Friday, May 06, 2005

Knight Ridder's Warren Strobel and John Walcott report that the "highly classified British memo, leaked in the midst of Britain's just-concluded election campaign," indicates that 'Bush made intel fit Iraq policy.' [Cursor.org] 3:24:43 PM     RC Car Bombs car bombs in action U.S. general suggests some suicide car bombings in Iraq may not be suicide cases By Robert Burns, Associated Press, 5/5/2005 16:54 WASHINGTON (AP) In a shift by the insurgents in Iraq, an increasing number of suicide car bombs are being detonated by people outside the vehicles, a senior military officer said Thursday. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. James T. Conway told reporters that the meaning of this trend is not yet clear but it might suggest that Iraqis, who typically do not use the tactic of suicide attacks, are being forced or duped by foreign fighters into operating vehicles used in bombing missions. Conway, director of operations for the Joint Chiefs of Staff and previously the commander of all Marines in Iraq, said in the last week to 10 days the number of insurgent attacks involving car bombs has increased, including suicide car bombs. In Baghdad on Thursday, such a car bomb exploded near an Iraqi police patrol, killing one officer and wounding six. Another suicide car bomber hit a U.S. military convoy in Baghdad's southern Doura neighborhood, destroying a large truck but causing no American casualties. It was not immediately apparent whether either of the car bombs was remotely detonated. Juan Cole says the following A US military commander suggests that more car bombs in Iraq appear to be being detonated remotely. This technique suggests that the masterminds of the bombings either do no trust the drivers to commit suicide, or are not telling them that they are on a suicide mission in the first place. It could also suggest that the drivers are themselves coerced or hostages (or have loved ones who are). I disagree. I think it's merely a way to ensure the bomb detonates if the driver is shot before he can release the trigger. You don't see these bombs being driven into empty areas or other evasion techniques. It's just much easier to explode a bomb and let the driver worry about driving. It also allows the bomb to go off if the situation changes, like a convoy comes out of the gate or recruits line up. I think it would be very hard to lie to people about a suicide mission in Iraq. "Here, Hamid, just drive this car to the police station. No it's not a bomb, don't be silly." [Steve Gilliard's News Blog] 8:21:44 AM     Bush Administration Changes National Seal. Bush Administration Changes National SealDon Van VillayLiberaltopia - The Bush Administration announced today that it is changing the emblem of the United States of America from an eagle to a condom, claiming the prophylactic more accurately reflects this government's political outlook and the future path President Bush has determined for the nation. A highly-placed White House source explained the reasoning behind the change, "A condom is made out of plastic, allows for inflation, halts production, destroys the next generation, protects a bunch of pricks, is something you need when you get a 'man date,' and gives you a sense of security while you're actually being screwed." Some Washington insiders also noted wryly that prophylactic manufacturers contributed heavily to Mr. Bush's re-election campaign while eagles donated nothing. The change is set to take place on January 21st of 2005. Hattip: Candy [The Agonist] 7:27:10 AM     Same as the old boss.  Now let's be fair. This wasn't just The War To Paint All Schools. It was also the war to knock off one big Saddam, and let a thousand Saddams bloom. Then: Censorship of the Iraqi media, which has been the... [Body and Soul] 3:32:59 AM     Blair limps back with a bloody nose over Iraq. Blair limps back with a bloody nose over Iraq Philippe Naughton | May 6Times Online(UK) - Tony Blair claimed an historic third term in Downing Street tonight, but admitted in his victory speech that voters angered by the war in Iraq had deliberately cut Labour's majority down to size. Times Editor Philip Webster asserts that none of the parties can regard the results as a triumph.  [The Agonist] 3:26:56 AM     Jason Furman on Bush's Press Conference.  Jason Furman writes: HOW WOULD THE PRESIDENT’S NEW SOCIAL SECURITY PROPOSALS AFFECT MIDDLE-CLASS WORKERS AND SOCIAL SECURITY SOLVENCY?: In last night’s press conference, President Bush endorsed a proposal that would result in substantial cuts in benefits for middle-income families and deeper cuts for higher-income families. While the proposal was described as reducing benefits for the most affluent Americans, it would result in large benefit reductions for middle-class workers, as well. All workers with incomes above $20,000 today would be subject to benefit reductions, and the benefit cuts would escalate sharply in size as income climbed above $20,000. A worker making $35,000 today would be subject to benefit reductions more than half as large as the benefit cuts imposed on people at the highest income levels. A worker making $60,000 today would be subject to benefit reductions more than 85 percent as large as someone making several million dollars a year. The benefit reductions for average earners would be the largest in Social Security’s history. The 1983 Social Security reform, for example, lowered benefits for average workers by 17 percent, with the reduction phased in over 46 years. The President’s plan would lower benefits for average workers by 28 percent over...  [Brad DeLong's Semi-Daily Journal] 3:26:09 AM     A New Spectrum Requires a New Prism: The Left Divided in UK Election. Looking at the raw vote totals one finds that New Labour lost 4% of the vote, the Liberal Democrats gained 4%, and the Tories were about in idle picking up less than 2%. But this shift brought down a host of marginal New Labour seats. In all the centre-left was compressed slightly. The most repeated word of the night was "Iraq", and the unpopularity of the war and Blair's top down style of management fueled three independent runs in addition to other losses, including Galloway's upset bid in the heart of London itself. But the reality of this election is that it sets up a drastic change in British party politics, in that each of the three main parties are now searching for identity. The 1980's have been lost by the conservatives, they cannot wave Thatcher the way American Republicans have carved Reagan on Mt. Rushmore. [BOPnews] 3:23:34 AM

© Copyright 2005 Michael Mussington. Last update: 6/1/2005; 1:34:10 AM.