What Caught My Eye Today

Iraq - Tell me if you've heard this one before...The Democratic-controlled Senate narrowly signaled support Tuesday for the withdrawal of U.S. combat troops from Iraq by next March, triggering an instant veto threat from the White House in a deepening dispute between Congress and commander in chief. Republican attempts to scuttle the non-binding timeline failed, 50-48, largely along party lines. Majority Leader Harry Reid said the moment was at hand to "send a message to President Bush that the time has come to find a new way forward in this intractable war." Bush had previously said he would veto any bill that he deemed an attempt to micromanage the war, and the White House freshened the threat a few hours before the vote — and again afterward. "The president is disappointed that the Senate continues down a path with a bill that he will veto and has no chance of becoming law," it said.

Iran - Prime Minister Tony Blair warned Tuesday that his government could make public evidence that a British navy crew was in Iraqi waters when it was captured by Iran, saying he was prepared to take the standoff to a "different phase" if diplomacy fails to win their release. Iran said the 15 British sailors and marines were being treated well, but refused to say where they were being held, or rule out the possibility that they could be brought to trial for allegedly entering Iranian waters. First the U.S., next Russia, and now the British. Iran just has no interest in playing nicely with the other children in the sandbox.

Friendly Fire - Pat Tillman's mother said Tuesday that her greatest disappointment in the latest investigations into her son's death in Afghanistan was that "horrific" acts by the Army Rangers who shot him were not adequately acknowledged or punished. After a year of investigating, the Army's Criminal Investigation Command — its version of the FBI — concluded Monday that no crime was committed by the fellow Rangers who shot Tillman in April 2004 after a chaotic ambush in Afghanistan. The Tillman family pressed the military investigators who briefed them Monday on violations of the Army's rules of engagement. For instance, all four shooters testified they had failed to identify their targets before firing, a direct violation of fire discipline techniques. The investigators simply told the Tillmans that they had found no such violations. Regardless of the truth, there is no way the Army escapes a black eye on this one. Anyone want to bet that Rumsfeld had a hand in the initial coverup?

Sports Wrap - Lots of sports this past weekend. Here are some of the highlights that caught my attenion.

Soccer. It may have been an international friendly (U.S. versus Ecuador), but you don't see a hat trick very often. Landon Donovan scored in the first minute (35 seconds into the match), the 66th, and 67th minute. This is his second career hat trick and the 10th all time in U.S. team history.

NASCAR. The annual demolition derby, I mean race at Bristol, Tennessee was won by Kyle Busch. Pole sitter and current point leader, Jeff Gordon finished third. Just 15 cars finished on the lead lap. Even if you are not a race fan, watching 43 stock cars racing around a half mile oval is a lot of fun. There is no such thing as a small wreck at this track. Oh by the way, this was the inaugural race for the new Car of Tomorrow.

Golf. Tiger Woods cannot cut a break. Dude wins the WGC event and at Doral for the third consecutive time on Sunday and all the press can talk about is that he hasn't played enough events prior to the Masters next week. He's played in 4 events in 2007 and won half of them. I'd say his game is in pretty good shape.

March Madness. I checked the weather reports twice on Sunday night to make sure that hell did not freeze over. I still have 3 out of 4 teams left in the Final Four. I check my rankings on Yahoo Sports--48 correct picks out of 60 so far, good enough for the 96th percentile. Only 72,310 people got luckier than I did.