What Caught My Eye Today

Britain - A Royal Navy crew celebrated at home Thursday after nearly two weeks in Iranian captivity, hugging tearful relatives as Britons expressed outraged that the team was used by Tehran for propaganda. While much of the country rallied behind the crew's return, others criticized them for offering apologies where none was required — namely for appearing in videos in which they admitted and offered regrets for entering Iranian waters. What a bunch of jerks. Let's see how much bravado they would have if they were the ones being held captive.

Syria - Vice President Dick Cheney accused U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Thursday of "bad behavior" on her Middle East trip, saying she bungled a message for Syria's president that was later clarified by Israel. While in Damascus on Wednesday, Pelosi announced she had told Syrian President Bashar al-Assad that Israel was prepared to negotiate with Syria. That prompted Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's office to underline the Jewish state's preconditions for such talks -- including that Syria abandon its "support for terrorist groups." "I think it is, in fact bad behavior on her part. I wish she hadn't done it," Cheney said. "Fortunately I think the various parties involved recognize she doesn't speak for the United States in those circumstances, she doesn't represent the administration." He went on to say, "The president is the one who conducts foreign policy, not the speaker of the House." That may be all well and good, but let's be fair. Bush does not exactly have a sterling record when it comes to foreign policy. How does refusing to engage in any sort of substantive discussions with a country constitute a sound foreign policy?

Solomon Islands - Diarrhea has broken out among children huddled in camps of tsunami survivors in the Solomon Islands, a Red Cross official said Wednesday — the first worrying sign that thousands of people who lost their homes in the waves may be at risk of disease. At least 28 people were killed when waves up to 16 feet high smashed into the western Solomons following a magnitude-8.1 undersea quake on Monday. No significant tsunami waves were reported anywhere outside the impoverished islands, located northeast of Australia in the South Pacific. I recall the last time a tsunami hit this part of the world, the outpouring of giving was unprecedented. I guess the carnage wasn't big enough to attract the world's attention.

Chrysler - Billionaire investor Kirk Kerkorian, who lost out in Chrysler's 1998 merger with Daimler-Benz, wants to buy the troubled automaker back from its now-unhappy German owners. Kerkorian's wholly owned investment company, Tracinda Corp., on Thursday made a $4.5 billion cash offer for DaimlerChrysler's U.S.-based Chrysler unit. Long an active investor in automakers, the 89-year-old former movie mogul once offered $22.8 billion for Chrysler in an unsuccessful 1995 takeover bid. Kerkorian's bid, about one-fifth of what he offered in 1995, reflects the falling fortunes of Chrysler Group, which lost $1.5 billion last year and has announced 13,000 job cuts in North America and reduced production. No one likes to lose, but I'm thinking that Kerkorian is secretly happy that he didn't get the company back in 1995. He may well end up getting what he wanted at a fraction of the price.

The Masters - In case anyone forgot, Tiger Woods is shooting for his third straight major this week at Augusta National. At the end of the first round, a whopping seven golfers managed to card under par rounds. Justin Rose and Brett Wetterich share the clubhouse lead at 3-under. Tiger is lurking four strokes back at 1-over. Other notables didn't fare so well (Phil Mickelson +4, Sergio Garcia +4, Ernie Els +6).