Bush: "Iran Is a Threat to World Peace"

And more saber rattling...

From the recent North American summit, regarding the Northwest Passage:

Prime Minister Harper: "Canada's position is that we intend to strengthen our sovereignty in the Arctic area ... Canada and the U.S. do have differences on certain aspects of the Northwest Passage."

President Bush: "We believe it's an international passageway."

Why does anybody care? Because Global Warming is yielding unexpected benefits.

With all of the usual suspects whining about Nancy Pelosi's visit to Syria as being either counterproductive or treasonous (you pick), it's nice to see that editorial pages in newspapers in the region are actually glad that she came. The Jordan Times is no anti-Bush rag. It is one of several mouthpieces for the ruling Hashemites and therefore rather predisposed toward whichever way the wind is blowing in Washington.

Link...

I don't know how many, or if any Knoxviewians have pondered a scenario of how an election in Iraq might possibly work, but this is how I perceive that one might be feasible. This may also have been suggested before. More after the break.

"His experience has prepared him well for this new assignment," the preznit tells us.

Indeed. Meet Robert M. Gates, Cheneybot.

More closeted skeletons via the Commie Pinko Network.

When the Bushies urge you to smell the flowers, always - always - look around for a coffin.

Don't let the GOP rain on our parade.

Read more after the jump...

Now if we could just send the rest of them ALONG WITH HER.

The Cunningrealist points to some interesting reading. Cheney an Incompetent Wimp? Questions to be asked about The alleged UK Terrorist plot

Holy cow. I didn't think there was any slack left, but somehow the usual suspects managed to crank the volume on the scream machine way past 11. If you haven't yet read Krauthammer in the WaPo or Henninger in the WSJ or John "Khmer Rouge" Gibson or Malkin on "Dearbornistan" then...  Allah has shown mercy on you. 

There's been some discussion here this week on developments in the GWOT and electoral fronts and the political ramifications thereof. But here's the broader question for the KnoxViews braintrust:  Is it possible for a political party to communicate a nuanced foreign policy?

Item:

The growing tensions underscore the risk the administration took several weeks ago by backing Israel's right to wage its offensive against Hezbollah. A senior administration official said the U.S. believed Israel would have only a matter of weeks to strike Hezbollah before international pressure for a cease-fire forced an end to the fighting, especially if civilian casualties climbed. Now, the official said, the U.S. is beginning to fear that it could be left both with mounting regional fury and an emboldened Hezbollah that has withstood the initial assault without losing its ability to inflict casualties on Israeli troops and civilians.

See also here and here for a deeper look at how closely our foreign policy resembles Mr. Toad's Wild Ride. And check out my New-Fangled Video Commentary after the break.

Has anyone else had a Church Lady Moment with the relevation of the Zarqawi "treasure trove" of intelligence? It may be the Reynolds Wrap sombrero talking, but I find it a little too... conveeeenient. The usual suspects are swallowing the story whole hog, of course.

Consider if you will: 

• The Iraqi PM claimed the terrorist mastermind was carrying around existentialist, self-loathing doubts about the future of al-Q on a flash drive in his pants [along with his Morrissey mp3s?]. US officials, meanwhile, said the documents (which miraculously hit on all the right Bushie talking points) were found three weeks earlier; they later claimed copies of same the documents were found at both times and locations. 

• The military apparently conducted a boatload of operations within hours after Zaraqwi was zapped, based on intelligence from his safehouse. Stratfor doesn't think this makes sense, and speculates that some sort of quid pro quo was struck with Sunni insurgent chiefs.
• The Bushies announced another bug-eyed boogeyman is ready to fill in; in desperation said boogeyman reportedly makes threats against indigenous Sunni insurgents. Thereby leveraging xenophobia. Or something.
• The GOP just happened to be ready with a full week of "We're winning and Dems are weenies" PR gimmicks, from Flyboy's midnight flight to the sham Congressional debate.

 Update: The experts actually agree with my half-assed assessment. I must have the sombrero dialed in to the right wavelength.

The one year anniversary.

If the consequences of White House incompetence weren't so tragic, some of this stuff would almost be comical.

Karen Hughes was apparently so mortified by the response to her performance as "Cultural Ambassador/White House PR Mouthpiece to the World" that she came back with some ideas for fine tuning the message.

The State Department worked with a non-profit called "Business for Diplomatic Action" to create a "World Citizen's Guide" with etiquette tips for American business people traveling abroad. They are also looking at providing a copy of the handbook with each U.S. Passport issued so everyone can be a good PR ambassador for the USA.

The handbook contains sixteen tips, such as:

John Kerry on Iraq
presidential campaign debate,
Sept. 2004

UPDATE: But of course, civil war is a good thing. These guys are amazing.

One of these years I hope to actually attend a World Social Forum. Until then, here's the latest independent reports from the first World Social Forum in Africa (held in Bamako, Mali, as an alternative event to the World Economic Forum).

Link...

Believing that "Another World is Possible", the World Social Forum is a space for exchanging information and experiences of fighting neo-liberalism.