucus chairman as well as the backing of more than a dozen state and local lawmakers in Georgia Bush failed to aid Mexican reforms, Dean tells backers Peter Wallsten The Miami Herald Stopping in Miami during his first true swing through Florida, Howard Dean says President Bush missed a chance to help Mexico's leader bolster democracy Clark Criticized for Lobbying by Lieberman Edward Wyatt The New York Times Craig T. Smith, the campaign director, and Brian Hardwick, his deputy, said in a conference call that the general was "profiting from the revolving door" between the Pentagon and private business and likened his situation to that of Vice President Dick Cheney Clark's income soared after Army career David Hammer Associated Press The Boston Globe Largely because of book deals and speaking fees, Wesley K. Clark, the Democratic presidential candidate, parlayed an income of $60,000 as a four-star general in 1999 into a 2002 private-sector salary of more than $1.6 million Kerry's style a real turnoff Eileen McNamara The Boston Globe Imperious, arrogant, and indifferent are a few of the milder adjectives some use to describe their increasingly rare dealings with Kerry Union vs. Union on Iowa Campaign Battleground Rachel L. Swarns The New York Times Iowa has become the epicenter of a fierce labor battle between supporters of Richard A. Gephardt and Howard Dean Hear Them Roar: Let the Boom Begin Michael Brick The New York Times Why is there a disparity between Wall Street, where the betting is that another boom is beginning, and the experience of the rest of the country? At Recovery's Dawn David Finkel The Washington Post But just as "sparkle" can be a euphemism for housekeeping, "recovering" can gloss over the reality of what for millions of Americans having a job has come to mean Presidents' Power to Polarize Gives Them a Winning Edge Sam Tanenhaus The New York Times If history is any guide, Mr. Bush's power to polarize may help him. Election results over the past four decades show that incumbents who have aroused intense partisan passions easily cinched a second term Iraq, Internet lure youth to politics Tim Jones and Flynn McRoberts The Chicago Tribune While the war in Iraq, the environment and the economy are major issues fueling interest in the presidential campaign, the Internet has emerged as a powerful campaign tool allowing young people unprecedented access to the political debate Q: What will happen when a national political machine can fit on a laptop? A: See Everett Ehrlich The Washington Post For all Dean's talk about wanting to represent the truly "Democratic wing of the Democratic Party," the paradox is that he is essentially a third-party candidate using modern technology to achieve a takeover of the Democratic Party
The Right Wing	Funny stuff
Captured! Jed Babbin National Review Today we imposed an identity change on the insurgents. After Saddam’s capture, the insurgents can no longer be identified as Baathists seeking Saddam’s return Joy to the World Peggy Noonan The Wall Street Journal Let's not be boring people who Consider the Implications. Let's not talk about the domestic political impact. For just a day let's feel the pleasure history just handed us The way it was not supposed to be Clifford D. May The Washington Times Liberals and Democrats once were the strongest advocates of nation-building — recall President Clinton's attempt to resurrect Haiti — but such support is now scarce on the left, apparently because President Bush has embraced the idea	Feeling sick? Blame your computer! Dave Barry The Miami Herald Modern cyberspace is a deadly festering swamp, teeming with dangerous programs such as ''viruses,'' ''worms,'' ''Trojan horses'' and ''licensed Microsoft software'' that can take over your computer and render it useless Rudy Park Darrin Bell & Theron Heir The New York Times Our next question for the Democratic presidential nominees: have you ever smoked marijuana?

Saturday, December 13, 2003

National Security / Foreign Affairs	U.S. Politics / Election 2004
Recruits Abandon Iraqi Army Ariana Eunjung Cha The Washington Post More than half the men in the first unit to be trained for the new Iraqi army have abandoned their jobs because of low pay, inadequate training, faulty equipment, ethnic tensions and other concerns The same old racket in Iraq Tariq Ali The Guardian (UK) To the victors, the spoils: Bush's colonialism will only deepen resistance Marines Plan to Use Velvet Glove More Than Iron Fist in Iraq Michael R. Gordon The New York Times No force has a tougher reputation than the United States Marines. But the marines who are headed to Iraq this spring say they intend to avoid the get-tough tactics that have been used in recent weeks by Army units The struggle to strangle the money flow Michael Moran MSNBC What does the Iraq insurgency have in common with efforts to police America’s campaign finance system? Answer: In both cases, money will find a way Recruits in Pakistan reinforce Taliban's ranks Juliette Terzieff The San Francisco Chronicle The recruiter, who refused to give his name, is one of tens of thousands of Afghans who settled in and around Quetta over the tumultuous last 25 years FBI Applies New Rules to Surveillance Dan Eggen The Washington Post The result is that the FBI, unhindered by the restrictions of the past, will conduct many more searches and wiretaps that are subject to oversight by a secret intelligence court rather than regular criminal courts Army Fines Officer for Firing Pistol Near Iraqi Detainee Vernon Loeb The Washington Post A battalion commander in Iraq who fired his pistol near the head of an Iraqi detainee after his soldiers had punched the prisoner was fined $5,000 yesterday as part of a nonjudicial disciplinary proceeding that effectively ends his Army career Army facing medical crisis Robert Schlesinger The Boston Globe The planned rotation of roughly a quarter-million soldiers into and out of Iraq and Afghanistan next year is threatening to overwhelm the Army's medical system U.S. says security measures help cut death count in Iraq Tod Robberson The Dallas Morning News Although a large part of central Baghdad now resembles Cold War Berlin, the thousands of gray concrete barriers that split the Iraqi capital appear to be dramatically reducing casualties in the U.S.-led coalition Plunder goes on across Afghanistan as looters grow ever bolder James Astill The Guardian (UK) Trade in antiquities worth up to £18bn as thieves excavate sites U.N. mulling Afghan pullout Stephen Graham The Washington Times Lakhdar Brahimi said his team could not continue its work in this war-ravaged nation unless security improves. He called for more foreign troops to help halt attacks U.S. Urges Israel to Ease Burdens Peter Slevin The Washington Post Secretary of State Colin L. Powell urged the Israeli government to do more to alleviate Palestinian hardship yesterday, the day after a State Department official criticized the Israelis in direct terms Ramallah students boast of terrorism Associated Press The Dallas Morning News Elections for student government at a West Bank university this week focused on which party had killed the most Israelis Iranian Rebels Urge Pentagon Not to Let Iraq Expel Them Douglas Jehl The New York Times The group, the People's Mujahedeen, or Mujahedeen Khalq, maintained armed camps in Iraq under Saddam Hussein. It is listed by the United States as a terrorist organization, but it has strong supporters in the Pentagon An Indonesian Voice in the Antiterror Wilderness Jane Perlez The New York Times Gen. A. M. Hendropriyono, the head of Indonesia's intelligence agency, is an important component of the campaign against terror Iraqi Agent Denies He Met 9/11 Hijacker in Prague Before Attacks on the U.S. James Risen The New York Times Reports that an Iraqi spy had met with Mr. Atta in Prague first circulated soon after the attacks on New York and the Pentagon, but they have been in dispute ever since Try Detainees or Free Them, 3 Senators Urge Neil A. Lewis The New York Times After visiting the detention center at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, three senators sent a pointed letter to Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld Is America in for a bloody 2004? Gannett News Service The Desert Sun (Palm Springs) Some experts predict the U.S. presidential campaign -- the first since the Sept 11, 2001, terrorist attacks -- will prove an irresistible temptation for al-Qaida and its ilk to strike against Americans	Investigative Report: The untold story of the Bush administration's penchant for secrecy US News and World Report How the public's business gets done out of the public eye For DeLay, 3 Democrats had to go in remap Todd J. Gillman The Dallas Morning News "We must stress that a map that returns Frost, Edwards and Doggett is unacceptable and not worth all of the time invested into this project," Jim Ellis wrote Carter: Dean's chances 'quite good' in N.H., Iowa, uncertain elsewhere CNN Former President Jimmy Carter said he thinks Howard Dean's prospects in the upcoming Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary look rosy and that the Democratic presidential front-runner's "inherently" conservative political persona will emerge Why Gore's Backing Dean Dick Morris Slate It's payback time for Al Gore Dean's Manager: Inside Savvy and Outsider Edge Jodi Wilgoren The New York Times After a lifetime of long shots, Joe Trippi, Howard Dean's campaign manager, is the political consultant of the season Candidate Edwards says ideas, not just anger, needed to beat Bush Mark Simon The San Francisco Chronicle Nonetheless, he gets in plenty of bashing Gephardt's Last Stand David Tell The Weekly Standard How come it's Howard Dean, of all people, and not someone like . . . well, Gephardt, who appears, weeks and weeks before the first official ballot has been cast, to be running away with the race? For Democrats, to Air Is Essential Howard Kurtz The Washington Post Campaign strategists are feverishly vacuuming up intelligence about their rivals' advertising buys and placing big-money gambles on the Feb. 3 states they believe can boost their own candidates into contention with Howard Dean Editorial: Is Secrecy a Progressive Value? The Washington Post This outside-group dodge is troubling enough when employed by those who don't pretend to believe in campaign finance reform. From those who pose as champions of "progressive values," it's despicable Senate Remarks: "No Consent to Shirking the Senate's Responsibilities" Sen. Robert Byrd The people have a right to know how their elected representatives stand on this legislation, which will affect the lives of so many. I am saddened by the Majority Leader's decision to postpone a vote on this legislation until January 20 Schwarzenegger breaking campaign promises Associated Press CNN Less than one month into his term, Schwarzenegger finds himself already breaking some campaign promises, while struggling to fulfill others
The Right Wing	Funny stuff
Dean's urban legend Robert Novak CNN It was bad enough when Howard Dean, interviewed on National Public Radio December 1, spread a conspiracy theory that George W. Bush ignored Saudi Arabian warnings of the 9/11 terrorist attacks A Fetish of Candor David Brooks The New York Times I think we are all disgusted by the way President Bush's administration has allowed honesty and candor to seep into the genteel world of international affairs Editorial: Col. West's ordeal The Washington Times Leaving aside the ordeal faced by Col. West, the military needs to reassess some of the serious problems with its interrogation techniques that were highlighted at his hearing last month Stop Dean Fred Barnes The Weekly Standard The antiwar, Bush-loathing, culturally liberal left now has the upper hand. Its dominance will likely culminate in Dean's nomination Stand by Taiwan Robert Kagan and William Kristol The Weekly Standard To avert such a crisis, the president needs to revert to his core principles and make clear that the United States supports the Taiwanese democracy	BushCo issues latest orders to media lickspittles Rich Procter Salon.com Memo to U.S. press corps: Your coverage of "President Gives American Troops the Bird" was adequately fawning and obsequious. But failure to continue to grovel will be severely punished Fly The Friendly Ad Sluts Mark Morford The San Francisco Chronicle Because there really is absolutely nowhere that marketing schmucks will not stick a logo

