In the News - Mar. 15

Rice: U.S. 'pleased to stand down' in Iraq - 15 Mar 2006 at 8:05am - Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice urged patience as Iraqis work through political differences and said the United States will be leave once it can safely stand on its own.

Yes, then it will be leave; but until then, it be jammin'.

UAE minister to visit U.S. after ports furor - 15 Mar 2006 at 7:41am - Economy Minister Sheikha Lubna al-Qassimi will meet U.S. officials, the official news agency WAM said on Wednesday, but a UAE government source said she would not meet legislators who had stirred up the ports row.

I guess that will put them in their place.

11 People Reported Killed In US Raid South Of Samarra - 15 Mar 2006 at 7:28am ISAHAQI, Iraq (AP) Eleven people _ most women and children _ were killed when a house was bombed during a US raid north of Baghdad early Wednesday, police and relatives said.


Canadian soldiers fatally shoot taxi driver - 15 Mar 2006 at 7:24am - Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan fatally shot a taxi driver who came within less than a metre of their patrol, military officials said on Wednesday.

Democrats: Bush rejects needed storm loans - 15 Mar 2006 at 7:09am - WASHINGTON -- The White House has rejected hurricane disaster-recovery loans at a higher rate than any other administration in the last 15 years, according to a congressional study by Democrats.


UN creates new rights council over US objections - 15 Mar 2006 at 12:37pm - UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday created a new U.N. human rights body, despite objections from the United States.


Dog-handler recounts Abu Ghraib conditions - 15 Mar 2006 at 12:32pm - FORT MEADE, Md. -- A senior military dog-handler testified Wednesday that he was deeply troubled when he and his dog were thrust into the loud, chaotic environment of an interrogation at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq.


Bush spokesman defends White House staff - 15 Mar 2006 at 1:15pm - WASHINGTON -- President Bush's spokesman defended the White House staff Wednesday as "a smart, capable and experienced team" despite rising complaints from Republicans about administration mistakes and GOP calls for a shakeup.

Maybe they should think about having at least one team member who's smart, capable, and experienced in something besides saying "Yes, sir, Mr. Cheney. Excellent idea, Mr. Cheney."

Activated Guard, Reserve troop numbers dip - 15 Mar 2006 at 3:04pm - WASHINGTON -- The ranks of National Guard and Reserve troops on active duty for Iraq and the global fight against terror has fallen to just under 118,000, the lowest level since before the U.S. invasion of Iraq three years ago.


U.S. boosting Iraq forces by the hundreds - 15 Mar 2006 at 3:02pm - WASHINGTON -- Buffeted by continuing violence and the approach of a Shiite Muslim holiday, U.S. military authorities have reinforced troop strength in Iraq, moving several hundred soldiers to the Baghdad area from a base in Kuwait.