Victory Dances In the End Zone

Petraeus cites violence decline in Iraq - 6 Dec 2007 at 5:51am - BAGHDAD -- Citing a 60 percent decline in violence in Iraq over the last six months, Gen. David Petraeus said Thursday that maintaining security is easier than establishing it and gives him more flexibility in deploying forces.... "There's nobody in uniform who is doing victory dances in the end zone," said Petraeus, saying it will require more tough work against a very dangerous adversary.

Is there anybody in (or out of) uniform who's willing to provide a hint as to the United States' definition of "victory"? Dance, or don't dance -- I haven't a care which you do -- but do you honestly think there remains some goal which is both worthy and militarily achievable?

Hadley Responds to NIE on Iran - 6 Dec 2007 at 9:04am - National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley discusses the National Intelligence Estimate on Iran, and how the intelligence reversal will affect international diplomacy on Iran. He says the report confirms that Iran had a convert program that could be restarted at anytime.

US: Iran still poses missile threat - 6 Dec 2007 at 8:42am - WASHINGTON -- The United States says it will not alter plans to build a missile defense system in Europe despite findings by U.S. intelligence agencies that Iran does not have an active nuclear weapons program.

USA under mounting pressure at climate conference - 6 Dec 2007 at 8:32am - American climate negotiators refused to back down in their opposition to mandatory cuts in greenhouse gas emissions Thursday, even as a U.S. Senate panel endorsed sharp reductions in pollution blamed for global warming.

Limits proposed on CIA interrogators - 6 Dec 2007 at 2:34am - WASHINGTON -- House and Senate negotiators working on an intelligence bill have agreed to limit CIA interrogators to techniques approved by the military, which would effectively bar them from using such harsh methods as waterboarding, congressional aides said Wednesday.

Senate Panel Passes Bill to Limit Greenhouse Gases - 6 Dec 2007 at 1:07am - The bill would be a major step toward passage of a measure that would for the first time slow and then reverse emissions of the gases that scientists blame for the warming of the planet.

Iran ambitions not "benign," U.S. spy official says - 6 Dec 2007 at 2:27pm - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Iran retains key nuclear capabilities despite having frozen weapons development in 2003, and its ambitions cannot be considered benign, a senior U.S. spy official told Congress on Thursday.

Tail stem cells used to cure sickle cell anemia in mice - 6 Dec 2007 at 2:47pm - CHICAGO (AFP) - Stem cell research took another major step forward Thursday when scientists announced they had cured sickle cell anemia in mice using stem cells derived from adult skin.

Thought for the day:
Experts say you should never hit your children in anger. When is a good time? When you're feeling festive? -Roseanne Barr