Friday, December 12, 2003

National Security / Foreign Affairs	U.S. Politics / Election 2004
U.S.: Hundreds of Civilian Deaths in Iraq Were Preventable Human Rights Watch Hundreds of civilian deaths in the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq could have been prevented by abandoning two misguided military tactics, Human Rights Watch said in a comprehensive new report Efforts to Fight Terror Financing Reported to Lag Eric Lichtblau and Timothy L. O'Brien The New York Times A new Congressional report says federal authorities do not have a clear understanding of how terrorists move their financial assets Push is on for larger military Tom Squitieri USA Today Members of Congress from both parties are pushing for the first significant increase in the size of the active-duty military in 16 years, despite resistance from the Pentagon The Logic of Withdrawal Howard Zinn The Progressive I am writing a speech for whichever candidate emerges as Democratic Party nominee for President US evades blame for Iraqi deaths Derrick Z. Jackson The Boston Globe For all the administration makes about the terrible attacks by Iraqi guerrillas against the occupation, there have been many examples of completely uncalled for killings of civilians, both in Afghanistan and Iraq Bush's Iraq Policy: A Quagmire of Confusion Jim Lobe AlterNet The administration's move to blacklist the very same countries it is asking to forgive Iraq's debt is not a sign of arrogance but hopelessly muddled decision-making Intention Deficit Disorder Christopher Dickey Newsweek How many times have we seen good ideas-and good will—in the Middle East squandered by folks who were far too quick to make war, and far too slow figuring out how to make peace? Hearts and Minds Marty Jezer CommonDreams.org Taking inspiration and instruction from the Israeli government of Ariel Sharon, the U.S. has started to destroy buildings suspected of being used by Iraqi fighters; arrest family members of suspected Iraqi resistance leaders; and cordon off entire villages with razor-edged barbed wire Beirut on the Tigris The New Republic In Afghanistan, the United States is disarming warlords. In Iraq, we're arming them U.S. Sees Evidence of Overcharging in Iraq Contract Douglas Jehl The New York Times A Pentagon investigation has found evidence that a subsidiary of the politically connected Halliburton Company overcharged the government by as much as $61 million for fuel delivered to Iraq under huge no-bid reconstruction contracts Editorial: Cutting James Baker's Ties The New York Times If James Baker III is going to deal with the crucial problem of restructuring Iraq's official debts, he needs to sever his ties to firms doing work related to Iraq Bush Defends Barring Foes Of War From Iraq Business Robin Wright and Dana Milbank The Washington Post President Bush yesterday fiercely defended his decision to bar France, Germany, Russia and Canada from Iraq reconstruction contracts, defying a furious outcry from allies and even objections from GOP and conservative leaders The Pentagon Plot Fred Kaplan Slate Baker's trip isn't about debt, and the contracts directive isn't about money A Deliberate Debacle Paul Krugman The New York Times Maybe I'm giving Paul Wolfowitz too much credit, but I don't think this was mere incompetence. I think the administration's hard-liners are deliberately sabotaging reconciliation Phoenix Rising Robert Dreyfuss The American Prospect A new, secret, $3 billion special ops program the Bush administration is launching in Iraq has a familiar smell to students of Vietnam Putting Afghanistan's future on paper Victoria Burnett The Boston Globe Wearing silk turbans or draped in flowing, striped robes, representatives from across the country are gathering to hammer out a constitution aimed at uniting Afghanistan more than two years after the United States ousted the Taliban regime A race against time in the new Afghanistan H.D.S. Greenway The Boston Globe The expression of the people's will going on in a tent on the edge of town is real, but all will depend on America's will to remain engaged for the better part of a decade US commanders are taking more cues from Afghans Ann Scott Tyson The Christian Science Monitor Troops are helping create a security buffer around Kandahar to facilitate political and economic reforms Deadly U.S. Raid Leaves Some Afghans Bewildered Pamela Constable The Washington Post Most people interviewed insisted that Jalani was neither a terrorist nor a threat to the government, and some professed outrage and shock at the U.S. attack Bush's Afghanistan problem... and ours Bill Berkowitz WorkingForChange Fifteen children killed as 'Operation Avalanche' starts to roll and constitutional convention convenes Uzbekistan won't allow US permanent use of base Burt Herman Associated Press The Boston Globe Islam Karimov said he is opposed to the further "militarization" of Central Asia and said Uzbekistan needs more money, not more foreign troops In Reversal, U.S. May Send Additional Food Aid to North Korea Christopher Marquis The New York Times The United States is considering releasing roughly 66,000 tons in additional food aid to North Korea this year as that country faces a winter famine Global warming kills 150,000 a year Paul Brown The Guardian (UK) The changes had already brought about a noticeable increase in malnutrition, as well as outbreaks of diarrhoea and malaria, the three "big killers" in the poorest countries of the world German Judge Frees Qaeda Suspect; Cites U.S. Secrecy Desmond Butler The New York Times The U.S.'s refusal to allow testimony from a jailed Qaeda figure prompted the release of a man accused of aiding the 9/11 hijackers	A Baghdad Thanksgiving's Lingering Aftertaste Dana Milbank The Washington Post Stars and Stripes is blowing the whistle on President Bush's Thanksgiving visit to Baghdad, saying the cheering soldiers who met him were pre-screened and others showing up for a turkey dinner were turned away Don't Talk Like a Twit Jonathan Rowe Yes Magazine Polls find that voters support progressive issues. So why have Americans been voting for such conservative candidates? Because conservatives are speaking their language Undecideds are still ripe to change nomination Walter Shapiro USA Today There are still almost seven weeks to the New Hampshire primary. And judging from three politically savvy women at a Nashua firehouse, plenty of voters are still waiting to judge the characters and test the mettle of the Democrats The Character Myth Renana Brooks The Nation CommonDreams.org If progressives want to defeat George W. Bush in the 2004 election, they first have to understand the sources of his continuing popularity Trapped Behind Enemy Lines Michael Kinsley The Washington Post The only presidential candidate with a truly coherent position on President Bush's Iraq policy is President Bush. He supported it before the war started, he supports it now and he thinks or pretends to think it's working well Democrats needed a uniter, and they found one in Bush David Jackson The Dallas Morning News Anger – sheer rage at the way Mr. Bush won the White House, the way he invaded Iraq, even the way he walks and talks – is animating Democratic campaign plans for 2004 No Will to Win? Bob Herbert The New York Times The Democrats have been blessed with the high ground on one important issue after another, but they are too timid to take full advantage Get Used to Him Michael Tomasky The American Prospect Democratic insiders fear Howard Dean because his popularity circumvents them. Michael Tomasky argues that maybe they should start making their peace with that Dean's campaign like no other Jill Lawrence USA Today Howard Dean rose from long shot to front-runner in the Democratic presidential race by outworking his rivals at conventional politics and at the same time taking risks that would be unthinkable to most politicians For Dean, 'captive' insurance a Vt. boon Michael Kranish The Boston Globe Dean said in 2001 that he wanted Vermont to "overtake Bermuda" as the "world's largest" haven for a segment of the insurance industry known as "captives," which refers to firms that help insure their parent companies Dean's Mideast remarks sounding alarms for Jews Peter Wallsten The Miami Herald Even as Howard Dean grabs the front-runner mantle among Democrats, there is mounting evidence that his Middle East views are creating complications for his campaign Clark's fast political learning curve Liz Marlantes The Christian Science Monitor Clark has been a quick study, learning from mistakes and adjusting his approach. And lately, there are signs his campaign may be on an upswing Remnants of Military Tradition Remain for Clark Adam Nagourney and Edward Wyatt The New York Times As Gen. Wesley K. Clark has moved from the world of the military to running for president, he has had to let go of his organized past to adjust to his unruly future Why John Kerry needs some of his wife's sauce Julia Turner Slate Perhaps what the Kerry campaign could have used, in fact, was not just a bigger dose of Teresa Heinz herself but an infusion of her devil-may-care attitude In endorsement race, Kerry holds his own Glen Johnson The Boston Globe 27 prominent Granite State Democrats have thrown their backing to Kerry this year, a half-dozen of them -- including former Governor Jeanne Shaheen -- since his poll numbers peaked in August Kerry: Dean's foreign policy portfolio is too weak Patrick Healy The Boston Globe These comments are the strongest Kerry has made in conveying that Dean would lose to Bush, an argument that has become a tacit theme of Kerry's own candidacy A Browser's Guide to Campaign 2004, Cont'd. Chris Suellentrop Slate Slate reads John Edwards' book so you don't have to Sharpton's Support Slips Despite National Attention Raymond Hernandez The New York Times Only a handful of senior black elected officials have endorsed him, and many others, like Representative Charles B. Rangel and State Senator David A. Paterson, both of Harlem, have quite prominently endorsed his opponents In Braun-Helms Fight, Senate Searched Soul Helen Dewar The Washington Post As Braun saw it, she said in the Post interview, the United Daughters of the Confederacy patent debate has embarrassed Helms and turned him into "my nemesis thereafter." Bush refuses to wallow in mud Bill Sammon The Washington Times President Bush will try to remain above the political fray for longer than usual leading up to next year's election because of what his handlers see as a significant "stature gap" between Mr. Bush and his challengers Rising markets may give Bush lift Stephen J. Glain The Boston Globe With share prices reaching levels not seen in more than a year, will happy investors reward President Bush with their votes? ‘A Definitive Turn’ Jennifer Barrett Newsweek The economy finally seems to be taking off, but employment still lags. Will the job market improve enough by next November to help Bush avoid his father’s fate? Labor market bust? Paul Craig Roberts The Washington Times Perhaps real jobs will return to the U.S. economy in 2004 or 2005. If they do not, will the chest-thumping continue? Congress in 2003: from tigers to Medicare Gail Russell Chaddock The Christian Science Monitor Midway through the 108th Congress - and on the eve of a presidential election year - lawmakers are amassing a legislative record that will touch every home in America A New Battleground in Political Fund-Raising Glen Justice The New York Times While the Republican National Committee and its counterparts in the House and Senate have raised more than their Democratic rivals this year, the Democrats have attracted millions of dollars through fund-raising organizations outside the party Getting heated over mercury Molly Ivins WorkingForChange.com We are talking about the rollback announced last week in regulating mercury pollution. Except, of course, it wasn't announced as a rollback, it was announced as a great step forward
The Right Wing	Funny stuff
Punishing the Dissenters William F. Buckley, Jr. National Review Contracts and Iraq: A special Q&A Critical Mass Victor Davis Hanson National Review In all major wars there reaches a critical tipping point when the ultimate outcome of the conflict begins to become clear Keeping score in Iraq Austin Bay The Washington Times How to measure the effectiveness of Free Iraq's flickering battle with the Ba'ath and al Qaeda fascist opposition?	Tom the Dancing Bug Ruben Bolling Salon.com Cold war strategies on the highway Doonesbury Garry Trudeau Slate Okay, in tight on the bird…

Thursday, December 11, 2003

National Security / Foreign Affairs	U.S. Politics / Election 2004
In Speech, Nobel Winner Rebukes the U.S. Craig S. Smith The New York Times Ms. Ebadi, who has represented political prisoners and the victims of political violence in Iran, avoided sharp criticism of the Islamic government there and delivered her most pointed rebuke instead to the United States for what she called human rights abuses carried out in the name of fighting terrorism Cluster bombs kill in Iraq, even after shelling ends Pentagon painted misleading Paul Wiseman USA Today When these weapons were fired on Baghdad on April 7, many of the bomblets failed to explode on impact. They were picked up or stumbled on by their victims Rumsfeld Seeks Better Intelligence On Iraqi Insurgents Vernon Loeb The Washington Post Despite his optimistic public comments about the success of U.S. forces in Iraq, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld has privately expressed the need for better intelligence on whether Iraqi insurgents are replenishing their ranks Iraq Spy Service Planned by U.S. To Stem Attacks Dana Priest and Robin Wright The Washington Post The Bush administration has authorized creation of an Iraqi intelligence service to spy on groups and individuals inside Iraq that are targeting U.S. troops and civilians working to form a new government U.S. Officers Predict Rise in Assassinations Thom Shanker The New York Times American military commanders in Iraq are warning that they anticipate a sharp increase in assassination attempts against local political leaders and security officials Bush Seeks Help of Allies Barred From Iraq Deals David E. Sanger and Douglas Jehl The New York Times President Bush asked France, Germany and Russia to forgive Iraq's debts, after they were excluded from reconstruction projects Editorial: Bidding for Isolation The New York Times Barring countries from reconstruction contracts in Iraq has abruptly reversed the rising trend of international cooperation Bringing the old regime to trial The Economist (UK) The plan for an Iraqi tribunal worries human-rights groups because it will be run by local judges rather than the United Nations, and thus may be seen as a tool for vengeance Analysis: The law on rebuilding Iraq James Arnold BBC (UK) France, backed by Brussels, is looking at ways to challenge the decision under international law. Unfortunately for them, however, it seems that their legal prospects are pitifully thin Editorial: Wolfowitz's grasp The Boston Globe Wolfowitz's assertion would be true if the old Tammany Hall practice of punishing one's enemies and rewarding one's friends were the be-all and end-all of national security Feeling The Sting David Corn TomPaine.com After choosing war over all other options, the administration hawks—and the rest of us—must now face the consequences Rebel army termination tests U.S. Robert Collier The San Francisco Chronicle The U.S. secret weapon against Iran is kept behind high gates here, where several thousand fighters of the Mujahedeen Khalq, or People's Warriors, live in a sprawling military base guarded by U.S. troops The soldiers Bush didn't visit on Thanksgiving Joan Vennochi The Boston Globe For all that it conveyed, however, the Bush Thanksgiving extravaganza showed only one tiny slice of the daily, ugly reality of war and its aftermath for thousands of US service personnel and those who care for them Taliban spies keep strong grip on south James Astill The Guardian (UK) James Astill meets the elite US forces on patrol in Gereshk trying to stem the rising tide of bloody attacks Where Taliban go to find warm beds and recruits Scott Baldauf and Owais Tohid The Christian Science Monitor While Islamabad says it is doing everything it can to rein in the Taliban movement, a coalition of extremist religious parties controls the provincial government and around 300,000 Afghan refugees still live here U.S. Says Other Afghan Children Died in Earlier Raid Carlotta Gall The New York Times For the second time in a week, the U.S. military has acknowledged killing children in airstrikes aimed at Taliban fighters New Activist Network Slams Growing Abuses Under Bush Jim Lobe Inter Press Service CommonDreams.org More than 50 groups, ranging from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) to the New York-based Center for Economic and Social Rights (CESR), said they had agreed to join forces to address what they said was ”the alarming rate of human rights violations in the U.S.”, particularly as it pursues its ”war on terrorism”. Nuclear Spinning Simon Henderson National Review The gossip is that Pakistan sold, directly or indirectly, the centrifuge equipment to Iran US, China find a new middle way Peter Grier and Amelia Newcomb The Christian Science Monitor Chinese premier's visit reflects a relationship characterized less by rivalry than moderation America and China, getting on better The Economist (UK) Despite economic tensions, mutual trust between America and China has rarely been deeper. Can it last? Conspiracy theorists may be right on Kissinger Andres Oppenheimer The Miami Herald The celebration of International Human Rights Day may be a good occasion to ponder whether the Bush administration should distance itself from the most influential U.S. foreign policy-maker of the 20th century: Henry Kissinger	“If I had to do it over again, I'd let rip” Sidney Blumenthal The Guardian (UK) Democratic voters have felt themselves unrepresented and voiceless. Until the presidential candidacy of Howard Dean, their burning sentiments lacked expression. Now, Al Gore's early endorsement of Dean dramatically amplifies them and partly explains them Back: The Ghost of 2000! John Nichols The Nation Anger remains a big part of Dean's appeal. Just ask Al Gore Selling Out the Democratic Party Christopher Scheer AlterNet Choosing Republican Lite-weights to represent the Democratic Party makes a lousy political strategy Gore's Puzzling Intervention David S. Broder The Washington Post Gore's decision to intervene early -- and especially his call on Dean's rivals to "close ranks" behind the governor -- is one of the more eccentric developments in modern political history Bush doctrine fatally flawed, Dean says Sarah Schweitzer The Boston Globe Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean yesterday condemned President Bush's touting of a policy of preemptive self-defense, saying it was a formula for alienating other nations and an aberration from American tradition Bush's Advisers Focus on Dean as Likely Opponent Next Year Richard W. Stevenson The New York Times The advisers are planning a campaign that takes account of what they see as Howard Dean's strengths and weaknesses Dean Looming Larger on Bush's Horizon Mike Allen The Washington Post Advisers to President Bush once relished a race against Howard Dean, but they say they have become increasingly wary of him, worried that his unconventional and intense appeal poses a threat they had once underestimated GOP hopes to paint Dean as the new McGovern Ralph Z. Hallow The Washington Times Republicans already are considering various strategies for President Bush to use against Howard Dean, the man they expect to head the Democratic presidential ticket next year Kerry lashes out at Gore and Dean Patrick Healy The Boston Globe Presidential candidate John F. Kerry opened two new lines of attack yesterday over former vice president Al Gore's endorsement of Kerry's chief rival, Howard Dean Gephardt Hoping Populist Message Resonates Again in Iowa Edward Walsh The Washington Post Gephardt had better be able to replicate that performance leading up to the Jan. 19 Iowa caucuses, because if he doesn't, as even he acknowledges, the race for the 2004 Democratic presidential nomination could be all but over Candidates hope South can trump Dean's surge Brian C. Mooney The Boston Globe Representative Richard A. Gephardt picked up a major endorsement from Representative James E. Clyburn, the most influential African-American politician in South Carolina, which votes Feb. 3 Rangel to endorse Clark on Thursday Phil Hirschkorn CNN Wesley Clark is scheduled to be endorsed Thursday by New York Rep. Charles Rangel in Harlem, following a Wednesday-night fund-raiser that produced more than $1 million Gephardt Wins S.C. Backing; Kerry Attacks Dean on War Dan Balz The Washington Post South Carolina will be the first southern state to weigh in on the Democratic candidates and Gephardt is counting on Clyburn to give him a big boost there, particularly among African American voters Court Ruling Affirms New Landscape of Campaign Finance Glen Justice The New York Times Both parties will now have to operate on hard money donations, which Republicans have been more adept at soliciting McCain-Feingold Ruling Angers Activists on Both Left and Right David Von Drehle The Washington Post It's not every day the National Rifle Association and the American Civil Liberties Union are outraged by the same Supreme Court decision Carter: Miller's Senate appointment was 'mistake' The Atlanta Journal and Constitution Former President Jimmy Carter says the appointment of Georgia's Zell Miller to the Senate was a mistake because his fellow ex-governor "betrayed all the basic principles that I thought he and I and others shared." A strike that's struck a chord nationwide Daniel B. Wood The Christian Science Monitor Los Angeles grocery walkout taps into labor solidarity and woes of a shrinking middle class Under The Cover Of Darkness Rep. Sherrod Brown TomPaine.com Never before has the House of Representatives operated in such secrecy
The Right Wing	Funny stuff
Contracts for Iraq: Reverse the Pentagon's Decision William Kristol and Robert Kagan The Weekly Standard A deviously smart American administration would have quietly distributed contracts for rebuilding Iraq as it saw fit, without any announced policy of discrimination The Wrong Kind of Censorship Jonah Goldberg National Review Unfortunately, this country has become so contorted in its thinking about free speech, we've come to believe that censorship is merely the limitation of speech we don't like Al in the Balance Paul Beston The American Spectator For Al Gore, the real quagmire isn’t Iraq, but his position in the Democratic Party Embracing Dean Jack Kelly The Washington Times The Gore endorsement also suggests real power in the Democratic Party today lies not with the party's regulars, but with left-wing special interest groups whose deep pockets compensate for the harm Democrats did to themselves when they embraced the McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform bill Standing on Lincoln's shoulders Suzanne Fields The Washington Times Mr. Bush campaigned in 2000 against nation building, just as Lincoln had distanced himself from the abolitionists in 1860, but circumstances changed Building a majority Gary J. Andres The Washington Times If Republicans hope to establish long-term majority status, what happens "outside" Congress is as important as the "inside" legislative agenda Editorial: Warlord summitry The Washington Times Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's historic Dec. 4 meeting with two Afghan Northern Alliance warlords has failed to attract the attention it deserves Crank Yankers Hugh Hewitt The Weekly Standard By giving voice to nutty conspiracy theory, Howard Dean is bringing the political fringe one step closer to the center	Who said that? Will Durst WorkingForChange.com They're totally full of crap, whoever they are

