Category: long story short

“US and Iraqi government forces have been forced out of Falluja, with the fighters of the insurgency now dominating Ramadi and Samarra and both sides fighting for control of Mosul.” Article

“Nobody is taking Sadr at his word,” [US national security advisor Condoleezza Rice said]. “He’s someone from whom you have to see action. He said lots of words before. He has never followed through on them. And I don’t think you’re going to see an Iraqi government that’s going to take his word.” Sadr “can’t…

Conflict in Najaf Dominates Iraq Political Meet, Reuters, 8/16/04 “Residents said the holy city was tense as Shi’ite militia loyal to radical cleric Moqtada al-Sadr roamed the streets….” “Roaming the streets.” What is it with them? They’re always doing that! Why can’t they be like Americans? We just walk around.

Sites Could Face Shortage of Cleanup Money, NYT, 8/16/04 Around the Omaha Lead site…there are thousands of house yards where lead contamination is suspected to be two or three times greater than the level considered safe…; delaying financing is likely to mean delaying the sampling of yards and identification of hazards. Do you want some…

Columnist Roland Martin recently asked George Bush about preferential treatment in college admissions. (Article) Martin: “If you say it’s a matter of merit and not race, shouldn’t colleges also get rid of legacy?” Bush: “If what you’re saying is, is there going to be special treatment for people – in other words – we’re going…

To my ear, this whole article from the NYT gives the overall impression of a clean slate for higher ups at Abu Ghraib. At Abuse Hearing, No Testimony That G.I.’s Acted on Orders NYT 8/06/04 “Witnesses…,have described…[p]risoners were left naked for long periods as punishment and were at least occasionally abused, in one case leading…