Random News & Views Roundup

- The Republicans have decided to allow a debate on the Iraq war in congress. How nice of them! Right. Let's face it. No matter what proposals the Dems come up with, Bush will whip out his trusty veto pen. In the meantime, the Repubs will get to tell all 2 of their happy surge stories over and over as they slap each other on the back while noting how divided the Dems are.

- At a British inquest set up to look into the "friendly fire" (being bombed is more like it) death of British soldier L/Cpl Matty Hull, not only was US military procedure under fire, it was also revealed that:

Despite high-level pressure on the US to start co-operating with the inquiry, it emerged today that the Pentagon was still refusing to provide information requested by the coroner and the Ministry of Defence.

Requests for details of the US rules of engagement, the training records of the pilots, and a detailed explanation of the cockpit recording of had been turned down, the MoD's lawyers told the coroner.

Only a heavily edited copy of the American investigation of the incident has been released, the inquest was told.

This incident happened in 2003. What is the Pentagon hiding and why are they hiding it?

- This is just plain wrong - not to mention gutless:

WASHINGTON - Top House Democrats retreated Monday from an attempt to limit
President Bush's authority for taking military action against Iran as the leadership concentrated on a looming confrontation with the White House over the
Iraq war.

Officials said Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other members of the leadership had decided to strip from a major military spending bill a requirement for Bush to gain approval from Congress before moving against Iran.

Conservative Democrats as well as lawmakers concerned about the possible impact on
Israel had argued for the change in strategy.
[...]
Several officials said there was widespread opposition to the proposal at a closed-door meeting last week of conservative and moderate Democrats, who said they feared tying the hands of the administration when dealing with an unpredictable and potentially hostile regime in Tehran.

Bombs away!

- Yes, as a matter of fact I do have a few things to say about Abu Gonzales' press conference. Later.

- Okay. I'm tired. That's it for now.

Update: The New York Times has an editorial about congress' options for dealing with the Iraq war: The Purse Isn’t Congress’s Only Weapon. (Is it "congress' " or "congress's"? Hmmm... Whatever. They need to get off their asses.)