Monday edition - September 11, 2006

Yep, the world is an "unsafer" place since Bush took office.

The White House announced that Donald Rumsfeld's shoulder surgery was a success -- and he should be back patting himself on the back again by tomorrow. -- Jay Leno

The-World-Is-A-Safer-Place-Without-Saddam News

• 2,666 U.S. military deaths in Iraq AP

• Iraq Body Count

• Marine, hurt in June in Iraq, dies Pioneer Press, MN

• US soldier killed north of Baghdad International Herald Tribune

• Iraq bombing claims five Calgary Sun

• Mini bus explodes in Baghdad, killing 16 AP

• Yemen tribesmen kidnap four French tourists Reuters

• Iraq Official Calls for Oil Partnerships Washington Post

• Iraq to boost military at oil facilities BusinessWeek

• Slovaks to pull out of Iraq in six months Prague Daily Monitor, Czech Republic

• Saddam trial hears of gas attack Guardian Unlimited

• Self-rule vote is halted by Sunnis Seattle Times

• U.S. finds 'torture chambers' in Iraq AP

• Rice on Iran: 'The world is prepared to act' Journal of Turkish Weekly, Turkey

• Blair runs into protests, snubs on Lebanon visit Reuters 

• Al Qaeda threatens attacks in US-allies Gulf, Israel Reuters

CYA CIA Insurance

CIA counterterrorism officers have signed up in growing numbers for a

government-reimbursed, private insurance plan that would pay their civil judgments and legal expenses if they are sued or charged with criminal wrongdoing, according to current and former intelligence officials and others with knowledge of the program.

Iran's minister of health has announced that researchers in Iran have come up with a cure for AIDS. Let me guess, the main ingredient is enriched uranium. -- Jay Leno

Disturbing News

• Earthquake Felt on US Gulf Coast, No Damage Reported Voice of America

• Bermuda battered as Hurricane Florence draws near Forbes

• Raw sewage taints sacred Jordan River AP

• Destructive insects on rise in Alaska AP
   

"During a speech earlier today, President Bush said that he will continue to fight terror by 'using all the tools available.' Then the president introduced Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld as the biggest tool of all." --Conan O'Brien
 

Republican Shenanigans

• Ann Coulter: Liberal theory on Plame controversy disproved Pasadena Star-News, CA

• Bush joins in 9/11 moment of silence AP

• Bush confident GOP will hold Congress AP

These pictures say it all

Talibaptist

Katherine Harris, GOP senatorial candidate from Florida, produced this united front by doing an interview with the weekly newspaper of the Florida Baptist State Convention. In it, she pronounced the separation of church and state a "lie," and warned that if Christians don't stand for election, we will end up "a nation of secular laws." The coup de grace was this bon mot: "... If you're not electing Christians, then in essence you are going to legislate sin."

 

Rock-The-Voter News

• Global warming film unites preachers and politics Reuters

• Gay GOP candidate runs in Minn. primary AP

• Is Mass. ready for a black governor? AP

• Nev. Senate hopeful Carter hospitalized AP

• Va. Democrat gains on incumbent senator AP

Today is Monday, Sept. 11, the 254th day of 2006. There are 111 days left in the year. This is Patriot Day.

Click here for the NAME THAT TOON WINNERS!!!

Biz/Tech News

• Oil prices under US$66 a barrel as supply concerns ease, OPEC ... CBC News, Canada 

• Oil-rich Russia starry-eyed over luxury cars AFP

• China tightens the leash on media Scotsman

• Coca-Cola plant opens in Afghan capital AP

• Unbox reviewers unimpressed Seattle Times

• ABC Airs Edited 9/11 Miniseries CBS News

• Web video turns South Korean into global guitar star Reuters

"The president of Iran is coming to the United States. How would you like to be behind him in airport security?" --Jay Leno

Bush-Prison-Torture News

• Senate to consider allowing harsher interrogation methods Detroit Free Press, United States

• Pakistani says life in ruins after Guantanamo jail Washington Post

• Two more Kuwaitis set for release from Guantanamo JURIST

• US Senators Visit Guantanamo Bay Guardian Unlimited
   

"At a press conference yesterday, for the first time, President Bush acknowledged the existence of secret CIA prisons. Then the president added, 'but don't tell anybody.'" --Conan O'Brien

Cheney Throes It Away

Vice President Dick Cheney on Sunday backed away from his insistence last year that the insurgency in Iraq was in its “last throes,’’ but in a contentious television interview he said that even if he had known in 2003 that his claims that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction were mistaken, “we’d do exactly the same thing.’’
 

Go-F***-Yourself News

• Cheney says Iraq war was the right call even without WMDs San Jose Mercury News

• Cheney pleased with US progress five years on Independent Online, South Africa

• Cheney offers to bet on congressional Republicans Washington Post

Online search engine Google has announced plans to unveil a news archive that dates back over 300 years. For the first time, people will be able to actually view the very first broadcast of Larry King Live. -- Jay Leno

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