Muse’s Monday Menagerie

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Above photo is a panorama shot of Jerusalem.

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For the latest on talks between Israel and Palestine, and the US role in them, go here.

Iraqi official says no conclusive evidence on some Iran arms to militias.

A top Iraqi official said Sunday there was no conclusive evidence that Shiite extremists have been directly supplied with some Iranian arms as alleged by the United States.

Government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said Iraq does not want trouble with any country, “especially Iran.”

Al-Dabbagh was commenting on talks this week in Tehran between an Iraqi delegation and Iranian authorities aimed at halting suspected Iranian aid to some Shiite militias.

Asked about reports that some rockets made in 2007 or 2008 and seized in raids against militias were directly supplied by Iran, al-Dabbagh replied: “There is no conclusive evidence.”

Scott Ritter, former UN weapons inspector – and former marine – says attack on Iran ‘virtual guarantee’:

“We take a look at the military buildup, we take a look at the rhetoric, we take a look at the diplomatic posturing, and I would say that it’s a virtual guarantee that there will be a limited aerial strike against Iran in the not-so-near future—or not-so-distant future, that focuses on the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Command,” Ritter said last week in a little-noted interview with Amy Goodman’s Democracy Now. “And if this situation spins further out of control, you would see these aerial strikes expanding to include Iran’s nuclear infrastructure and some significant command and control targets.”

Well, tomorrow is the next big primaries in North Caroline and Indiana. If you think that will decide this contest, think again. The Clinton Camp is now considering the nuclear option to overtake the delegate lead. I honestly think Clinton will stop at nothing to take the nomination (you notice I didn’t say “win”), regardless of what the majority of Democrats want. More on this at the Huffington Post. I will say it again, this is all about her.

A lot more below the fold…

Also at The Huffington Post:

When asked by ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos yesterday about the gas tax holiday, and if Hillary Clinton could name a single economist who agreed with her plan, she responded:

“I’m not going to put my lot in with economists.”

She continued the line of attack, criticizing more generally:

“this mindset where elite opinion is always on the side of doing things that really disadvantage the vast majority of Americans.”

What is it with Clinton, that every time she disagrees with someone, or is trying to hurt them, she resorts to using the “elitist” label..? Seems to me she is as elitist, if not MORE elitist, than anyone else running.. She has done this repeatedly over the course of this campaign – accuse her opponent of something she has done or is doing herself. Very strange..

Eugene Robinson writes “The Power of a Stupid Idea“:

There’s something maddening about this presidential campaign. It has become irrelevant whether anything the candidates say actually makes sense. All that matters is how their words will “play” with voters who are presumed to be too stupid to realize that they’re the ones being played.

The nonsense du jour is the “proposal” by both Republican John McCain and Democrat Hillary Clinton to suspend the federal gasoline tax. I put the word proposal in quotes because it’s obvious that neither candidate is serious about this. Both must know that it won’t happen, and both must know why it shouldn’t.

Actually, McCain might not understand why lifting the tax of 18.4 cents per gallon is a bad idea—remember, he has confessed that the economy isn’t his strong suit. I’d bet the ranch that Clinton understands, though. And before either campaign indignantly proclaims its candidate’s total sincerity, I’d like to see the legislation that either of these U.S. senators has introduced to suspend the tax.

I’m still waiting. (More..)

Also on Sunday, Obama criticized Clinton for her threat to “totally obliterate” Iran if it attacked Israel. Juan Cole has more of this interview with Obama.

The Zogby polls out this morning still have Obama up by 8 in North Carolina, and virtually tied in Indiana. For more polls, go to TPM. CBS News reports on a rebound for support for Obama.
Geez, I will be glad when this is all over..

Reuters reports that the cyclone in Myanmar has now killed at least 4,000 people, with nearly 3,000 still unaccounted for. It is in the hundreds of thousands that are in need of shelter and drinking water.

Myanmar TV reported three days after Cyclone Nargis, a storm with winds of 190 kph (120 mph), hit the Irrawaddy delta.

The Times UK has the number of feared dead as high as 10,000.

Bud McClure wrote an op-ed piece that appeared yesterday on Common Dreams called “Atonement“. It reflects my feelings on the difference between Obama and Clinton. The first line says it all..

I would rather stand with Obama in defeat, than stand with Clinton in victory.

Mary Tillman (Pat TIllman’s mother) was on 60 Minutes yesterday with Katie Couric, and explored the unanswered questions that still surround Pat Tillman’s death more than 4 years after he was killed in a friendly-fire incident in Afghanistan. Crooks and Liars has the story and video.

John McCain apparently has his own radical friend.. This was interesting.. G. Gordon Liddy. Who’d a thunk..?

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Tags: nwmuse @ TPZoo