TGIF/Weekend Edition - June 23-25, 2006

• Iraq Body Count

• 'Fourteen' killed in Iraq blasts BBC News, UK 

• U.S. says Iraq checkpoint deaths are down AP

• 7 said killed in Saudi Arabia shootout AP

• State of emergency declared in Baghdad AP 

• DNA tests confirm slain soldiers' identities KTVZ

• Accused Troops' Supporters Busy Fundraising Forbes

• Democrats Criticize Claim on Iraqi Arms Washington Post

• Senate Rejects Calls to Begin Iraq Pullback New York Times 

• Australia waits on Iraq wheat sales because of risk Washington Post

• Australia apologizes for bodyguard's death AP

• Coalition forces to leave southern Iraq AP

• Senate panel cuts military, foreign aid funds Reuters

• Saddam ends hunger strike after missing one meal Reuters

Under a secret Bush administration program initiated weeks after the Sept. 11 attacks, counterterrorism officials have gained access to financial records from a vast international database and examined banking transactions involving thousands of Americans and others in the United States, according to government and industry officials.
 

"Of course not. I remind them: I AM the law!" --Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, denying to Washington Post reporter Frank Ahrens that his two children ever download music illegally, after his address yesterday to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce on intellectual property theft.

"President Bush raised $27 million for the Republican Party. A record at a fundraiser. Interesting pricing at the event, like for $2,500 you got dinner. ... $25,000 got your picture taken with the president. And for $250,000 you got your license plate made by a former Republican official now in jail." --Jay Leno

A bill signed Tuesday by Gov. Jeb Bush guarantees the Orlando Magic $2 million a year in state money for a new or renovated arena.

The measure certified the team as the eighth of the state's existing pro-sports franchises to receive a $60 million subsidy to be paid during a 30-year period. The Magic have until July 1, 2010, to apply for the cash.
 

"President Bush said he liked Austria, but he said he got a little annoyed with everyone doing the Arnold impressions all the time." --Jay Leno

Dub's Shriveling Coalition
By Madeleine Begun Kane

George Dubya's Iraq coalition
Is suff'ring from major attrition.
Now Japan will withdraw
From this venture so flawed,
While Bush clings to his pricey, failed mission.
 

A 20-year-old man in Vancouver, Wash., was charged with theft of services for allegedly sitting in a coffee shop parking lot and using its wireless Internet service for months, according to a report.

 A Navy ship on Thursday intercepted a medium-range missile warhead above the earth's atmosphere off Hawaii in the latest test of the U.S. missile defense program, the military said.
 

A 26-year-old chimpanzee enjoys a cigarette at the zoo in Xian, China in August 2005. Xiku the chain-smoking chimpanzee has almost kicked his deadly habit thanks to the efforts of zoo keepers in China, but it has taken a beer or two to help get him through detox.(Photo/Xian Zoo)

Peace.