Category: World

The New York Times (!) is admitting what Bush (and every other government in the western world) said all along: Saddam had the capability to make WMDs.

Hat tip: Little Green Footballs.

In response to the terrorist “Party of God” (Hizb Allah)’s bussed-in tens of thousands in Beirut last week (over which the Canadian media, at least, was salivating at the prospect of things not going Bush’s way, for once), hundreds of thousands of people from all religions and sectors of Lebanese society have gathered to demand their freedom.

A friend of mine who lives in Beirut is disappointed the plumbers are working on her pipes today: “It looks like there must be half a million people downtown already. I kind of wish I was with them — it looks like fun.”

Hat tips: Captain’s Quarters and Little Green Footballs.

Update: Much, much more at Publius Pundit.

In today’s negativity quotient, we bring you the continuing Amerikkkan oppression of Iraq: the dastardly Yankees are forcing water, power and sewer lines, schools, hospitals, police and firemen on the poor iggerant Iraqis.

“A new Iraq was born, but it’s still an infant facing many risks and challenges. It needs help to grow. This is a task for the entire international community and in particular Arab states because, for better or for worse, what goes on in Iraq has an impact on the rest of the region and because generally Iraq has a role to play as an example for the rest of the Middle East. Personally, I think this impact is already playing out and I’m referring to Lebanon and Egypt, to elections in Saudi Arabia and more. I think Iraq’s future will be much better. I think democracy and pluralism will develop in an Iraq where everyone will be able to freely find fulfillment. In my opinion, compared to other countries in the region, Iraq will be able to experience great growth and a very sound economy, given the resources it has. Many Iraqi who expatriated will return to invest their money.”

   — Monsignor Louis Sako, Chaldean Catholic Archbishop of Kirkuk

Just in time for Monday morning comes Chrenkoff‘s Good News from Afghanistan. Today’s highlight:

Ismail Khan set himself a daunting task when he took office as Afghanistan’s minister of water and energy in December. The former mujahedin commander who long held sway over the western city of Herat promised the hard-pressed residents of Kabul that he would fix their energy shortage within two months.

Now, through a combination of hard work and good luck, it appears that the strongman from Herat has been able to fulfil his pledge. Instead of having power for only a few short hours, three nights out of seven, residents of much of the city now have electricity on a nightly basis.

Right now, 70 per cent of Kabul’s homes have electricity every night,’ Ismail Khan [said].

This makes me cry. I don’t know what kind of man Ismail Khan (sounds like something out of Kipling) is, but from a previous GNfA that says he’s turned Herat into a veritable paradise, and now this, I suspect he’s the kind of man his country needs.