What Caught My Eye Today

Iraq - Under pressure to support the troops but end the war, House Democrats said they would send President Bush $50 billion for combat operations on the condition that he begin withdrawing troops from Iraq. The proposal, similar to one Bush vetoed earlier this year, would identify a goal of ending combat entirely by December 2008. It would require that troops spend as much time at home as they do in combat, as well as effectively ban harsh interrogation techniques like waterboarding. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi had hoped the House would vote as early as tomorrow on the bill. But late today, after meeting with liberal Democrats who were concerned the bill was too soft, she decided to put off debate until next week. No, your minds are playing tricks on you and no I'm not copying previous posts because I have run out of fresh material. Sadly, the Democratic leadership seems to think that if it passes the exact same legislation has the President vetoed a couple of months ago, that the results with be different this time. Of course they have failed to garner any Republican support, but sure, things will turn out better this time, won't they?

North Korea - Defense Secretary Robert Gates warned that Japan and its neighbors must do more to confront security problems in Asia, calling it one of the "last places on earth with the potential for a nuclear confrontation." It will take more than one or two countries to overcome the threats from North Korea and nuclear proliferation, Gates said. The Japanese have expressed concerns about the possibility that North Korea may eventually be taken off the U.S. list of countries that support terrorism, but Gates stressed the United States' continued commitment to Asia. So here's what I'm thinking Gates wanted to say..."Okay, listen up. We're stuck with this Iraq mess and really want to bomb the piss out of Iran. I'm pretty sure the American people won't let us fight three wars at the same time. So its up to you guys to either get North Korea to roll over and play dead or trump up some charges that the United Nations will believe. That way we can get a coalition of the suckered, I mean willing, to go in and take care of business."

Pakistan - President Gen. Pervez Musharraf yielded to pressure from the United States on Thursday and said Pakistan will hold parliamentary elections by mid-February, just a month later than originally planned. But the military leader showed no sign of letting up on his political foes, reportedly arresting more than 800 supporters of opposition leader Benazir Bhutto. The White House hailed its ally's election pledge, but Bhutto denounced his announcement as "vague" and demanded Musharraf give up his second post as army chief within a week.

Check this out, I managed to get a wiretap on the White House and heard part of the conversation between Bush and Musharraf...

Bush: Okay Mustafa, here's what you're gonna do.
Musharraf: It's Musharraf.
Bush: Yeah, whatever. See you can't be President and commander of the Army. It's just no good. It sends a bad message to the American people.
Musharraf: What about what's best for my people?
Bush: You're not listening, Mustafa. You can't have both. Pick one or I'll withhold your aid package.
Musharraf: Aren't you President and commander-in-chief of your armed forces? Why can't I do the same thing.
Bush: This ain't about me, Mustafa.


Tennis - Here are a couple of items you wouldn't normally expect to see in what I used to think was an elegant, upper class sport...

Czech tennis player Jan Hernych says he was approached in Russia last year and asked to lose first-round matches at ATP tournaments in Moscow and St. Petersburg. The matches allegedly involved were against Italy's Filippo Volandri at the Kremlin Cup and against Russia's Evgeny Korolev at the St. Petersburg Open. Hernych won both matches.He said he was not offered a specific sum of money. Online gambling company Betfair voided all bets when fourth-ranked Nikolay Davydenko withdrew against 87th-ranked Martin Vassallo Arguello in the third set of a match in Poland in August, citing a foot injury. Unusually large amounts were wagered on the lowly ranked Argentine throughout the match, even after he lost the first set 6-1. The ATP is investigating. Since then, several players have said they have been approached about influencing a match.

And if you think that is bizarre, check this one out...

The International Tennis Federation is investigating allegations that Tommy Haas was poisoned before Germany's Davis Cup match against Russia. Haas was forced out of his match against Mikhail Youzhny with a suspected stomach virus. Russia won both reverse singles matches on Sept. 23 to win the semifinal series 3-2 and reach the Davis Cup final. German teammate Alexander Waske said he was told by a Russian who manages numerous athletes that it was poisoning, not a virus. Waske didn't say who the manager was.

I can see the punchline already..."I went to see a payoff in the alley and a tennis match broke out."