Wednesday, December 10, 2003

National Security / Foreign Affairs	U.S. Politics / Election 2004
The Diary of a Nobelist Marjane Satrapi The New York Times A cartoon about Shirin Ebadi, the Iranian lawyer and human rights activist who has been awarded the Nobel Prize Clear as Mud Richard Wolffe Newsweek It is a curious thing to behold. An administration that started out with a strong, bold agenda is nearing its final year with a weak and timid foreign policy Facing the Human Rights Abyss Roger Normand The Nation What is new is the open attack on the legal and institutional structure of human rights, a system established after two horrific world wars to protect the powerless from the predatory The -Ism That Failed John Patrick Diggins The American Prospect Neoconservatism relies on a history in which it alone won the Cold War. But that's not what happened. As neocons lead us deeper into holy war, it's time for a history lesson Editorial: A risky turn in nuclear policy The San Francisco Chronicle Now the administration has congressional approval, and funding under the newly signed Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act, for several other projects marking a revival of the nation's nuclear weapons research and development High Payments to Halliburton for Fuel in Iraq Don Van Natta Jr. The New York Times The U.S. government is paying Halliburton more than twice what others are paying to truck in Kuwaiti fuel Pentagon Bars Three Nations From Iraq Bids Douglas Jehl The New York Times The Pentagon has barred French, German and Russian companies from competing for $18.6 billion in contracts Rights Court Run by Iraqis Is Approved By Council Rajiv Chandrasekaran The Washington Post Iraq's U.S.-appointed Governing Council approved on Tuesday the creation of a special court run by Iraqis to try members of former president Saddam Hussein's government on charges of genocide and crimes against humanity Annan Says Danger In Iraq Is Too Great For U.N. for Now Colum Lynch The Washington Post U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan said Tuesday that Iraq remains too dangerous for the United Nations to resume a major role in Iraq's reconstruction and political transition anytime soon Settling Some Debts James Ridgeway The Village Voice The appointment of James Baker, a senior partner at Baker Botts, the big Houston law firm, ought to be a reassuring sign to Big Oil and other Bush-Cheney cronies trying to divvy up the spoils in Iraq Insurgents' goal: damage, but also publicity Faye Bowers and Howard Lafranchi The Christian Science Monitor Attacks on US troops in Iraq reflect a classic guerrilla strategy: build momentum by getting media attention Baghdad Blogger Salam Pax The Guardian (UK) In the looters' market, a DVD singing the praises of the so-called resistance is selling like the hot bread of Bab al-Agha The Bodies Come Home Sydney H. Schanberg The Village Voice The president is grieved by U.S. casualties. He also worries they'll cost him votes In Revival Of Najaf, Lessons for A New Iraq Anthony Shadid The Washington Post More than just a city's renaissance, Najaf's revival is a story of shifting fortunes and unintended consequences in the tumult of postwar Iraq Open Season Rod Nordland Newsweek For foreign civilians, these are the most dangerous times in Iraq Pentagon, press wage war over coverage Reuven Frank The Miami Herald When Saddam Hussein's statue hit the ground with a thud, so did relations between the Pentagon and the press Mixed Signals of Afghan Stability Pamela Constable The Washington Post Despite mounting concerns over violence, Afghan military and civilian officials said this week that they had made significant strides in disarming another perennial source of instability: the militia forces that dominate numerous areas of Afghanistan Afghanistan’s long journey The Economist (UK) Though stability is a distant prospect in many parts of the country, Afghans are feeling a little more optimistic Courts test U.S. strategy in legal war on terror Toni Locy USA Today The Bush administration's legal war on terrorism faces a series of critical tests in the coming months Ex-Senator Kerrey Is Named to Federal 9/11 Commission Philip Shenon The New York Times Bob Kerrey, the former Democratic senator from Nebraska, will join the panel with six months left in its inquiry Arms Control Expert Says Discord in Washington Causes Problems in Resolving North Korea Crisis Foreign Affairs Arms control expert Joseph Cirincione says the crisis over Iran's nuclear program is being resolved but the confrontation with North Korea could worsen Editorial: Egypt and Human Rights The New York Times American policy in Egypt does far too little to stem the human rights abuses of President Hosni Mubarak's regime Taiwan's Strategic Miscalculation Joseph Kahn The New York Times The Bush administration's stern warning that Taiwan should avoid provoking China, however couched in diplomatic nuance, effectively blames the island's president, Chen Shui-bian, for threatening to upset the delicate peace in the region Editorial: Mr. Bush's Kowtow The Washington Post Yesterday President Bush essentially placed the United States on the side of the dictators who promise war, rather than the democrats whose threat is a ballot box On Killing Children: An Open Letter to US Military Spokesman Lt. Col. Bryan Hilferty Jeff Guntzel CommonDreams.org The next time you are asked to speak about the inevitable but inexcusable tragedies of war, remember the people you love. And remember that your love for family and friends is not unique	The New Hampshire Debate William Saletan Slate Notes from Tuesday's Democratic presidential debate in Durham, N.H.: Nancy Drew Mary Lynn F. Jones The American Prospect Has Nancy Pelosi uncovered the secret to running an effective Democratic Party on the Hill? Support for Bush, war going back up Richard Benedetto USA Today Bush's overall job-approval rating rose to 55% from a pre-Thanksgiving 50% Many Dems question Dean's chances Susan Page USA Today If he wins the nomination, Dean will be the presidential candidate viewed with the most suspicion by his party's establishment since Jimmy Carter in 1976 Gore embraces Dean - and new political style Linda Feldmann and Liz Marlantes The Christian Science Monitor Al Gore's stunning endorsement Tuesday of Howard Dean for president may not be about left versus center or even ideology at all. It's about energy, the future of the Democratic Party, and perhaps the future of politics Democrats Wrestle With the Gore Factor in Debate Adam Nagourney and Edward Wyatt The New York Times Awkwardly and with obvious discomfort, the candidates sought to question Al Gore's motives for his endorsement of Howard Dean Dean's Role Is Redefined by Gore's Endorsement R. W. Apple Jr. The New York Times While the endorsement gives Howard Dean legitimacy, it also presents him with problems of self-definition Dean pursued Gore for year Sarah Schweitzer The Boston Globe Among other things, Dean sought Gore's advice on foreign policy, particularly the war in Iraq, which like Dean, Gore vehemently opposed Endorsement represents Gore's shift to the left Donald Lambro The Washington Times When former Vice President Al Gore endorsed Howard Dean's presidential candidacy yesterday, he embraced an agenda that, on key issues, is the complete opposite of what he and Bill Clinton advocated in 1992 Why Gore's Endorsement Is No Surprise Mitch Frank Time If most people had been listening to Al Gore for the past year and a half, they wouldn't have been so surprised by his endorsement of Howard Dean Co-opting a crusade Eileen McNamara The Boston Globe Why, when a Web-linked network of the freshly politicized was poised to deliver Iowa and New Hampshire, would Howard Dean choose this moment to embrace the political establishment he has been running against? Call Me, Al Mother Jones It's hard to see a downside for Howard Dean in Al Gore's decision to back him for president. Question is, is there a downside for the Democratic Party? Dean's Band of Outsiders Harold Meyerson The Washington Post The secret of Dean's success has been twofold. Alone among the serious Democratic candidates he understood that the party was shirking its obligation to oppose -- indeed, that the grass roots was furious at the failure of its leaders to realize this. Second, his campaign became the real Meetup for millions of Americans who'd had no place to go to affect politics in the age of Bush Responsibility Error Andrew Sullivan The New Republic Why won't John Kerry own up to his vote on the war? White House lapses led to 9/11, Clark says Joanna Weiss The Boston Globe Bush, he said, is "responsible for our preparation, our defense, and that's the issue. . . . This was a president who was in charge in this country for almost nine months, and failed" to defend the country Anti-Dean Wing Is Scrambling -- And Shrinking Jim VandeHei and Dan Balz The Washington Post With record fundraising, favorable poll numbers and the endorsement yesterday of Al Gore, Howard Dean is systematically trying to create an aura of inevitability to his campaign The Anybody-But-Dean Syndrome Tom Hayden AlterNet A de facto Iowa coalition between Dean and Kucinich supporters, even if Kucinich himself stays in the race, would be a victory for the anti-war movement and grassroots activism in the Democratic Party Kucinich livens up the predictable Jeff Jacoby The Boston Globe Dean already sees himself as the Democrats' nominee-apparent and is gradually beginning to reach out to voters beyond the angry left wing of the Democratic Party Door by Door Christopher Hayes In These Times About a dozen groups—backed by the likes of Emily’s List, the AFL-CIO, the Sierra Club and MoveOn.org—are quietly building an infrastructure to undertake the most extensive door-to-door grassroots voter contact operation in U.S. history Ed Garvey on the Progressive Focus on the Heartland: What's Happening in Wisconsin BuzzFlash.com What is happening locally to the pro-democracy "American community" movement? Donors find ways to keep cash flowing Tom Curry MSNBC Wednesday was a good day for Democratic activist George Soros and other canny donors, Republicans and Democrats, who have already adapted to the campaign finance regulations upheld by the Supreme Court in its historic decision in McConnell vs. Federal Election Commission Editorial: Time to Draw the Line The New York Times The Supreme Court has a chance to stop the rampant partisian redistricting that is making a mockery of House elections Senate Won't Vote on Spending Until 2004 David Firestone The New York Times Senate leaders brushed aside White House objections and chose to defer dozens of major federal programs and projects for the better part of two months Stopping The 'Bus Rep. David Obey TomPaine.com The bottom line is this is a bad bill. You can find any number of reasons to vote against it. Newsom: 'The Time for Change is Here' Rachel Gordon, Mark Simon The San Francisco Chronicle Gavin Newsom, riding voter frustration with homelessness and fueled by nearly $4 million in campaign contributions, won election Tuesday as San Francisco's 42nd mayor Bending on Steel David S. Broder The Washington Post The distance the current Democratic presidential contenders have strayed from the Clinton formula for winning the White House became startlingly clear last week with their reaction to President Bush's decision to remove the tariffs on imported steel
The Right Wing	Funny stuff
Power of perception Bruce Bartlett The Washington Times President Bush is in danger of creating a perception about himself that may prove hard to eradicate if it is allowed to continue. That is the view he is "Nixonian." Hats Off to Senator Frist Paul M. Weyrich The American Spectator The Senate majority leader has been the most effective Republican leader since Everett Dirksen Editorial: Howard Dean Live The Wall Street Journal Democrats who actually want to win next year might consider the possibility that proposing a huge tax increase might not be popular Editorial: Al Gore steps in The Washington Times The various deeper explanations invoke visions of a death struggle on a secret stage between the Clintons and Mr. Gore for possession of the Democratic Party's soul and financial mechanisms so as to better position for the 2008 Democratic nomination Big-money radicals give to Democrats Paul Crespo The Miami Herald MoveOn.org is so far left it opposed any U.S. military response after the terror attacks of 9/11, asking instead for a ``peaceful response to break the cycle of violence.'' Assessing Justice Brown Joseph Norman Evans The Washington Times A neoconservative shift among African Americans	Cheney faces heat for ‘canned hunt’ Jeannette Walls with Ashley Pearson MSNBC The Vice President has come under attack from an animal rights group for participating in a “canned hunt” in which he reportedly killed pheasants that were released for the purpose of being shot by hunters

