In the News

- In an important editorial, the LA Times urges "a far-reaching investigation independent of U.S. intelligence agencies or the military" to examine mistreatment of American-held prisoners at installations around the world [as I did here]. The ultimate paragraph:

"The 9/11 attacks demanded a better response to terrorism and a reexamination of procedures to hold guerrillas not entitled to prisoner-of-war status. But that discussion needs to be public and led by Congress. It's not enough for Pentagon civilian leaders to cook up excuses for holding suspects incommunicado and to spell out rules on detainee treatment more clearly only when violations are reported in the media. Congressional committees should investigate whether the military is living up to its tradition of accountability and whether intelligence agencies are heeding the law. The matter goes far beyond how the U.S. is viewed abroad; it goes to the heart of how Americans view themselves and the core values under which this nation was founded."

- The LA Times and Washington Post confirm yesterday's news that Marines have wrapped up a major combat operation, Matador, near the Iraqi boder with Syria [the WP adds that the 'jihadis' being round up in Iraq are largely of Saudi origin]. The Washington Post verifies this story from Friday evening, reporting that Haitham al-Yemeni was under surveillance for more than a week before a CIA Predator drone killed him with a missile.

- The NYT profiles Senate leaders Bill Frist and Harry Reid, comparing their very different leadership styles and little common ground.

- To follow up on serious violence in Uzbekistan that I discussed yesterday: the LAT reports that when fleeing civilians rushed to the border with Kyrgyzstan, they found the border closed. Riots broke out anew under fears of another attack by government troops, and the refugees burned government buildings in the border town of Korasuv.

- Some environmentalists [key word 'some'] are decreasing their opposition to nuclear power, says an article in today's New York Times. With global warming concerns on the rise, conventional power sources such as oil and coal are seen as having even more potential for environmental damage than nuclear power.

- The Washington Post editorializes once more about Darfur, widening its focus this time to include not only the genocide in that specific region, but also other conflicts within the country. "But the truth is that all these conflicts reflect the same challenge: The willingness of Sudan's government to sponsor atrocities. It will take a common effort from the United States, Europe, Russia and (most awkwardly) China to pressure the Sudanese regime into changing its ways. But the diplomatic effort is worthwhile: The stakes are bigger even than the awful genocide in Darfur."

- The Washington Times has a report on the GOP's uphill fight to hold governships in 2006, when they'll be defending 22 statehouses to the Democrats' 16.

- The Tucson Citizen covers John McCain's commencement address this weekend at the University of Arizona [which, the paper notes, was the same speech he delivered the University of Oklahoma earlier - only fair]. McCain "told the graduates and their families and friends that the United States' credibility was shattered during the Abu Ghraib prison scandal and that it is up to all Americans to uphold basic rights for all people. 'America has not always been perfect and we're not perfect today,'" he said.

McCain urged those in attendance to "speak out against the denial of human rights, and especially against genocide. 'Today, we know what is happening,' McCain said. 'The world cannot stand still and later say, ‚'It will never happen again.' We said ‚'it will never happen again' after the Holocaust, Bosnia and Rwanda.'"McCain said action was needed in Darfur, adding "We must use our power and influence to promote the concepts we hold dear in democracy and human rights."

- Almost time already for the Sunday shows: Sunday Morning Talk has all the lineups. McCain will be on "This Week," Ted Kennedy on "Face the Nation," the Egyptian P.M. on "Meet the Press," NSA Stephen Hadley and Senators Durbin and McConnell on "Fox News Sunday", and Senators Lugar and Biden will meet with Wolf on "Late Edition." More on all these later on.