It's closing down as of June 27, but I hope that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services "blog summit" on pandemic flu stays up for a long time. The sections on the Need to Prepare and Making it Happen look especially interesting.
It looks like Alt Hippo is gunning for Harry Shearer's job.
Clammyncy looks into the Neocon economic petry dish that is Iraq.
Some level of pillaging was already obvious. The "private militia" that is now sanctioned under US contract via Blackwater USA has become a bigger issue over the past year. The forced labor and poor treatment of other foreigners brought into Iraq by companies associated with this administration and the republican party not only completes the cycle, but also accomplishes other objectives:
To keep work out of the hands of Iraqi citizens, under the guise of "they may be insurgents", and in the hands of foreign nationals who are exploited and put in dangerous situations – all to enrich those who are ensuring that the system stays rigged against Iraqis, basic labor standards and practices to their (and their cronies’) benefit.
The wonderful BAGNews points to a BBC slideshow of Putin's sleepover at BushCo's parents' house and wonders at the images. I can't get past the captions, which seem to have been written by a ten year-old putting together a scrapbook or by a children's book author:
Russian President Vladimir Putin is visiting US President George W Bush at his family's retreat in Maine. He was picked up from the airport by former President George Bush Snr.
Back at the house at Walker's Point the current president and the first lady waited on the drive to greet their guest.
Mrs Bush made sure that Mr Putin's collar was straight before he was taken to meet the rest of the clan.
The Russian president had brought bouquets of flowers for both Laura Bush and her mother-in-law, former first lady Barbara Bush.
Then the Russian leader was introduced to members of the Bush family, including the pet dog.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice also joined the party.
Once the introductions were over President Bush and his father took Mr Putin on a speedboat tour of the coast.
Although the talks are informal there are important issues to discuss, so Mr Bush Snr has ordered that the two leaders be given lots of time alone.
Maybe it was dog whistle journalism. Secret message: Reporting on photo-ops is beneath us and you, our readers.
Dahr Jamail points to Tom Englehardt's look at the numbers behind The Surge, which are predictably horrifying.
Is it July 8 already? What are your plans for Underlying Crime Day?
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