CONDI MAKES CLINT EASTWOOD LOOK LIKE MARY TYLER MOORE

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America gave notice yesterday that it was ready to act alone against Iran and North Korea if European countries did not co-operate in stopping them from developing nuclear weapons.

"If we do not want a 'Made in America' solution, let's find out how to resolve the issues of North Korea and Iran," declared Condoleezza Rice, the US national security adviser, during a visit to London.

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Sorry, there, you wacky Europeans, Operation Iraqi Freedom wasn't just a bad dream from which you will soon awaken. It's another battle in the War on Terror, and, just as the US, as a fledgling nation, led the battle to crush the Barbary pirates that terrorized the high seas at the turn of the 19th century, we will lead again to destroy the monsters who terrorize the world's peaceful, productive citizens.

The Emperor has some more insight into Condi's presentation

AUSTRALIA UPDATE..."AND THIS IS ME USING THE KNIFE"

Man, I thought the Aussies were cool before, but they've just twisted the knob on the old Frigidaire to the "Liquid Nitrogen" setting.

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CANBERRA, Australia -- The Australian government on Thursday branded multilateral forums such as the United Nations "ineffective and unfocused" and said its foreign policy will increasingly rely on "coalitions of the willing" like the one that waged war in Iraq.

Foreign Minister Alexander Downer also said that in Canberra's view, other nations' sovereignty was "not absolute."

The assertive new doctrine outlined by Downer came a day after Australia announced it would lead an international force of troops and police to restore order to the violence-wracked Solomon Islands in the southwest Pacific.
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After having lost almost 100 citizens in the Bali nightclub attack (for which I offer heartfelt condolences), it's good to see that there's another nation that has the cojones to do what needs to be done, and not just stand idly by, mumbling to themselves like a bunch of filthy Frenchmen.

Kathy has the lowdown on some positive reactions to the announcement.

GLOBAL WARMING: INCOMPETENT SCIENCE OR RANCID FARCE?

Personally, I've mostly pictured it as dropping a match on a gasoline-soaked, multi-colored, Rand-McNally approved spheroid. Of course, that's not gonna happen, since I paid five perfectly good dollars for the darn thing at a garage sale, and I'm not the wasteful type.

Similarly, I can't believe that, even though we can't predict rain with any accuracy more than about 3 days in advance, we're somehow supposed to believe predictions of 100-year temperature trends. Feh! Peddle your Brooklyn Bridges elsewhere.

Russell seems to have a similar reaction to this insidious meme, and expresses himself far less charitably. It's one of those amusingly well-written, twisting stabs with the truth-knife that makes you simultaneously wince in horror at the thought of it being directed at you, and sigh in relief at the fact that it's not. Enjoy.

DEMOCRATIC PREZ HOPEFUL SCORECARD! GET YOUR SCORECARD HERE! CAN'T TELL THE PLAYERS WITHOUT A SCORECARD!

Frank J. does it again with his "interviews" with the Democratic hopefuls. I don't usually laugh out loud at things I read, but this one's chock full of coffee-spewing, monitor-splattering goodness. Here's Al Sharpton:

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Frank: Many people find you to be a more offensive but more entertaining version of Jesse Jackson,i.e., a racist idiot who is fun to watch. You're sort of like a Ku Klux Klan member who can juggle. So, as a racial demagogue black man, what do you think are your chances in the election?

Sharpton: Why do you call me a black man? Is it because I'm a black man?

Frank: Uh... yes.

Sharpton: Racist!

Frank: Uh... you're the racist.

Sharpton: No. I know what racism is. I am great at spotting it and... Racism!

Frank: That's just a bird flying by the window.

Sharpton: Racism!

Frank: That's just a wall outlet.

Sharpton: Racism!

Frank: That's just a desk lamp.

Sharpton: Racism!

Frank: That's the wall outlet again. So, do you really think you can win, or are you satisfied with just being a distraction?

Sharpton: I can win! Among the black vote, I'm the leader.

Frank: Yes, that's very sad.

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Now set your drink down, swallow, and go read the whole thing.

LETTING MY DIM LIGHT SHINE

Andrea Harris points out perhaps the stupidest example yet of nounifying an adjective. Some joker wants the word "Bright" to be a proper noun describing anyone with a "naturalistic" worldview, i.e. not believing in God or other supernatural phenomena.

I fit the description, but I'll pass on the label and all its smarmy overtones.