Free kibbles

Hostages rewarded with book deal, and Iran rewarded for taking British hostages. White House and Iraqi government released detained Iranian businessman, White House allowed Red Cross workers to see 5 captured Iranian intelligence agents, and Britain opened up new lines of dialog. Originally these developments were considered independent, but now they have been confirmed as rewards to Iran for kidnapping the Brits. Turns out Iran was an even bigger winner than it first appeared. Outrage over book deal. Doesn't the Royal Navy have fitness guidelines? That girl is huge. All this time, I just thought it was the Iranian clothing making her look fat.

Al Sadr calls on Iraqis to attack US. Apparently he made this call from his safe haven in Iran. We should use every media outlet at our disposal to expose this murderer as a coward. Even though this call will increase violence, and increase US casualties, it's necessary for the future security of Iraq for the coalition to wipe out the Mahdi Army, so it's good that they come out and fight.

Taliban behead reporter's translator. How stupid was Bush to take his eye off Afghanistan before we finished the job, just to rush to start a second war in Iraq?

Article claims terrorists have turned US prisons in Iraq into terrorist training camps. Of course, if we held those terrorists in isolation, the press would cry about human rights violations. No matter what we do, the hate America crowd will attack us.

US allows North Korea to sell weapons to Ethiopia in violation of sanctions against NK.

Democrats back off threat to cut funding. Democrats made a huge mistake taking that position to begin with. Their anti-war base won't be happy with the charade they've been carrying on; they want funding cut off. And they've alienated the middle with their vote to micromanage and threats to cut off funding. It was a lose/lose position, and they're losing.

Joe Biden gets amendment to buy more IED resistant Humvees.

New environmental restraints from Congress, courts. Record cold weather threatens crops.

This sounds like a hoax, but at the same time, perfectly believable. 5 Florida sex offenders forced to live under bridge.

Unmanned satellites refuel.

Gaim changes it's name to Pidgin.

Mark Steyn points out Britain's self-imposed impotence.

George Will's criticism of Fred Thompson smacks of sour grapes after his abominable article praising McCain, Giuliani, and Romney.

Fred Thompson has it exactly right on Iran. The Iranians have to pay a price for their actions.

It never ceases to amaze me that liberals continue to claim there were no links between al Qaeda and Iraq. We've seen lists of dozens of connections (synonym for links), but liberals will look at them and say they aren't links. Bizarre, self-induced blindness to facts caused by ideology.