Tuesday, December 9, 2003

National Security / Foreign Affairs	U.S. Politics / Election 2004
Israel trains US assassination squads in Iraq Julian Borger The Guardian (UK) Israeli advisers are helping train US special forces in aggressive counter-insurgency operations in Iraq, including the use of assassination squads against guerrilla leaders, US intelligence and military sources said Occupied Territory Mother Jones If the U.S. is to further adopt Israel-like tactics, it would not only lose its ability to criticize parallel Israeli actions, but would make a mockery of its quest to bring democracy in the Middle East Iraqi force elicits hope - and fear Nicholas Blanford The Christian Science Monitor Sunnis clerics say a battalion formed to fight insurgents will sow sectarian violence in Iraq Leader of terror cell reveals data on command structure P. Mitchell Prothero UPI The Washington Times The leader of a militant cell mounting attacks on U.S. forces from its Baghdad neighborhood says groups like his operate with little supervision from Ba'athist leaders but receive occasional help from outsiders who may be al Qaeda operatives Crash Course in Law Enforcement Lifts Hopes for Stability in Iraq Ariana Eunjung Cha The Washington Post The police academy that just opened in this remote outpost is one of the most important and expensive endeavors of Iraq's U.S.-led interim government Indonesian Criticizes U.S. Over the War in Iraq Raymond Bonner The New York Times The foreign minister of Indonesia, a critical ally of the United States in the campaign against terrorism, said Monday that the American policy in Iraq might have made the world more dangerous With More Money to Spend, Middle-Class Iraqis Go Shopping for Luxury Goods Edward Wong The New York Times A swath of middle-class society has experienced a jump in income that is driving a boom in demand for luxury goods Editorial: Saving the Village The New York Times Unwelcome as Vietnam analogies are right now, it's hard to ignore the resemblance to that infamous military comment about having to destroy a village in order to save it Building a Better Occupation Fred Kaplan Slate The U.S. Army has made some smart moves in Iraq—and some blockheaded ones, too Iraq’s Oppressed Majority Andrew Cockburn Smithsonian Magazine For nearly a century, the nation's 15 million Shiite Muslims have been denied access to political power. How their demands are met in the months to come could well determine Iraq's future Lessons for Iraq Al Kaltman The Washington Times Gen. Arthur MacArthur, who was the military governor of the Philippines from May 1900 until July 1901, faced challenges that more closely resemble the situation in Iraq today than any other U.S. military history experience NATO far from relieving US forces in Afghanistan Ann Scott Tyson The Christian Science Monitor Member states pledged more materiel last week, but a US handover looks unrealistic Afghan constitutional debacle Bruce Fein The Washington Times The draft Afghan constitution, released last month and fashioned under the guidance of the United States, celebrates religious intolerance and the supremacy of the Sunni sect of Islam. Benighted mullahs command greater constitutional standing than secular democrats Dems on 9-11 panel question policies' effect on civil liberties Michelle Mittelstadt The Dallas Morning News Democratic commissioners questioned whether Americans' civil liberties have been harmed by the USA Patriot Act and other Bush administration anti-terrorism policies Ex-Government Officials Recommend Intelligence Overhaul James Risen The New York Times Their proposal falls short of calling for a new domestic spy agency like Britain's MI-5. That is a result of sharp divisions within the group over whether the F.B.I. should be given another chance Secrets And Spies Robert Dreyfuss TomPaine.com By creating a “tip line” on his official Web site, Democratic congressman from California Henry Waxman is encouraging current and former U.S. national security officials to come forward and disclose how the administration played with intelligence China's Wen clear message for Bush Willy Wo-Lap Lam CNN Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao will talk tough on Taiwan in his one-hour meeting with President George W. Bush at the White House U.S. Asks Taiwan to Avoid a Vote Provoking China David E. Sanger The New York Times The Bush administration issued an unusually strong warning to Taiwan on Monday not to hold a referendum that could fuel the island's independence movement. But Taiwan rejected the move hours later Exporting capitalism a fool's errand Robert Steinback The Miami Herald When introduced to underdeveloped societies with competing ethnic communities, the wealth created by free markets tends to concentrate in the hands of a market-dominant ethnic minority group, while the indigenous majority population sees little improvement	Gore to Endorse Dean, Remaking Democratic Race Adam Nagourney and Jodi Wilgoren The New York Times Al Gore's move hastened Howard Dean's evolution from a long-shot maverick to a leading candidate of the Democratic field Mr. Inside Embraces Mr. Outside, and What a Surprise Todd S. Purdum The New York Times In moving to endorse Howard Dean, Al Gore embraced an insurgent candidate who has spent months railing against the brand of centrist-at-home, hawkish-abroad Democratic politics that Mr. Gore worked 20 years to help build Lieberman Is Hit Hardest by Decision Diane Cardwell The New York Times Al Gore's decision to endorse Howard Dean for the Democratic presidential nomination was a big blow for Mr. Gore's former running mate, Senator Joseph I. Lieberman Lonely antiwar banner pulls in crowd for Dean Peter S. Canellos The Boston Globe Now, as Gore prepares to endorse Dean, political analysts are already weighing in with the view that the endorsement represents the growing acclimation of the "Democratic establishment" to the loudest insurgent in the race Pundits Piling Into Dean's Corner Howard Kurtz The Washington Post They have no get-out-the-vote organizations and dispense no walking-around money. But some liberal pundits are starting to line up behind Howard Dean Dean riding high even before Gore gets on board Jill Lawrence and Jim Drinkard USA Today Those successes were underscored by a USA TODAY/CNN/ Gallup Poll released Monday that showed the former Vermont governor with the support of 25% of Democrats and Democratic leaners who are registered to vote. That puts him atop the nine-person field Bush Numbers Virtually Unchanged by Thanksgiving Trip To Visit Troops in Iraq, New Zogby International President George W. Bush’s unannounced trip to have Thanksgiving Dinner with troops in Baghdad has had relatively little impact on his job performance rating Beating the Bushes William Saletan Slate Notes from the presidential candidates' speeches at this weekend's Florida Democratic Party convention Now playing in 2,600 home theaters: Bush's lies about Iraq Michelle Goldberg Salon.com Director Robert Greenwald's "Uncovered" reveals the deceptions and distortions used to sell the invasion. And from the limousine liberals at Moby's bash in NYC to the regular folks in Billings, Mont., antiwar and anti-Bush audiences are eating it up Clark: Iraq war a '$150b mess' Steve LeBlanc Associated Press The Boston Globe Democratic presidential candidate Wesley K. Clark called the war in Iraq a "$150 billion mess" yesterday, saying that administration hawks came to Washington with President Bush seeking an excuse for invasion, and found it on Sept. 11, 2001 Kerry's last stand Joan Vennochi The Boston Globe With Al Gore endorsing Dean, retail politics is all Kerry has left Fewer polluters punished under Bush, data show Seth Borenstein The Houston Chronicle The Bush administration is catching and punishing far fewer polluters than the two previous administrations, according to a Knight Ridder analysis of 15 years of environmental-enforcement records House Votes, Fights and Then Adjourns Sheryl Gay Stolberg The New York Times The House slipped back into Washington on Monday to approve an $820 billion spending measure, which did not include extending unemployment benefits, then adjourned for the year Democrats decry Republican tactics in marathon vote Edward Epstein The San Francisco Chronicle Angry House Democrats, still smarting over extraordinary parliamentary maneuvers that Republicans used last month to pass the Medicare bill President Bush signed Monday, sought to upstage Bush's big moment Poets and yogis: San Francisco politics Mark Sappenfield The Christian Science Monitor Gonzalez has positioned himself as the anti-Bush in an increasingly polarized political landscape - the true liberal at a time when, to him, the Democratic Party has strayed Florida may be key for Democrats Peter Wallsten The Miami Herald Some Democratic presidential candidates who long assumed their party's nominee would be decided before Florida's primary are reconsidering that theory and adding the state back into calculations for victory FTAA takes stage in Senate race Lesley Clark The Miami Herald The pepper spray and rubber bullets used against FTAA protesters last month came back to haunt Miami-Dade Mayor Alex Penelas Sunday as thousands of Democrats gathered to get their first look at his bid to become a U.S. senator Happy Days John Cassidy The New Yorker Over all, the economy is rebounding from three years of stagnation, but the fate of manufacturing can’t be dismissed, especially since we’re entering an election year New Ground for GOP, With Kennedy's Unlikely Aid David Von Drehle The Washington Post Politics are strange in this era of impeachment, recount and recall. Consider the fact that President Bush, conservative Republican, is running for reelection in part on a record of domestic accomplishments made possible by Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (Mass.), liberal Democrat Rushing To Judgment Joel Stein Time What do conservatives like Rush Limbaugh hate more than drugs? Ambiguity
The Right Wing	Funny stuff
How Dean Could Win . . . William Kristol The Washington Post Could Dean really win? Unfortunately, yes What Got Into Gore The Prowler The American Spectator The announcement that Al Gore on Tuesday will endorse former Vermont Gov. Howie Dean so early in the process shows how systematically the Dean camp is approaching this primary season The Mysterious Stranger David Brooks The New York Times He appears outspoken, blunt and honest, but Howard Dean merely allows himself to say anything and to be almost anybody Panic and the Patriot Act Eric Posner and John Yoo The Wall Street Journal Putting aside the hysterics, the worst thing about the Patriot Act is its Orwellian name. It creates no revolution in government powers, nor does it violate the Constitution The Perils of 'Soft Power' Amir Taheri The New York Post WHAT would you do if you opposed the war to liberate Iraq and yet did not wish to join the Marxist-Islamist anti-war coalition? You might well present "soft power" as an alternative to military intervention	Q & A with Al Franken Eric Ringham The Minneapolis Star-Tribune What I really find amusing is how Republicans and conservatives would always go, "Martin Sheen? How dare he talk about politics, he's an actor! And Susan Sarandon! She has no business speaking out against the war, she's an actress!" But then it's like, "Oh, Ahnold's running! Oh, the Terminator! Yippeee!" Turkeys on the Moon Michael Moore MichaelMoore.com When I heard last week that you wanted to send a man back to the moon, I thought, get the fake goose ready -- that's where ol' George is going for the holidays!

