In reaction to serious international pressure, the U.S. government today seems to paddle back from its torture policy.

Rice Signals Shift in Interrogation Policy

Cont. reading: No(n) U.S. Personnel

In defense of his war policy, President Bush will highlight¹ U.S. efforts to help Iraqis overhaul their economy and rebuild their shattered infrastructure _ an endeavor continually undermined by unrelenting violence.

Bush’s speech Wednesday, to focus on economic progress in Iraq, will be the second in a series of addresses to answer criticism and questions about U.S. presence in Iraq. The administration has cited increases in Iraq’s gross domestic product, work to boost oil production, the creation of new businesses and an explosion of cell phones as evidence of economic progress.
Bush to Focus on Economic Progress in Iraq Dec.7, 2005

¹ "The electricity schedule in what appears to be most areas in Baghdad is currently FIVE hours of no electricity for every one hour of electricity."
Riverbend Dec.1, 2005

(RBN) – Washington – December 5, 2009

As the Defense Department scrambles to finalize its budget for the coming fiscal year, the Air Force is looking to secure much of its savings by cutting active and reserve forces, instead of slashing weapons purchases.

Cont. reading: Pentagon Weighs Personnel Cuts To Pay for Weapons

Your news and views …

So Rice is coming to Europe. But instead of answering questions about CIA flights and torture camps, she will tell the European politicians to screw themselves.

Cont. reading: That Woman?

anna missed points to some angry childish comments on energy consumption, Senator Grassley recently made on NPR:

Cont. reading: Growth Through Energy

News & views

A Los Angeles Times OpEd today says: "It’s propaganda time"

A permanent leadership is needed in the form of a new Cabinet department that can knock together heads to force integrated influence activities — a Ministry of Propaganda, if you will.

If you want a total war, this is certainly one element you need.

Ten Marines on foot patrol were killed and 11 wounded by a roadside bomb near Fallujah,
Iraq, in one of the deadliest attack on American troops in recent months, the Marine Corps announced on Friday. A brief statement said the Marines were from Regimental Combat Team 8, of the 2nd Marine Division.
10 Marines Killed in Bombing Near Fallujah, Dec. 2, 2005

PROGRESS ON THE SECURITY TRACK

• Our clear, hold, and build strategy is working:
  • Significant progress has been made in wresting territory from enemy control. During much
    of 2004, major parts of Iraq and important urban centers were no-go areas for Iraqi and
    Coalition forces. Fallujah, Najaf, and Samara were under enemy control. Today, these cities
    are under Iraqi government control, and the political process is taking hold.

National Strategy for Victory in Iraq (pdf), Nov. 30, 2005

A convicted murderer was put to death Friday in the nation’s 1,000th execution since capital punishment resumed in 1977.

Kenneth Lee Boyd, 57, received a lethal injection and was pronounced dead at 2:15 a.m., said state Department of Correction spokeswoman Pam Walker. Boyd was convicted of killing his estranged wife and father-in-law in 1988.

His death came after both Gov. Mike Easley and the U.S. Supreme Court declined to intervene and stop the execution.
U.S. Executes 1,000th Person Since 1977

There were reports from Hersh about Israeli forces in northern Iraq, now there is some confirmation. This has huge implications.

Israelis training Kurds in northern Iraq – report

Cont. reading: Turkey vs. Israel