What Caught My Eye Today

Iraq - Blackwater security contractors in Iraq have been involved in nearly 200 escalation of force incidents since 2005, including several previously unreported killings of Iraqi civilians, according to reports filed by congressional investigators. Blackwater has been under intense scrutiny since a recent shooting outside Baghdad that left at least 17 Iraqis dead. The firms's 1000 employees have engaged in frequent and extensive use of force, usually without provocation. Blackwater's CEO testifying before a House subcommittee last week, acknowledged that mistakes had been made, but said that Blackwater was being unfairly demonized. "They call us mercenaries, but we're Americans working for America protecting Americans. Actually, dude, if you were just Americans protecting Americans, you'd probably still be part of the military. When you get paid for it as a private sector entity, you are basically mercenaries with a snazzy corporate logo. And yet again, we are seeing the seemingly endless legacy of former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's policies--this time in the form of reducing the military by contracting out to the private sector.

Ecuador - Ecuador's president said that he would dissolve the national Congress. Rafael Correa made the announcement after his party won a sweeping victory in elections for delegates to the country's constitutional convention. The constitutional assembly will start drafting a new constituion at the end of October. Analysts expect it will concentrate more power in the executive branch. Ecuador has had eight presidents in 11 years, in part because under the present constitution, Congress can remove the president with relative ease. Well, I guess that's one way to reduce presidential turnover--get rid of Congress.

2008 Presidential Campaign - After hinting for months that he may seek the Republican presidential nomination, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich has taken himself out of contention. Gingrich, who quit Congress in 1998 following his party's heavy losses in midterm elections, now runs a political action committee. Under election law, Gingrich would have had to give up that post to form a presidential exploratory committee. I'm guessing that Gingrich is sensing another GOP bloodbath in 2008 and doesn't want any part of it, but I wouldn't at all be surprised if he turns up again in 2012.

In other related news...John McCain stirred controversy last week by telling an interviewer that he would probably not vote for a Muslim candidate for president because, "this nation was founded primarily on Christian principles." Trailing badly in the polls, McCain has been seeking support from Christian conservatives whom he alienated during the 2000 presidential campaign by dismissing them as "agents of intolerance." I don't want to split hairs here, Mr. Senator, but this country was founded on the principle of the freedom to practice religion, any religion, if I recall correctly. I'm pretty sure that the Constitution and Bill of Rights don't have any language that explicitly says or implicitly suggests that freedom of religion was limited only to Christian based faiths. Oh and by the way, nice flip-flop there. I'll give you an 8 for technical merit, but only a 5 for artistic expression.

India - An Indian businessman has launched the ultimate no-frills airline. The airline has only one plane, a used Airbus 300 with a missing wing, and it never actually leaves the ground (um yeah, no kidding). In a nation where 99% of the population have never flown, people are lining up to pay $4 to board the plan, strap themselves into seats, and listen to the captain, make such announcements as, "We will soon be passing through a zone of turbulence" and "We are about to begin our descent into Delhi." I'm thinking there should be one more annoucement..."You people are idiots!!!"