Monday, December 8, 2003

National Security / Foreign Affairs	U.S. Politics / Election 2004
Enemy Targets Seymour M. Hersh The New Yorker Will the counter-insurgency plan in Iraq repeat the mistakes of Vietnam? The Saudi Connection David E. Kaplan U.S. News and World Report How billions in oil money spawned a global terror network The President's New Crusade Paul Starr The American Prospect It is a magical vision, and perhaps Bush sincerely believes it. But for a great power, it is a dangerous fantasy that could isolate us from our friends, sacrifice the true basis of our security and plunge us into new wars Exclusive: Cheney and the ‘Raw’ Intelligence Mark Hosenball and Michael Isikoff Newsweek A memo written by a top Washington lobbyist for the controversial Iraqi National Congress raises new questions about the role Vice President Dick Cheney’s office played in the run-up to the war in Iraq The Shiite Hit List Babak Dehghanpisheh Newsweek A warning went out, but it didn’t stop an ayatollah’s assassination. Who done it, and who might be next? Dissent in the Bunker John Barry and Evan Thomas Newsweek Newt Gingrich, a quiet Rumsfeld confidant, thinks the U.S. went ‘off a cliff’ in Iraq. A NEWSWEEK exclusive Bin Laden’s Iraq Plans Sami Yousafzai, Ron Moreau and Michael Hirsh Newsweek Osama bin Laden’s men officially broke some bad news to emissaries from Mullah Mohammed Omar, the elusive leader of Afghanistan’s ousted fundamentalist regime. Their message: Al Qaeda would be diverting a large number of fighters from the anti-U.S. insurgency in Afghanistan to Iraq Iraqi Exiles Face Uncertainty as Enthusiasm for Them Dims at Home and in Joel Brinkley and Douglas Jehl The New York Times Today, most of the former opposition leaders appear intoxicated with their roles as interim leaders after decades in the political wilderness Seeing the Futures Philip Bobbitt The New York Times This administration promised to bring best business practices to government. Scenario planning at the National Security Council should be added to the list A War of Choice or of Necessity? Lawrence J. Korb The Washington Post Ironically, while Haass is wrong about Vietnam and the first Gulf War, he is right about Iraq. It is a war of choice -- a bad choice as it turns out. Unfortunately, he was unwilling to go public with his views, as did Gen. Eric Shinseki, while he could have made a difference Jihad has worked - the world is now split in two Ewen MacAskill The Guardian (UK) Osama bin Laden, two years and three months after the New York and Washington attacks that were part of his jihad against America, appears to be winning U.S. Policy in Iraq Vanishing Down the Rabbit Hole Ira Chernus CommonDreams.org A heavy dose of fear and violence can convince these people we are here to help them. Colonel Sassaman's Alice-in-Wonderland illogic pierces to the heart of the insanity of war Will UN weapons inspections thwart American attempts to isolate Iran? Robert Collier The American Prospect The U.S. failure to find weapons of mass destruction after the war in Iraq has dealt a severe blow to the Bush administration in its attempts to take a hard line on Iran at the United Nations Afghan Villagers Torn by Grief After U.S. Raid Kills 9 Children Carlotta Gall The New York Times Residents of an Afghanistan town wondered how an attack aimed at a Taliban suspect could have killed nine children Bout of Violence Rattles Afghans Pamela Constable The Washington Post A flurry of terrorist attacks over the past several days, as well as the deaths of nine children Saturday in a U.S. air assault on a village where a lone Taliban fighter was said to be hiding, have cast a jittery pall over preparations for a historic constitutional assembly Madeline Albright David T. Cook The Christian Science Monitor Excerpts from a Monitor breakfast on: capturing Saddam Hussein, North Korea, and foreign fighters in Iraq China's 'Peaceful Rise' overshadowing US influence in Asia? Robert W. Radtke The Christian Science Monitor Because of its single-minded focus on Iraq and the war on terror, America's once broad, rich, and deeply engaged approach to Asia has become narrow and parochial. In turn, relative US influence is diminished Editorial: Beijing-Riyadh Ties: Bush should be concerned about an alliance The Dallas Morning News Saudis eventually may break with America and partner with China, which could offer the kingdom the security it needs without hassling its leaders about human rights and democracy Vlad the Victorious The Economist (UK) Sweeping aside pro-Western parties and Communists, the allies of President Vladimir Putin have won a healthy majority in parliamentary elections. Is this the death of Russia’s experiment with democracy? U.S. and 2 Allies Agree on a Plan for North Korea David E. Sanger The New York Times The Bush administration has agreed with South Korea and Japan to a broadly worded set of principles to end North Korea's nuclear program The cockroaches are celebrating Sean Gonsalves Cape Cod Times WorkingForChange.com The bill, among other things, provides funding for research in developing nuclear weapons with first-strike capability	Manservant Jonathan Chait The New Republic A cornerstone of Bush's domestic policy is his aptitude for economic giveaways that are supported by neither liberals nor true conservatives Campaign 2004: Looking for Skeletons Michael Isikoff, Holly Bailey and Richard Wolffe Newsweek The attack season has begun. The oppo squads are busy scrubbing their files—to figure out what’s in Howard Dean’s closet Campaign Clichés Richard Blow TomPaine.com Before a single vote has been counted the press has created stereotypes about the candidates that say more about the media's inability to describe complex characters than they say about the candidates themselves Kerry camp lowers N.H. expectations Patrick Healy The Boston Globe Facing harsh political terrain in New Hampshire, Senator John F. Kerry and his presidential campaign advisers have begun bracing for the possibility of a loss in the state's Jan. 27 primary A Centrist, Lieberman Fights for Votes in an Extremist Era Janny Scott The New York Times Senator Joseph I. Lieberman is running at a time when many Democrats appear to have lost the appetite for conciliation The Little Spark in Clark Joe Klein Time It appears that General Clark is beginning to figure out the politics business Operation February Karen Tumulty Time Confident about winning Iowa and New Hampshire next month, Howard Dean is already setting his sights on the rest of the nation Chastened Dean Makes Multiracial Appeal in South Jodi Wilgoren The New York Times "There is nothing black or white about having to live from one paycheck to the next," Dr. Dean told a nearly all-white crowd of 300 at a hotel here in a county that is 45 percent black Restoring the American Community DeanForAmerica.com In 1968, Richard Nixon won the White House. He did it in a shameful way -- by dividing Americans against one another, stirring up racial prejudices and bringing out the worst in people Super Web site helps Dean surge ahead Alan M. Webber USA Today Thanks mostly to three rules of the Web, Dean for now has left his competitors in the virtual dust How good are other sites? Alan M. Webber USA Today Alan M. Webber offers his analysis of other candidates' Web sites House vote could set spending, deficit records Stephen Dinan and Charles Hurt The Washington Times The House is poised to pass an omnibus spending bill today to fund much of government for 2004 — and set a record for both federal spending and federal deficits San Francisco showdown John Nichols The Nation Democrats could learn a lot from the Green mayoral candidate they're battling to beat Interview: Sidney Blumenthal with William Rivers Pitt William Rivers Pitt Truthout.org Bush has an incremental strategy across the board on how to undo the progress that has been made, not only by the Clinton administration, but all the way back to the Roosevelt administration Splitting society, not hairs John Leo U.S. News and World Report If polarization is essentially confined to a small number of actors clashing swords in front of klieg lights, why do polls show that the number of centrists and swing votes is dwindling?
The Right Wing	Funny stuff
Choice and accountability Michael Barone U.S. News and World Report Bush has redefined conservatism. It is now not the process of cutting government and devolving powers; it is the process of installing choice and accountability into government even at the cost of allowing it to grow Hillary, Congenital Hawk William Safire The New York Times If President Bush wins re-election, Hillary would likely gain the Democratic nomination in 2008, and would run as the favorite against, say, Republican Bill Frist or Jeb Bush Hillary blanches at being branded as un-American Audrey Hudson The Washington Times Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton yesterday called it "so sad" that she is being criticized as un-American for questioning Bush administration war policies while visiting troops in Iraq over the Thanksgiving holiday Closer to a Flori-done Deal Jim Geraghty National Review Republicans hope to take Bob Graham’s Senate seat Left Behind James Taranto The Wall Street Journal Democrats and liberals are beginning to sound like a beleaguered minority. They are employing many of the same complaints and tropes that Republicans and conservatives used during their decades in the political wilderness Imagining "Imagine" Joel Engel The Weekly Standard On the anniversary of John Lennon's death, it's worth taking a look at the gibberish in his beloved anthem	'Miserable failure' links to Bush BBC (UK) George W Bush has been Google bombed This Modern World Tom Tomorrow Salon.com Parallel Earth

Sunday, December 7, 2003

National Security / Foreign Affairs	U.S. Politics / Election 2004
Coalition Strike in Afghanistan Kills 9 Children Carlotta Gall and John H. Cushman, Jr. The New York Times An air attack by the U.S.-led military against a suspected terrorist in Afghanistan apparently killed nine children on Saturday Pakistan Is... Barry Bearak The New York Times A) a terrorist spawning ground; B) the next Islamic theocracy; C) a volatile nuclear power; D) a crucial American ally; E) all of the above Dirty Bomb Warheads Disappear Joby Warrick The Washington Post In the ethnic conflicts that surrounded the collapse of the Soviet Union, fighters in several countries seized upon an unlikely new weapon: a small, thin rocket known as the Alazan Iraq delays hand Cheney firm $1bn Oliver Morgan The Guardian (UK) Halliburton, the engineering group formerly run by US vice-president Dick Cheney, has been given $1 billion worth of reconstruction work in Iraq by the US government without having to compete for it, thanks to repeated delays in opening up a key contract to competition Hearts and Minds? First, Just Win Wayne Downing The Washington Post It appears that the American commanders have devised a daring and risky campaign based on a new reality: that winning the hearts and minds of the Sunni Arab population is less important than winning a decisive victory A Million Miles From the Green Zone to the Front Lines Lucian K. Truscott IV The New York Times The resentment in the ranks toward the civilian leadership in Baghdad and back in Washington is palpable Eye witness: Inside America's Baghdad comfort Zone Phil Reeves The Independent (UK) The coalition authority's fortress HQ is a world apart from the rest of Iraq Tough New Tactics by U.S. Tighten Grip on Iraq Towns Dexter Filkins The New York Times As the guerrilla war against Iraqi insurgents intensifies, American soldiers have begun wrapping entire villages in barbed wire Rebels Without a Cause or a Web Site Edward Wong The New York Times In Iraq, who are the guerrillas, what do they want and why don't they have a Web site? On the Ground, Straight From the Top The Washington Post Vernon Loeb, defense correspondent for The Post, asked commanders from the four major U.S. Army divisions in Iraq why they thought they were winning, and what they used as measures of success Funds for Iraq Are Far Short of Pledges, Figures Show Steven R. Weisman The New York Times Six weeks after organizers of an international donors conference in Madrid said that more than $3 billion in grants had been pledged to help Iraq with immediate needs, a new World Bank tally verifies grants of only $685 million How a Shady Iranian Deal Maker Kept the Pentagon's Ear James Risen The New York Times Manucher Ghorbanifar, linked to the Iran-contra affair, has set up meetings for Pentagon officials U.S. Has a Shifting Script on N. Korea Glenn Kessler The Washington Post Ever since President Bush outlined a strategy of steadily assembling a multinational coalition to confront North Korea over its nuclear ambitions, his advisers have disagreed profoundly over how tough the coalition's tactics should be Congress's Cop-Out On War David S. Broder The Washington Post December 1941 was the last time a president asked Congress for a formal declaration of war. The war in Iraq, like all the others since World War II, was fought without such a vote Lurid past returns to haunt Europe Mort Rosenblum Associated Press The Washington Times Across much of Europe, Jews see old prejudices mixing with new threats from militants among the continent's 17 million Muslims	The Dean Connection Samantha M. Shapiro The New York Times The (mostly) young people behind Howard Dean's campaign come together because they like the candidate. But they also come together because they like one another Some Dean Rivals Pin Hopes on Feb. 3 Voting Adam Nagourney The New York Times Many Democratic strategists now expect the voting on Feb. 3 to transform the race from a crowded fracas into an unencumbered two-way competition with Dr. Dean Bush Can Have Both Guns and Butter, at Least for Now Niall Ferguson The New York Times To judge by his actions, President Bush's response to the question "Guns or butter?" is: "Thanks, I'll take both." This, in short, is the guns and butter presidency Bush's Campaign Ads - Bring 'Em On, But Keep Up Your Guard Matt Peiken CommonDreams.org So it's official - George W. Bush has now spent more time wearing military attire during his presidency than he ever did when he was supposedly in the military Key race may tip balance in Senate David Mendell The Chicago Tribune After two Illinois elections in which Democrats rode roughshod over the GOP, the Democratic Party has its sights set on one of the few seats of power it doesn't have: the junior seat in the U.S. Senate The left is all that's left in S.F. mayoral politics Mark Simon The San Francisco Chronicle The battle has been all about who can manage the city and still win the left -- a battle that traces in a straight line to the mayor's race to be decided Tuesday Terrorism Jars Jewish, Arab Party Loyalties Laura Blumenfeld The Washington Post In the last presidential election, Arabs supported the Republican candidate while Jews overwhelmingly backed the Democrat. That was before the attacks of Sept. 11 The greening of America Will Hutton The Observer Some of the boldest environmental decisions are now coming from the world's most reviled country
The Right Wing	Funny stuff
U.N. troop fantasies F. Andy Messing/Elizabeth M. Stafford The Washington Times Some naively assert U.N. involvement would alleviate much of the U.S. burden in rebuilding Iraq. However, they fail to recognize the breach of trust among "allies" and the U.N.'s history of failure in peacekeeping missions

Saturday, December 6, 2003

National Security / Foreign Affairs	U.S. Politics / Election 2004
Arms Control Racing Time and Technology Judith Miller The New York Times The intricate web of treaties and international agreements to limit the spread of nuclear, biological and chemical weapons is under siege Army Will Face Dip in Readiness Vernon Loeb The Washington Post Four Army divisions -- 40 percent of the active-duty force -- will not be fully combat-ready for up to six months next year, leaving the nation with relatively few ready troops in the event of a major conflict in North Korea or elsewhere Shiites Make Up for Lost Time Alan Sipress The Washington Post Schools, Clinics and Mosques Now Reside in Former Baath Party Buildings Iraqis march in salute to U.S. The Washington Times Up to 1,000 Iraqis, including children orphaned by the war that ousted Saddam Hussein, marched through Baghdad yesterday to denounce guerrilla attacks and show support for U.S.-led occupation forces Funds eyed for Iran dissidents Bryan Bender The Boston Globe For the first time, Congress is set to approve government funds openly earmarked to help undermine the Islamic government of Iran by providing money for dissidents inside the country Words, not tantrums, to resolve Korean crisis Leon V. Sigal The Boston Globe Ignoring the president's change of heart, administration hard-liners still balk at turning his words into a specific proposal for the second round of six-nation talks slated to begin this month An Ally of Sharon Foresees a Palestinian State James Bennet The New York Times The comments, by Ehud Olmert, a leader of the dominant Likud Party, suggest that a view is gaining acceptance on Israel's political right that it must concede its dream of a "Greater Israel" Russians believe election fixed Anna Badkhen The San Francisco Chronicle As Russians prepare to head to the polls Sunday for parliamentary elections that will determine whether President Vladimir Putin has a free hand to carry out his policies, most citizens believe the vote will be rigged Russia's Party for One Susan B. Glasser The Washington Post Political analysts said the goal is even more ambitious: a long-term project to institutionalize a ruling party that could hold on to power like Japan's Liberal Democrats, who have ruled almost uninterrupted since 1955, or the Institutional Revolutionary Party that governed Mexico for 71 years Georgia Asks Rumsfeld for Aid Bradley Graham The Washington Post Georgia's new leaders appealed to Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld on Friday for U.S. financial aid to help pay the salaries of the country's military Vietnam seeks stable relations with U.S. David W. Jones The Washington Times Vietnam's deputy prime minister said he aspired in Washington talks this week to build on a relationship with the United States that is "not yet very stable" and to get Americans to change the way they think about his country	AP poll: Economy helps Bush's standings Will Lester Associated Press The Miami Herald More in the poll say they favor the president's re-election than oppose it, with 41 percent saying they will definitely vote for him and 36 percent definitely against him Democrats Try to Regain Ground on Moral Issues Rachel L. Swarns and Diane Cardwell The New York Times While much of the presidential campaign so far has focused on the economy or the war in Iraq, a different refrain is being heard from many quarters as Democratic candidates seek to distinguish themselves by discussing values There They Go Again Nicholas D. Kristof The New York Times Against the Bush juggernaut, Mr. Dean faces three disadvantages Dean's Ad Campaign Is Set to Broadcast Beyond Iowa Jodi Wilgoren and Diane Cardwell The New York Times Still in a fierce fight for the all-important Iowa caucuses on Jan. 19, Howard Dean is starting an expensive television advertising campaign in states that have nominating contests in February Is Dean stoppable? Josh Benson Salon.com Every candidate has a winning scenario -- but six weeks before the first vote, Dean looks invincible. What are the odds anybody can beat him? Clark on rise in New Hampshire Joanna Weiss The Boston Globe If Clark ends up going to the White House, these past two weeks might mark the start of the turnaround Editorial: Too Few Hires, Still The New York Times World markets are in fact giving Washington economic policy makers a vote of no confidence. That is the only way to interpret the dollar's recent baffling, and sharp, decline Conservatives Criticize Bush on Spending Dana Milbank The Washington Post This anger does not represent a political danger for Bush in the short term, conservatives leaders say, because it comes largely from conservative intellectuals, while grass-roots conservatives remain intensely loyal Michigan Congressman's Charge May Spark Inquiry Dee-Ann Durbin The Washington Post Before a recent predawn vote on Medicare, Republican lawmakers pleaded with Rep. Nick Smith (R-Mich.) to change his vote and support the bill. Was it just another case of political arm-twisting or something more? Spending Bill Vote Is Unlikely This Month Helen Dewar The Washington Post Despite a personal plea from President Bush for swift action, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) indicated yesterday that he is reluctant to call senators back to Washington this month to finish work on spending bills Wash. cancels presidential primary Eli Sanders The Boston Globe Washington became the eighth state yesterday to scrap its presidential primary, abandoning a process detractors across the country say is expensive and, in some cases, irrelevant
The Right Wing	Funny stuff
An Intelligent Democrat . . . Stephen F. Hayes The Weekly Standard Evan Bayh, a Democrat from Indiana and a leader of moderates in the Senate, responded to questions last week on the war in Iraq and a memo detailing links between Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden The Last Refuge of the Democrats Fred Barnes The Weekly Standard The claim that Democrats are targets of a political low blow by being labeled unpatriotic has become a Democratic refrain	Going Native for 2004 David Brooks The New York Times Instead of spending time in a secure environment offshore, kind, decent Republicans will be wandering innocently among packs of inflamed New York liberals

