Free kibbles

Sadr supporters agree to truce with Iraqi government, agreeing to turn in their medium and heavy weapons. This sounds like another huge victory for Maliki. He's finally establishing his government and himself as a leader. Iraqi army goes on offensive against al Qaeda in Mosul.

The Lebanese army refuses to fight Hezbollah because of its own political factions. It has overturned 2 government decisions, meaning that the army has effectively executed a coup. That means Lebanon's problems are self-inflicted. Hezbollah announces withdrawal because the army will allow it to keep its communication network. The army is now the de facto ruler of Lebanon. Nothing good can come of that. Lebanon needs to follow Maliki's lead and marginalize and disarm Hezbollah. Fighting spreads to Tripoli.

Zimbabwe's opposition leader will run in run-off election despite fears of violence. He must be confident his party will overcome the intimidation, or else he wouldn't legitimize the run-off by entering.

Judge rules that woman can sue Halliburton and KBR because she was raped by co-workers. Of course. Some had claimed this woman wouldn't be allowed to sue because of the arbitration clause in her contract, but that was a ridiculous argument, and the judge agreed.

Obama offers to help pay off Clinton's debts. Michelle Obama has vetoed having Hillary Clinton as her husband's VP. She prefers Ohio Gov. Strickland because he might fool voters into thinking Obama is something other than radical leftist. How can Obama have a VP who clings to guns and God like Strickland? The ramifications of the Marc Dann scandal keep growing.

Clinton finally comes out and says that Obama can't win white, working-class voters. Some have accused her of playing the race card, but this is just a statement of fact. From now until November, Barack Obama's supporters will respond to every fact and legitimate criticism presented about him with cries of racism. This is going to set back race relations in the country by decades.

McCain's record is driving Republican donors to Democrats. This is going to be a funny election. Republican donors will give Obama record amounts of money, McCain won't have much money, but he'll win the election handily anyway. The big winners will be the Democrats McCain has long supported. The big losers will be the great libertarian mainstream of America.

Apparently Rep. congressman Vito Fossella has a secret love child from an affair.

Reason says Republicans can learn a lesson from the conservative resurgence in Britain. They won't. Because they're government aristocrats just like Democrats, Republicans prefer to act just like Democrats. Analysis of success of conservatives in Britain includes talking about society. I keep saying that the key to libertarian success is to stress how freedom strengthens social institutions like the individual, nuclear family, extended family, neighborhood churches and neighborhood schools. This is the key to success for libertarians. You don't use government to strengthen them. You remove government's ability to continue damaging them. They'll heal themselves once the burden of government is lifted.

Driving while distracted is dangerous. People killed in car accidents don't care if the driver at fault was drunk, sleepy or just not paying attention, and out laws shouldn't care either.

Coolest April in 11 years. This is the first April since I came back to Ohio in 2003 in which we've had a spring. For over a month, it's been cool in the morning and comfortable in the afternoon, instead of immediately going from cold to hot. It's nice.

Even uberRepublican Fred Barnes acknowledges things look grim for Republicans. The country doesn't need 2 big-government, socialist parties. When Republicans act like Democrats, Democrats win because Democrats do big-government better than even big-government Republicans (which is pretty much all Republicans).

Russian opposition leader Gary Kasparov describes Putin's imperial Russia.

Rich Lowry talks about the taint of 1968, when violent radicalism hijacked the liberal movement.

Captured computers show that radical leftist Hugo Chavez is the west's first state sponsor of terrorism. Chavez really is following the Iranian model. Lovely.

New book by Pentagon official provides insight into the thinking behind the Iraq war and explains why the government considered Saddam Hussein a threat that had to be eliminated.

China's President Hu Jinto's "warm spring" visit to Japan and considers visit a success.

Analysis of Hillary's failure. Hindsight is 20/20.