What Caught My Eye Today

Iraq - Facing Democratic lawmakers and many voters demanding a quick end to the U.S. engagement in Iraq, General David Petraeus said a 2,000-member Marine unit would return home this month without replacement, outlined plans Monday for the withdrawal of 30,000 troops by next summer and suggested the force could fall to about 130,000 by August without jeopardizing modest recent security improvements. Petraeus appeared at a congressional hearing seen as a crucial moment in the U.S. debate over the war, which Bush has vowed to pursue but which many Democrats, who control Congress, say must end. "I believe we will be able to reduce our forces to pre-surge level by next summer without jeopardizing the security gains," Petraeus said at a joint hearing of the House Armed Services and Foreign Affairs Committees. "The military objectives of the surge are in large measure being met," Petraeus added during a hearing that was repeatedly interrupted by protesters shouting "war criminals" and other anti-war slogans. Petraeus said the number of "security incidents" had dropped in eight of the past 12 weeks and the overall number of civilian deaths from the conflict had fallen by 45 percent since December. As predicted, no major surprises today, except maybe one. In the sea of ineptitude that is our government, there stands an island of reason in the form of General David Petraeus. The man did not mince words, largely because he didn't say anything that was stupid, or more importantly, not true. Regardless of your opinion of the war, you have to applaud Petraeus for keeping it all real. Plus, regardless of what he said, no one in Washington was likely to suddenly switch positions on the war.

War on Terrorism - Weapons of mass destruction, small boats packed with explosives and Islamic radicalization are the greatest terrorist threats facing the country, top U.S. security officials said. The officials told Congress the country is much better prepared to face terror threats than it was then, but that terrorists' desire to attack the United States remains strong. The radicalization of potential new terrorists, in the U.S. and abroad, is another growing concern, the intelligence officials said at the hearing on the nation's terrorism preparedness. Despite the confidence expressed by top administration officials, fewer Americans believe the country is adequately prepared for another attack. A CBS News/New York Times poll taken Sept. 4-9 found that 39 percent of Americans think the country is sufficiently ready — down from 49 percent a year ago and 64 percent in March 2003, when the war in Iraq began. I wouldn't go so far as to say the American public is pessimistic. I think realistic is a more accurate description. Bottom line, if someone wants to do you harm and is hell bent on finding a way to do it, chances are that person will pull it off. I think most Americans have come to grips with that.

Economy - Strained by an ailing housing market and credit woes, the economy in 2007 is expected to log its worst growth in five years and should be somewhat sluggish next year. The #1 risk, though, is that the economy will lose its footing altogether and fall into a recession, forecasters say. A forecast released Monday by the National Association for Business Economics puts the growth of gross domestic product at 2 percent for this year. The pace was 2.2 percent in the group's previous survey, in May. If the latest prediction proves correct, growth would be the weakest since 2002. With the weaker outlook, the forecasters are concerned about the risk of recession. More than 60 percent of those responding cited recession "as the major risk facing the economy over the next year, while only a third cited inflation as the greatest problem," the group said. I know that economists are generally pessimistic by their very nature, what with economics being the 'study of scarcity,' but how about throwing us a bone here, guys? If we're going to get blown up by terrorists, can we at least have a little fun before we die?

Football - The Buffalo Bills' Kevin Everett sustained a "catastrophic" and life-threatening spinal-cord injury and his chances of regaining a full range of body motion are very small, an orthopedic surgeon said. Everett was hurt in Buffalo's season opener against Denver on Sunday when he ducked his head while driving in to tackle Broncos' Domenik Hixon during the second half-opening kickoff. Everett dropped face first to the ground after his helmet hit Hixon high on the left shoulder and side of the helmet. Replays showed the player twitching for a few seconds as he attempted to get up before falling back to the ground. Everett's eyes were open but he showed no further signs of movement during the next 15 minutes as the team's medical staff and emergency personnel placed him on a backboard and, with the player's head and body immobilized, loaded him into an ambulance. For all the talk about this being a business, its times like this that you remember the human side of the game, and a rather dangerous one at that.

Britney Spears - As in most train wrecks, it was hard to focus on just one thing as the Britney Spears disaster unfolded on MTV's Video Music Awards. There was just so much that went wrong. Out-of-synch lip-synching. Lethargic movements that seemed choreographed by a dance instructor for a nursing home. The paunch in place of Spears' once-taut belly. At times she just stopped singing, as if even she knew nothing could save her performance. The consensus is clear: Britney Spears performed like she was sloshing blindfolded through mud. Again, I have to hand it to the folks at the Associated Press. I could not have said it any better myself. Sadly, I think these guys had to sugar-coat it a bit for mass consumption. Girlfriend was seriously not good.