Friday, December 5, 2003

National Security / Foreign Affairs	U.S. Politics / Election 2004
Bush's Sybil-Like Foreign Policy Dick Meyer CBS News Bush's two great foreign policy doctrines - pre-emption and democratization - are at war with each other and cannot peacefully co-exist Bremer predicts an increase in attacks in Iraq CNN Despite a recent drop in attacks against U.S. troops in Iraq, the U.S. civilian administrator in Iraq Friday predicted violence will increase in the next six months as occupation authorities begin to transfer power to Iraqi leadership Pentagon and Bogus News: All Is Denied Eric Schmitt The New York Times A couple of months ago, the Pentagon quietly awarded a $300,000 contract to SAIC, a major defense consultant, to study how the Defense Department could design an "effective strategic influence" campaign to combat global terror A Tale of War: Iraqi Describes Battling G.I.'s Ian Fisher The New York Times An Iraqi who said he was a resistance fighter was interviewed in a cemetery in Hawija Thursday. He said his unit numbered about 15 guerrillas Democracy from scratch Howard LaFranchi The Christian Science Monitor One Baghdad neighborhood's halting steps toward self-rule Iraqis aiding U.S. encounter catch-22 Tod Robberson The Dallas Morning News Many government workers risk death to collect a coalition paycheck What Sistani Wants John F. Cullinan National Review Shaping Iraq's political transition, safeguarding vital U.S. Interests Spin clouds truth in polls of Iraqis Derrick Z. Jackson The Boston Globe A serious look at the polls raises serious questions of how much the Iraqi people truly want us How an American war hero is taking his battle over Iraq to Washington Andrew Buncombe The Independent (UK) The veteran's self-chosen role as the Pentagon's harshest critic and a powerful, uncensored source of what American soldiers are experiencing on the ground has never been more important Secretary of Defense Aims to Privatize the U.S. Military James Ridgeway The Village Voice The daffy secretary calls his plan "outsourcing." The intention, he claims, is to put the lid on money going into expanding of the army so it can be diverted to new technologies such as Rummy's favorite hobby, fighting wars from space Troop Strength Christian Lowe The Weekly Standard The president wants to cut U.S. forces in Iraq from 130,000 to 105,000. But the important question is, what kind of troops will be in Iraq this spring? Afghan reconstruction hastened amid Taliban resurgence Victoria Burnett The Boston Globe Khalilzad is at the helm of what some international diplomats and aid officials in Kabul see as a frantic US effort to hasten reconstruction in the destitute country and reverse a swelling resurgence of the ousted Taliban Allies at odds over how to fight Afghan drugs boom Richard Norton-Taylor and James Astill The Guardian (UK) Britain and the United States are at odds over how to deal with the massive growth in the cultivation of opium poppies in Afghanistan Editorial: NATO Melts in Afghanistan The Christian Science Monitor Losing Afghanistan to rule by warlords or even a Taliban II would seriously undercut the reputation of the 19-member North Atlantic Treaty Organization UN nuclear chief presses for better antiproliferation efforts Gregory Beals The Christian Science Monitor As inspectors begin to delve into Iran's nuclear program, the head of the United Nations atomic watchdog agency warned this week that safeguards meant to prevent nuclear proliferation are becoming increasingly battered Iran still hasn't signed nuclear deal Associated Press The Dallas Morning News Despite mounting Western pressure and the implicit threat of sanctions, Iran still has not signed a key agreement to open its nuclear facilities to intrusive inspections A Plague of Bioweapons Christopher Scheer Alternet.org Welcome to the confounding, illogical and sometimes deadly space where public health and raw science meet national security and military secrecy Amnesty International Report: US Exports $20 million of Shackles, Electro-Shock Amnesty International A new Amnesty International report charges that in 2002, the Bush Administration violated the spirit of its own export policy and approved the sale of equipment implicated in torture to Yemen, Jordan, Morocco and Thailand J. Edgar Hoover Back at the 'New' FBI Nat Hentoff The Village Voice Ashcroft's overturning of the Levi FBI guidelines was perpetrated publicly in May 2002, when he set new FBI guidelines in the spirit of COINTELPRO Bill seen as threat to civil liberties Audrey Hudson The Washington Times Tucked inside a intelligence spending bill awaiting the president's signature is a provision that allows the FBI to obtain an individual's financial records from pawn shops, casinos, car dealers and travel agents without a court order The Next Step: Securing Our Democracy Barbara Villela CommonDreams.org A very important question was posed to me the other day, regarding the aftermath of the police’s abusive handling of the Miami protests, “What do we do now?” Other People's History Marty Jezer CommonDreams.org This year is the Fiftieth Anniversary of the CIA coup that overthrew a democratic, secular, and progressive government in Iran Both sides fault Geneva peace plan Charles A. Radin The Boston Globe The Swiss-sponsored Middle East peace plan launched amid much Hollywood glitz in Geneva early this week has little or no chance of resolving the bloody Palestinian-Israeli conflict, and may make matters worse, according to leaders and activists on both sides A wall apart Arnaud de Borchgrave The Washington Times Gen. Ya'alon, not known for being soft on Palestinians, is strongly opposed to the snaking 360-mile, part wall, part electronic fence, part ditch with razor wire, and paved service road Israelis Conclude Hamas Has Suspended Its Suicide Attacks Greg Myre The New York Times The Israeli official cited the European Union's move to put Hamas on its list of terrorist groups and the freezing of its assets as factors in the organization's cutting off suicide bombings New kind of candidate makes waves in China Michael A. Lev The Chicago Tribune When change comes knocking, not everyone answers, but one Beijing hopeful with long odds is challenging the status quo by running his own campaign--on foot Georgia will get more U.S. aid Ken Stier The Washington Times The shape of aid for the first time will include substantial assistance to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, which in the past has been avoided as a "cesspool of corruption," the official said	Letter From South Carolina Paul Wachter The Nation Thurmond's death marked the end of an era, in that he was one of the South's last living political links to the days of colored water fountains and segregated lunch counters. But even as that era is passing into history, history itself is becoming a battleground Why I Gave George Soros The Washington Post I have scrupulously abided by both the letter and the spirit of the law. Both America Coming Together and the MoveOn.org Voter Fund are "527" organizations Poll shows Dean edging past Edwards in S.C. MSNBC Howard Dean’s presidential campaign continues to gain steam, with the former Vermont governor moving to the head of the pack in South Carolina’s Democratic race, according to a poll released Friday Dean's people call `Meetup,' but few show Flynn McRoberts and Jeff Zeleny The Chicago Tribune The gap between the campaign's organizational boasts and the reality of its Meetup attendance this week illustrates the central challenge facing Dean less than seven weeks before the Jan. 19 caucuses Dean Organizers Take Lesson From Labor Adam Nagourney The New York Times With little notice, the Dean campaign will, sometime this week, log its 1,000th neighborhood meeting like the one that took place here Sunday at the home of Jim and Polly Curran Dean, Clark catch Lieberman in Florida Peter Wallsten The Miami Herald Six months ago, Dean was at 1 percent among Florida Democrats. Now he leads, with 16 percent, compared to 15 for Clark and Lieberman Iraq erodes Bush favor in Florida Peter Wallsten The Miami Herald In a state that could tip the balance in next year's election, President Bush has lost support. No challenger is more popular than he is, though Group to go on attack in Fla. against Bush on environment Jim Drinkard USA Today The group, Environment 2004, hopes to spend up to $5 million in about six states where the vote margin was close in 2000 and where issues such as water and air quality are particularly important Dean's Ads Get Fiscal Howard Kurtz The Washington Post Hours after finding himself under assault on the airwaves as a big-taxing liberal, Howard Dean fired back yesterday Job One For Kerry: Rebound In N.H. Dan Balz The Washington Post Two new polls charted the erosion of his support in a state where the Massachusetts senator was once the heavy favorite Kerry Withdrawal Contest Mickey Kaus Slate Help him drop out now and avoid humiliation Kerry campaign aims to tap donors of some of his rivals Patrick Healy The Boston Globe Behind in the polls and battling perceptions that his campaign is faltering, Kerry has just embarked on a seven-state, 14-fund-raiser tear in hopes of erasing doubts about his chances Dishonoring the Dead Eleanor Clift Newsweek MSNBC The president’s numbers are up and, oh, by the way, another U.S. soldier died in Iraq last night Wag the Turkey Brian Braiker Newsweek Turkeygate unfolded merely one day after British Airways that announced that none of its pilots made contact with President Bush’s plane during its secret flight to Baghdad Bush's Religious Language Juan Stam The Nation Theologian Juan Stam challenges Bush's "heretical manipulation of religious language." Backing Down on Steel Tariffs, U.S. Strengthens Trade Group David E. Sanger The New York Times The W.T.O. forced the Bush White House into a 180-degree turn over steel tariffs, a rare feat for an international organization during this presidency Electorally, this move makes sense Anne E. Kornblut The Boston Globe President Bush faced a stark political choice as he mulled the decision to lift tariffs on steel imports: Would it be better to infuriate steelworkers who wanted to keep the tax, or manufacturers who would suffer if he abolished it? The not-quite-so-jobless recovery The Economist (UK) Just 57,000 Americans were added to the payrolls last month. Will this tentative employment growth be enough to keep George Bush on the federal payroll next year? Fiddling While the Dollar Drops David Ignatius The Washington Post The dollar is sinking these days on good news and bad, and the explanation is pretty simple: Investors around the world are worried that the Bush administration's policies are eroding the value of the U.S. currency Looting the Future Paul Krugman The New York Times What really makes me wonder whether this republic can be saved, however, is the downward spiral in governance, the hijacking of public policy by private interests Sharpton Is Campaigning for Presidency and Influence Michael Slackman The New York Times The Rev. Al Sharpton appreciates just how long a shot he is for the 2004 Democratic presidential nomination, but he is accustomed to defying expectations Return of the man who, Democrats say, put Bush in office Duncan Campbell The Guardian (UK) Ralph Nader, whose presidential candidacy infuriated Democrats in the 2000 election, is seriously considering running again next year
The Right Wing	Funny stuff
The Literal Left Christopher Hitchens Slate Have opponents of the war been vindicated? Not so fast Don’t Tell Us What to Do Patrick Hynes The American Spectator Fred Barnes warns Howard Dean in a recent edition of The Weekly Standard, "New Hampshire voters take a perverse pleasure in knocking off frontrunners." Not true. First of all, there's nothing perverse about wanting to smack the smirk off a smarmy, Green Mountain midget like Dean Stop the Cheap Shots At the Patriot Act Peter King and Ed Koch The New York Post The bottom line is that the criticisms by Gore and the other critics are shameful and irresponsible. Of course we gave our government added power in the aftermath of 9/11 Neo-Protectionist-in-Chief Deroy Murdock National Review To satisfy parochial domestic interests, Bush's neo-protectionism creates headaches for American soldiers and diplomats abroad. This counterproductive shortsightedness cannot stop soon enough The Delusional Dean Charles Krauthammer The Washington Post Bush Derangement Syndrome: the acute onset of paranoia in otherwise normal people in reaction to the policies, the presidency -- nay -- the very existence of George W. Bush Domesticated Dean Rich Lowry National Review Kerry criticizes Bush for what appears to be a "politically expedient" strategy of "cut and run" in Iraq. This is rather rich coming from the candidate who voted against the $87 billion package Making Democracy Work Ralph Peters The New York Post While this column has long maintained that the wisest course of action would be to break up this Frankenstein's monster of a country and allow the major population groups smaller states of their own, we are, for now, committed to a unified Iraq Nuggets of trust Austin Bay The Washington Times A mental reconstruction is under way in Iraq, and the Iraqi people are not only aware of their savaged state but know they bear a responsibility for the future	Tom the Dancing Bug Ruben Bolling Salon.com Super Fun-Pak Comix

