"How do we win the war in the media?" Donald Rumsfeld was asked at a surprise visit to Mosul. How indeed. The media's narrative was that the last time the Secretary of Defense held a Q&A with the troops, it went badly. However, that's not the case. It's simply the story they told. But as Sissy notes, Rumsfeld, and this Administration, have a much loftier story to tell. But most in the press aren't listening. The incident this week in Mosul is just another opportunity for them to spread doom and gloom. But it just may be that the doom and gloom may be in the future for Syria and the Islamists.
Civilians are starting to trickle back into Fallujah. Meanwhile, the French journalists who were taken hostage in Iraq (and not ransomed) are starting to talk (like you'd be able to shut them up).
"We really understood that these kidnappers were driven not by an Iraqi agenda, but by an agenda of Islamic holy war," Mr Malbrunot said. He also said the Islamists wanted to vote for Bush.
UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan recently admitted that the Oil-for-Food scandal has marred the image of Turtle Bay. But it's not just that. He also had to admit that the UNs approach to the situtation in Sudan has failed and worse yet, the UN sex scandal in the Congo is exploding. "The UN peacekeeping forces and professional staff have systematically
exploited the women and young girls under their care, paying them for
sexual services in food and cash, as little as a dollar or a jar of
mayonnaise the going price," relates Captain Ed of the Captain's Quarters. Now, one of the biggest power players at the United Nations abruptly
announced his retirement in what may be a sign of a shakeup at the highest levels at the UN because despite his bravado, Mr Annan knows that US support of his administration is critical to his survival as Secretary-General.
A day after naming his new cabinet, Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai said he had asked his main rival to form a national political party ahead of parliamentary elections due in April.
Hamas made a strong showing in local elections in the West Bank, the first time the Islamic terrorist group competed at the polls, according to preliminary elections results.
President Bush has signed a new law authorizing him
to freeze Sudanese government assets to protest the violence in Sudan's
troubled Darfur region.
NORAD tracks Santa.
Staff at the BBC have been given instructions on how to walk through a door. Seminars on how to walk and chew gum is next on the agenda.
There's a 1-in-300 chance that a recently discovered asteroid, believed to be about 1,300 feet long, could hit Earth in 2029. Merry Christmas!
Well, they sounded naked.
Stretch limousines and psychiatrists for your dog.
Barnes & Noble has the best singles scene in New York City.
Bill Cosby helps who he helps.
