"When George W. Bush surveys his presidency, he will see two wars commenced and none concluded, Osama bin Laden still on the loose, American prestige at record lows throughout the world, a military both broken and abused, and a country that in large part thinks its government is a liar."

"As the United States fights the first war of the 21st century and nuclear weapons spread across the map, President Bush has managed to build a bridge to the 15th century - by picking a fight with Congress over the use of a weapon perfected by Torquemada."

"The chief of the Consumer Product Safety Commission and her predecessor have taken dozens of trips at the expense of the toy, appliance and children's furniture industries and others they regulate... Some of the trips were sponsored by lobbying groups and lawyers representing the makers of products linked to consumer hazards." (Courtesy mscongeniality.)

FRIDAY NEWS:
* "A rising number of dual infections with HIV and tuberculosis has created a co-epidemic spreading throughout sub-Saharan Africa."
* The number of attacks in Iraq is down. Will it hold?
* Crocker defends forcing US diplomats to serve in Bagdhad.
* The wacky tale of Glenn Greenwald and the Army public relations officer.
* On Giuliani's problem with numbers.
* Will immigration policy be a stumbling block for Democrats?
* Britain reconsiders abandoning the space race.
* Saving the redwoods through cloning.
* The Everglades: setting environmental policy through (a lack of) funding.

BAGnewsNotes with an interesting look at the troops' graffiti.

New magazine for Lego fanatics!