Thursday, December 4, 2003

National Security / Foreign Affairs	U.S. Politics / Election 2004
Iranians Offer Neighborly Advice Karl Vick The Washington Post In two dozen interviews on the streets of Isfahan -- Iran's second-largest and most splendid city -- only two ordinary Iranians answered with a firm yes when asked whether their theocratic system offered a model to Iraq Body Armor Saves Lives in Iraq Vernon Loeb and Theola Labbé The Washington Post Gen. John Abizaid, head of the U.S. Central Command and commander of all military forces in Iraq, told a House Appropriations subcommittee in September that he could not "answer for the record why we started this war with protective vests that were in short supply." Governing Council in 'a serious crisis' U.S.-appointed body has little power, its Steven Komarow USA Today Six months after its creation as a bridge to democracy, the Iraqi Governing Council may be hampering the U.S.-led coalition's efforts to speed up the transfer of political power to Iraqis Night raid in Baghdad Jen Banbury Salon.com "Twenty-three hours of boredom and a minute of hell": Our reporter joins U.S. troops on a mission to find guerrillas Hamstrung Hawks Richard Wolffe Newsweek The war in Iraq was supposed to make life easier for the doommongers. Instead, the conflict has made it harder for Washington to crack down on Iran and North Korea The Mideast as arc of freedom - or false hope Peter Grier and Faye Bowers The Christian Science Monitor As Bush touts the Mideast as another Soviet bloc ripe for change, critics see a blend of rhetoric and rationalization Bush idealism at odds with realities of democracy Pat M. Holt The Christian Science Monitor America's got a long record of shooting to "make 'em vote." God and Man in Baghdad Thomas L. Friedman The New York Times If things go reasonably well, the result will be an initial Iraqi government that is more religious than Turkey but more democratic than Iran. Not bad Fox News' Occupation Critic David Corn The Nation.com One of the harsher critics in the media of the Bush administration's postwar actions has been retired Major Bob Bevelacqua, a Fox News military analyst Casualty balance sheet Jack Kelly The Washington Times If the guerrillas think hit-and-run terrorism is insufficient to keep their strategic situation from worsening, there will be more attacks like that in Samarra, and that will hasten the Saddamites' doom A Brewing Constitutional Crisis Pamela Constable The Washington Post As more than 19,000 delegates gathered in eight cities this week to choose 500 members of the constitutional assembly, or loya jirga, the impassioned and often contradictory views of delegates foreshadowed a long, heated battle What Georgia Taught Us Lutz Kleveman Slate Washington must stop aiding Central Asia's dictators Rumsfeld Discusses Tighter Military Ties With Azerbaijan Bradley Graham The Washington Post Greeting Aliyev at the start of a meeting in the presidential building, Rumsfeld congratulated him on the election victory. But asked at a news conference afterward about whether the vote met international standards for free and fair elections, he offered no opinion Making Sure the Money Goes Where It's Supposed To Anthony Richter and Svetlana Tsalik The New York Times So intense is the need for oil that the United States often turns a blind eye to problems of governance in those countries — whether the leaders are corrupt, abuse human rights or block any moves toward democracy Powell denies dead lock on talks Nicholas Kralev The Washington Times Negotiations appear to have hit a snag, with the North demanding that it receive the assurances once it promises to abandon its program, while Washington wants proof of compliance before giving a security pledge Russia's elections could shut out democrats U.S. wary as hard-liners get stronger Bill Nichols USA Today Russia's two major pro-democracy parties could lose all their parliamentary seats Editorial: A valid peace proposal The Boston Globe If Powell shows good judgment, he will tell Beilin and Rabbo not simply that they conducted an interesting exercise but that they negotiated a good agreement -- one not too different from the treaty that future leaders will have to sign one day Geneva is a blueprint for war, not peace Jeff Jacoby The Boston Globe THE INTERNATIONAL applause greeting the so-called Geneva Accord -- the unofficial Israeli-Palestinian "peace" agreement formally presented in Switzerland this week -- is a vivid illustration of the world's contempt for the Jewish state It's Not Over 'Til the Fat Lady Sings Amanda Griscom Grist The United Nations' Kyoto Protocol conference, being held in the Italian city this week and next, has so far been characterized by high drama and public spectacle Into Thin Air: Kyoto Accord May Not Die (or Matter) Andrew C. Revkin The New York Times The possibility remains that the statement on Tuesday by the Russian official, Andrei N. Illarionov, the top economic adviser to President Vladimir V. Putin, was just a negotiating ploy Obasanjo tackles world role, local woes John Donnelly The Boston Globe Obasanjo faces an increasingly unhappy situation in his own country, Africa's most populous at roughly 130 million people	Dean Stretches Lead Over Kerry in New Hampshire Primary to 42% - 12% Zogby International Clark in 3rd with 9% in Newest Zogby International Poll; Two-thirds of Dems and Independents say it is somewhat or very likely President Bush will be re-elected Early Flood of Political Ads Saturates Airwaves in Iowa Jim Rutenberg The New York Times The barrage underscores the belief that Iowa has become more critical in determining who wins the Democratic nomination Dean Now Courting Party Insiders Jim VandeHei and Paul Farhi The Washington Post While Dean has risen to the top of polls in Iowa, New Hampshire and other key states as the anti-Washington candidate, he is adjusting his campaign tactics to appeal to establishment Democrats who can help deliver the money, manpower and momentum Rebel With A Cause Donna Ladd The Progressive Populist TomPaine.com Gov. Dean did not say that the party should condone the Confederate battle flag; he said they should talk to and appeal to those voters Kerry Vows To Change U.S. Foreign Policy Edward Walsh The Washington Post In the first 100 days of his administration, Kerry said, he would travel to the United Nations and to traditional U.S. allies to assure them that the United States has "rejoined the community of nations" Kerry warns of ‘cut and run’ in Iraq Tom Curry MSNBC In a major national security address Wednesday Democratic presidential contender John Kerry was sounding an alarm about premature U.S. withdrawal from Iraq “Making America Secure Again: Setting the Right Course for Foreign Policy” John Kerry JohnKerry.com An Address to the Council on Foreign Relations by John Kerry Byrd to Block Omnibus Funding Bill Helen Dewar The Washington Post "Instead of sending 13 fiscally responsible appropriations bills to the president, we are being force-fed a bad piece of legislation dictated to the Congress by the Bush administration," Byrd said Worker output rises at 9.4% clip Best gain in 20 years adds fuel to economy Barbara Hagenbaugh USA Today Worker productivity rose at the quickest pace in 20 years in the third quarter Black voters divided on candidates Brian DeBose The Washington Times With the primary season less than two months away, black voters have yet to unite behind a single Democratic challenger to President Bush — something that hasn't happened in 20 years In the Tank Benjamin Wallace-Wells The Washington Monthly The intellectual decline of AEI Manufacturing Discontent David Moberg In These Times The manufacturing jobs crisis creates political problems for Bush in key Midwestern and Southern states Why some gun owners are unhappy with Bush Todd Wilkinson The Christian Science Monitor Perhaps no example is more poignant than a recent petition signed by hundreds of gun clubs - on behalf of untold thousands of members - telling Dale Bosworth, Forest Service chief, to keep in place Clinton-era protection of old-growth forests Union Leaders Want Gephardt Aide Fired Dan Balz The Washington Post The presidents of the nation's two largest unions angrily demanded that Rep. Richard A. Gephardt (D-Mo.) dismiss one of his senior advisers yesterday, charging that she threatened to try to retaliate if their unions campaigned for former Vermont governor Howard Dean in Missouri
The Right Wing	Funny stuff
60 Proof Terry Eastland The Weekly Standard Senator John Cornyn on limited government, how the Senate works, and the pursuit of a filibuster-proof majority	Cartoon: The Simple Life Mark Fiore MarkFiore.com The Bird Was Perfect But Not For Dinner Mike Allen The Washington Post In Iraq Picture, Bush Is Holding the Centerpiece

Wednesday, December 3, 2003

National Security / Foreign Affairs	U.S. Politics / Election 2004
Dismantling U.S. democracy Charles Levendosky The International Herald Tribune Terrorism at home would activate the Northern Command's military operations. So, despite the 1878 Posse Comitatus Act, Americans might find their streets patrolled by combat troops U.S. to Form Iraqi Paramilitary Force Rajiv Chandrasekaran The Washington Post The U.S. civilian and military leadership in Iraq has decided to form a paramilitary unit composed of militiamen from the country's five largest political parties to identify and pursue insurgents U.S. rejects Israeli protests Sharon Behn The Washington Times "I am the American secretary of state. I have an obligation ... to listen to individuals who have interesting ideas," said Secretary of State Colin L. PowelI The Geneva Accord: Full Text Tikkun Bush ignores the developing world Jeffrey D. Sachs The Miami Herald This year, the United States will spend around $450 billion for the military, including the costs of the Iraq War, while it will spend no more than $15 billion to overcome global poverty, environmental degradation and disease U.N.: Al Qaeda sanctions failing CNN A lack of international cooperation and resolve is holding back efforts to stem the flow of money, arms and supporters to al Qaeda, a U.N. report has warned Phase three: civil war Simon Tisdall The Guardian (UK) The post-occupation power struggle in Iraq may yet be the bloodiest chapter in the conflict Realities Overtake Arab Democracy Drive Glenn Kessler and Robin Wright The Washington Post In stark contrast to the president's four powerful speeches this year pledging to promote democracy in the Middle East, the Bush administration has settled on a combination of gentle nudging and modest funding to achieve its ambitious goals Leftover Democracy James Ridgeway The Village Voice Truth be told, Iraq is too good to be true—for Bush. The policy of the Bush administration is "No Exit." American Terminator Niall Ferguson Newsweek International The U. S. can inflict great damage while sustaining none, and is programmed to rebuild itself, but not others. That’s its problem Muddling Through Robert Lane Greene The New Republic As both Iraq and the former Soviet Union make clear, the legacy of totalitarianism is utterly debilitating Why don't Iraqis help the U.S. catch the 'thugs and assassins'? Trudy Rubin The Philadelphia Inquirer Why is it that U.S. forces can't acquire the necessary human intelligence to catch Saddam Hussein or defeat the "bad guys"? More Dinars, Please Fred Kaplan Slate.com We've spent Saddam's stash, now let's have at Rummy's slush fund A Shiite challenge divides Iraqis Nicholas Blanford The Christian Science Monitor US backs elections by March 2005; a key Shiite wants them by July 2004 Anti-Patriot Act Measure Drops From Bill Jesse J. Holland Associated Press The Dallas Morning News A House measure rolling back part of the USA Patriot Act won't make it through Congress this year, but the measure's GOP author says he'll try again next year Civil Disobedience On Trial John Passacantando TomPaine.com The significance of this case goes far beyond Greenpeace; it is about the fundamental rights of all Americans to engage in peaceful protest Another McCarthy Era Steven Rosenfeld TomPaine.com Boston University Professor Emeritus Howard Zinn is an historian and author of A People's History of the United States. He was interviewed by TomPaine.com’s Steven Rosenfeld Russia to Reject Pact on Climate, Putin Aide Says Steven Lee Myers and Andrew C. Revkin The New York Times A Kremlin official declared that Russia would not ratify the Kyoto Protocol, delivering what could be a fatal blow to years of diplomatic efforts Suppressed study shows jump in anti-Semitism Matthew Kalman The San Francisco Chronicle Defying a ban by the European Union's watchdog group on racism, the European Jewish Congress on Tuesday released a suppressed EU study on its Web sites that shows a surge in anti-Jewish attacks and propaganda in Europe Shoulder-fired missiles: A concern to U.S. aviation Mimi Hall USA Today Homeland Security officials havelaunched a 2-year program to lookat the cost and feasibility of putting protective devices on airplanes.Some say the U.S. can't afford to wait A tale of two Senators Geov Parrish WorkingForChange.com Defense contract cheating will continue until more political leaders demand Pentagon accountability	Baghdad visit gives big boost to Bush Stephen Dinan The Washington Times Overall approval of the president's handling of his job went from 56 to 61 percent, while disapproval went from 41 to 36 percent Cheney's grab-and-go rubs some the wrong way Richard Benedetto USA Today Unlike President Bush, who often combines fundraising with a stop at a school, senior center, factory or military base, Cheney sticks to raising money White House, EPA Move To Ease Mercury Rules Eric Pianin The Washington Post The Bush administration is working to undo regulations that would force power plants to sharply reduce mercury emissions and other toxic pollutants Dean is probably not the McGovern of Democratic establishment fears Suzanne Nossel The Christian Science Monitor It is precisely because of Dean's combative temperament that, despite opposing the war, he isn't seen as soft on Saddam Hussein, or on much of anything Takes One To Know One William Saletan Slate Democrats learned the hard way that when it comes to politics, if not war, Bush has no shame and takes no prisoners. Now Republicans will learn the same about Dean Dean -- so far -- seems to have no Achilles' heel Walter Shapiro USA Today Dean seems in many ways to be the first Teflon-coated Democrat Dean Stumbles Over Sealed Records Howard Fineman Newsweek Is Howard Dean ready for prime time? I’m not so sure after watching him handle—if that is the word—the issue that has taken possession of his campaign this week Dean Records May Remain Sealed Dan Balz and Mike Allen The Washington Post Howard Dean, facing criticism for going to unusual lengths to seal records of his governorship of Vermont, said Tuesday that he is unlikely to make a quick decision about whether to seek to open them Political 'beat the clock' Robert Kuttner The Boston Globe If Bush wins in 2004, a radicalized right wing will have wall-to-wall control of government. It is hard to think of another American election -- perhaps 1860 -- where the consequences were more momentous and the outcome more dependent on luck and timing Attention, Wal-Mart Voters Rick Perlstein The Village Voice Not All Heartland Voters Are Buying Bush D.C. Upside Down Michael Hirsh Newsweek International Today there is a rebalancing of influence between the new transformationalists and the old traditionalists, between those who cry freedom and those who fret about its burdens The inevitable vice presidential nominee Mark Shields CNN To run for national leadership, you should first have a compelling personal story to tell. New York State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, 44, has one great story John Kerry's Desperate Hours Will Dana Rolling Stone The one-time Democratic front-runner is fighting for his survival Tear Down That Wal-Mart Mickey Z. AlterNet Wal-Mart is America's largest employer. General Motors used to be America's largest employer but GM is too busy being Mexico's largest employer now Dick Gephardt campaign manager Steve Murphy David T. Cook The Christian Science Monitor Excerpts from a Monitor breakfast on the Democratic presidential campaign Clark hints he would explore Cuba ties Peter Wallsteen The Miami Herald Though not calling for an end to the embargo, Democratic hopeful Wesley Clark says the U.S. should `help the Cuban people.' Sharpton in the Rainbow's Shadow Ta-Nehisi Coates The Village Voice f there's one incident that will come to personify Al Sharpton's bid for president, it may be last month's public spat with his mentor's son—Jesse Jackson Jr. Polarization Myths . . . Robert J. Samuelson The Washington Post Anyone who lived through the 1960s, when struggles over Vietnam and civil rights spilled into the streets and split families, must know that we're much less polarized today . . . And Manners Anne Applebaum The Washington Post To the extent that the rise of partisanship reflects the existence of greater passions, on both the right and the left, maybe it's a good thing that politics can channel them
The Right Wing	Funny stuff
Party lines and political designs Bruce Bartlett The Washington Times There is no real alternative for libertarians interested in having some influence on national policy and politics Will Iraq Be Howard's End? Michael O'Hanlon The Wall Street Journal Contrary to popular belief, Dean has waffled Kennedy’s Crimes Against Fact Jonathan H. Adler The National Review online The latest, and perhaps most egregious, example of anti-Bush environmental fear-mongering is an essay by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in the December 11 Rolling Stone, "Crimes Against Nature."	Actual Quote Comix! Scott Bateman WorkingForChange.com

