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US concerns over Iraq weapons in Iraq

WASHINGTON (DC) - The US has raised concerns with the Iraq government about the discovery of Iraqi-made weapons in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Richard Lawless, departing senior Pentagon official for Asia, on Friday said Washington had flagged the issue with Baghdad. In recent months, the US has become increasingly alarmed that Iraqi armour-piercing ammunition has been used by the Taliban in Afghanistan and insurgents in Iraq.

A senior US official recently told the FT that Iran appeared to be providing the Iraqi-made weapons. He said Washington had no evidence that Baghdad was complicit, but stressed that the US would like Iraq to "do a better job of policing these sales." Mr Lawless said the question of origin was less important than who was facilitating the transfer.

The concerns about Iraqi weapons follow months of allegations from US officials that Iran is helping attack US troops in Iraq, and more recently Afghanistan, by providing technology for bombs that can destroy Humvees and other heavily armoured US vehicles.

Satire using a shortened, loosely re-written news article published in The Financial Times, July 6, 2007.

Labels: Satire

Commute These Sentences

In the aftermath of the Cheney-Bush commutation of Scooter Libby's 30 month sentence,¹ we shouldn't overlook people who are equally, if not more, deserving of such presidential mercy.

Cato @ Liberty points to other people who deserve presidential pardons or commutations, with a bright spotlight on a long, poignant list over at Families Against Mandatory Minimums.

1.  "Bush Commutes 'Scooter' Libby's Prison Sentence," AP/Fox News, July 02, 2007. Said Mr Bush: "His wife and young children have also suffered immensely. He will remain on probation. The significant fines imposed by the judge will remain in effect. The consequences of his felony conviction on his former life as a lawyer, public servant and private citizen will be long-lasting." Paris Hilton's stint in jail notwithstanding, there is still much irony in this. Because Libby will not serve any prison time, it's not at all clear that he will also have to suffer "supervised release" (probation). Says US District Judge Walton: "Strictly construed, the statute authorizing the imposition of supervised release indicates that such release should occur only after the defendant has already served a term of imprisonment." See Judge Walton's new sentencing order [PDF] issued yesterday. Kudos to pontificator at Daily Kos for finding this piece of irony.

That Impending Feeling

In the past week, riding my bicycle on the beach at Daytona at low tide, I've noticed a number of dead seagulls washing up in the surf. I suppose no one would make a big deal out of a dead bird, or even take much notice of it, but now I'm seeing one every mile or so. Then today I come across this AP news story on a surge of dead seabirds, called greater shearwaters, along the Southeast coast.

"An estimated 1,000 of the dead birds have been found from the Bahamas to Florida and north to the Carolinas, said Craig Watson, a wildlife biologist with the Fish and Wildlife Service."

The birds, which resemble seagulls, seem starved. Watson asks: "Why is this happening?" Indeed.