"The White House has been badly stung by Makiya's criticism, and urged him last week not to publish a hostile opinion piece, arguing it would be 'counter-productive'. The Observer today prints his article in full. "

Go Guardian!

This is in reference to the recently released plans by the US to drop all pretenses of establishing a democratic government in post-war Iraq. Makiya is a advisor to a leading Iraqi opposition group (in exile, I think).

Also, in a NYT article about duct-tape-and-plastic-mania, this made me chuckle:
" Your risk of dying in a car accident while driving to buy duct tape likely exceeds your risk of dying because you lacked duct tape."

And this made me shudder:
" The Japanese use of fleas infected with bubonic plague against Chinese cities in World War II was the only successful instance of bioattacks in contemporary warfare."