Tuesday, December 2, 2003

National Security / Foreign Affairs	U.S. Politics / Election 2004
Delusions in Baghdad Mark Danner The New York Review of Books If victory in war is defined as accomplishing the political goals for which military means were originally brought to bear, then eight months after it invaded Iraq, the United States remains far from victory U.S. Sees Lesson for Insurgents in an Iraq Battle Dexter Filkins and Ian Fisher The New York Times Americans vowed that the killing of as many as 54 insurgents would serve as a lesson, but Iraqis disputed the death toll Battle Reveals New Iraqi Tactics Anthony Shadid The Washington Post Troops Startled by Fighters' Unprecedented Coordination and Resolve Out Of Touch Nina Burleigh TomPaine.com The latest Iraq policy experts are well-connected, confident and utterly disconnected from day-to-day life there Bottom of the barrel George Monbiot The Guardian (UK) The world is running out of oil - so why do politicians refuse to talk about it? One Year Later, Two Afghan Deaths in US Prison Still Unexplained Amnesty International Amnesty International Laments Lack of Progress in Investigation Transition follies Bruce Fein The Washington Times With its wealth of domestic political genius, it is astonishing that the Bush administration's post-Saddam policy for transitioning to an indigenous Iraqi government overflows with foolishness Editorial: Answering the Ayatollah The Washington Post Mr. Sistani surely calculates, as do Iraq's worried Kurdish and Sunni communities, that early elections could empower Shiite politicians effectively controlled by the clerics -- meaning the ayatollahs would exercise ultimate authority over the constitution and future governments Bush's PR Problem Fareed Zakaria The Washington Post What is going on here? How does the chief representative of the world's oldest constitutional democracy lose a popularity contest to the leader of a Leninist party? Registration of Muslims, Arabs halted Audrey Hudson The Washington Times A federal immigration program targeting men from Middle Eastern countries for mandatory registration was abruptly ended yesterday by the Homeland Security Department Army Reserve troops ordered back overseas Dave Moniz USA Today In another sign of the severe strain overseas deployments are putting on the nation's part-time troops, the Army Reserve is about to send 160 soldiers back to Afghanistan and Iraq 10 months after many returned from a one-year tour of duty U.S. rejects Syrian overtures on relations, Israel David R. Sands The Washington Times The Bush administration yesterday gave a cold shoulder to an unusual public appeal from Syrian President Bashar Assad for better bilateral relations and for U.S. support for new peace talks between Syria and Israel U.S.-funded Iraqi network challenges Arab stations Associated Press CNN One of the chief U.S. weapons in the battle to win Iraqi hearts and minds is Al-Iraqiya -- a Pentagon-funded TV station with an optimistic, pro-American slant	The Uncompassionate Conservative Molly Ivins Mother Jones In order to understand why George W. Bush doesn't get it, you have to take several strands of common Texas attitude, then add an impressive degree of class-based obliviousness Dean pushing Democratic Congress Glen Johnson The Boston Globe Howard Dean has said repeatedly that he would, against the odds, help elect a Democratic Congress to move his agenda if he were elected president next year Change in Consumer Confidence and Thus the Presidency Daniel Akst The New York Times Although economists may debate the extent to which presidents influence the economy, there is no doubt that the economy influences presidential elections Wooing the Single Women Vote Lakshmi Chaudhry AlterNet Unmarried women may be the silver bullet that unseats the Bush administration in the 2004 elections -- if they make it to the voting booth Black caucus expands its agenda beyond race Associated Press The Dallas Morning News As constituencies change, so do the issues group takes a stand on Tiny but Trusted Inner Circle Surrounds Dean Paul Farhi The Washington Post Although his campaign staff has been growing, O'Connor remains at the heart of what is still a tiny cadre of advisers whom Dean consults on ideas and strategies Dean forces rivals to focus on Iowa, New Hampshire Donald Lambro The Washington Times Antiwar candidate Howard Dean is lengthening his lead in Iowa and New Hampshire, forcing his closest Democratic presidential rivals to spend more time in those states as he campaigns across the country Can we afford all this? John F. Dickerson Time Magazine CNN The $400 billion MEDICARE benefit is the latest in a string of pricey outlays — and Congress's spending spree is not over. Does it matter, and does anybody care? The Politics of Payoff E. J. Dionne Jr. The Washington Post Redistribution to the poor is not the only way to shift money around. The government's coffers can also be run down by redistribution to the wealthy and to favored interest groups Hollywood searches for a Democratic star Tim Grieve Salon.com Howard Dean took an early lead in entertainment-industry fundraising, but Wes Clark is making a run among the moguls and stars who backed Bill Clinton Liberals take jab at right's upper hand Naftali Bendavid The Chicago Tribune Liberal activists, frustrated by what they see as powerful conservative voices including Rush Limbaugh, Fox News Channel and the Heritage Foundation, have begun creating institutions they hope will compete with conservatives States out of the red but still seeing red Daniel B. Wood The Christian Science Monitor Budgets nationwide are improving after three years of shortfalls. Yet the long-term climate grows harsher Economic news isn't so bright in key states Peronet Despeignes USA Today The laggards include seven of the 14 most tightly contested states in the very tight 2000 presidential election Dean Defends Sealing His Papers as Governor Jodi Wilgoren The New York Times Howard Dean defended a decision he made when he left office to keep nearly half of his official papers secret for a decade DeLay's Cruise Ship Plan Infuriates New York Unions Michael Slackman The New York Times Tom DeLay's proposal to use a cruise ship as a hotel and entertainment center during the Republican National Convention next summer has infuriated local labor unions and given gleeful New York Democrats an issue to use against their adversaries Strong Green challenge in San Francisco worries Democrats Lisa Leff Associated Press The San Francisco Chronicle Now that the Democrat hoping to succeed Mayor Willie Brown is facing an unexpectedly tight runoff election against a Green Party candidate, the City Hall race is attracting unusual attention from national Democrats
The Right Wing	Funny stuff
No Show Andrew Sullivan The New Republic There are good reasons why the president isn't attending soldiers' funerals How Bush Can Lose Brendan Miniter OpinionJournal.com Some conservatives are unhappy with the president. Will they stay home in November? Liberal Talk Radio’s Identity Crisis Byron York The National Review online Don't think Rush — think Daily Show. And don't think liberal The war on terror Roger D. Carstens The Washington Times Since we cannot permanently kill all terrorists, we must allow them to flock to areas of "false sanctuary," where we can monitor them, killing them when they become too populous or bothersome Hating George Bush, and loving it Wesley Pruden The Washington Times The hatred will darken and fester as the situation in Iraq improves, as it will, and as the economy pops and crackles to life, as it has begun to do

Monday, December 1, 2003

National Security / Foreign Affairs	U.S. Politics / Election 2004
Difficulty of selling a long-term presence in Iraq Linda Feldmann The Christian Science Monitor Bush's Baghdad surprise was a boost to morale - but the American occupation remains a PR minefield For the Iraqis, a Missile Deal That Went Sour David E. Sanger and Thom Shanker The New York Times Saddam Hussein negotiated with North Korea to obtain a missile assembly line, but the deal did not go exactly as he imagined Jailed Muslim Had Made a Name in Washington Mary Beth Sheridan and Douglas Farah The Washington Post Alamoudi Won Respect as a Moderate Advocate State Dept. hawk has firm hand in policies Undersecretary is known for his bluntness Barbara Slavin and Bill Nichols USA Today A State Department colleague calls John Bolton a ''guided missile.'' Shiite Clerics Emerge as Key Power Brokers Anthony Shadid The Washington Post Ayatollahs Weigh Role Of Islam in Iraqi Politics Imperial folly: on landing in "Baghdad" Tom Engelhardt TomDispatch.com I have no doubt - based on watching TV last night - that this political coup de theater will briefly pump up support here for the President (or at least that ephemeral category of presidential existence, his "job approval rating") Editorial: The U.N.'s Challenge in Iraq The New York Times The Security Council, which has long been divided over Iraqi sovereignty and the U.N.'s political role, needs to make its own judgment on the new transition timetable Attacks turning to US allies in Iraq Nicholas Blanford The Christian Science Monitor In response to a two-week crackdown by the US military, Iraqi insurgents are switching tactics from hit-and-run raids against American troops to attacking the coalition's vulnerable allies Body bag count puts strains on coalition Giles Tremlett and Duncan Campbell The Guardian (UK) Spanish PM fights off calls to pull out after record death toll Happy holidays from the Dept. of Homeland Security Bill Berkowitz WorkingForChange.com Sec. Ridge has tons of stuff in the hopper, but how much of it will make you and your family safer? Giving thanks for freedom Molly Ivins WorkingForChange.com Imagine my surprise to see in the headlines this Thanksgiving week that the Federal Bureau of Investigation is "targeting peace groups." Editorial: Strike a Balance: FBI spying on protests is troubling The Dallas Morning News Just because the FBI can spy on those who dissent from administration policy doesn't mean it should Justice Stonewalls Susan Collins The Wall Street Journal Why can't we find out if terror suspects became U.S. citizens?	Do Democrats Need the South? Sam Parry ConsortiumNews.org As long as many white Southerners hold to the righteousness of their discrimination against others, there is only so much the Democratic Party can do – or should do – to win back the South Too Many Promises Nicholas Lemann The New Yorker George W. Bush, more than is immediately apparent, is himself a sixties President Good Iraq PR tends to fade fast for president Initial applause tempered by war news, Judy Keen USA Today A triumphant trip to Baghdad doesn't guarantee President Bush soaring poll ratings, the permanent defanging of his opponents or an end to his problems MoveOn moves up Michelle Goldberg Salon.com O'Reilly, DeLay and the GOP have declared war on it. But the online citizen movement grows richer and stronger by the day A nation divided Gary Younge The Guardian (UK) A nation riven between those who adore President Bush and those who abhor him is in no mood for reasoned discussion Liberals finding their voice -- and it's angry Bush is target: 'We have been too nice' Kathy Kiely USA Today The sudden emergence of an outspoken left wing may be the most surprising political development of the year On Hill, relations take turn for worse Anne E. Kornblut The Boston Globe Over the course of more than a year, Republicans have foiled their opponents on issues large and small, and in ways that Democrats say are unprincipled if not illegal Editorial: No Way to Govern The Washington Post The omnibus has become a device of choice as well as of necessity. It's a convenient club for the administration to get its way -- by threatening a veto that would bring nearly the entire government to a halt -- even when a majority of lawmakers disagree GOP senators call for restraint Audrey Hudson The Washington Times President Bush and congressional Republicans must curtail spending sprees or face demands for new tax increases to cover the resulting budget deficits, two key Republican senators said yesterday The Great Election Grab Jeffrey Toobin The New Yorker When does gerrymandering become a threat to democracy? President Bush would win state, poll says Associated Press The Miami Herald If next year's election were held today, President Bush would carry Florida by a much larger margin than in 2000, a new poll says
The Right Wing	Funny stuff
Conservatism, Um, Evolving George F. Will Newsweek By the time the conservatives running Congress and this conservative president are done doing what they think will win the next election, tweezers may be needed to pick up the remnants of conservatism as traditionally understood Democratizing Iraq Eleana Gordon The National Review online Americans will be surprised to learn how little we have done so far to actually teach Iraqis about the democratic institutions we are promising to help them build The Liberal Hangover Adam Wolfson The National Review online The utopian Left believes that the wolf can be made to dwell with the lamb. Their preferred method of dealing with wolfish dictators is to "dialogue" with them Bull's eye view of U.S. economy Lawrence Kudlow The Washington Times Democratic pessimists on the campaign trail will get nowhere with the American people next year. The nine tax-raising Mondales would wreck recovery Gearing to beat terror Mark Steyn The Washington Times We ought to be clear that, though this isn't a conventional war, a victory for America will require the defeat of certain other	Eight Strategies for Modern Living Charles Ullman McSweeney's Read so many books about a certain subject that you can no longer remember which book said what about the subject or why it matters. Go back and read them all again, taking notes this time An apology to younger Americans Sam Smith Progressive Review We became not only the generation that invented the phrase, 'never trust anyone over thirty,' we proved it