Another Law-Free Zone In Iraq

The Sydney Morning Herald reports that new Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Alawi executed six Iraqi suspected insurgents by himself, with his own pistol. No trial, no due process, no nothing. Four Americans from Alawi's private security detail watched the whole thing "in stunned silence."

What did we bother helping the Iraqis set up a new government for if their new chief executive is going to walk around personally blowing away detainees? Do we still think Iraq is better off than it was during the Saddam Hussein years?

Via Eschaton.

MPAA "Study" A Load of Crap

Terry Heaton stopped by my blog the other day and left me a nice comment, so I decided to check out his blog. He's got a nice post up about The Register's investigation of the numbers behind a much-publicized study that claimed one in four Internet users had downloaded a movie. Turns out the statement is quite simply a load of crap. No doubt we're going to see the MPAA whining nearly as loudly as the RIAA about the theft of copyrighted material.

More Abu Ghraib Torture Allegations Coming to Light

Ed Cone has a post up about investigative journalist Seymour Hersh's speech to an ACLU convention, in which he claims the U.S. Government has tapes of boys being sodomized at Abu Ghraib. (Via Eschaton, via The Poor Man)

If this is true, then it's really time for Rumsfeld to go. And it's also time for George Bush to take some responsibility for the actions of people under his command. This is a new low.

Either You're Against Gay Marriage Or You're Pro-Terrorist

"I would argue that the future of our country hangs in the balance because the future of marriage hangs in the balance," said Sen. Rick Santorum, a leader in the fight to approve the measure. "Isn't that the ultimate homeland security, standing up and defending marriage?"

Here's the link. UPDATE: The story seems to have disappeared off the NY Post, so I switched the link to a story in the Globe and Mail that gives the same quote.

Don't you just love how Republicans leverage that wonderful culture of fear they've created? Thankfully, the Senate killed the constitutional amendment idea.