What Caught My Eye Today

Torture - President Bush will veto legislation that would have barred the CIA from using waterboarding — a technique that simulates drowning — and other harsh interrogation methods on terror suspects. Bush said the bill would harm the government's ability to prevent future attacks. Supporters of the legislation argue that it preserves the United States' right to collect critical intelligence while boosting the country's moral standing abroad. The bill would restrict the CIA to using only the 19 interrogation techniques listed in the Army field manual. Ah heck, what do those military types know about interrogating terrorists? We should leave that sort of thing to the experts, like maybe the CIA. Seems they have the stomach for this sort of thing. Bush noted that the Army field manual contends that harsh interrogation is a "poor technique that yields unreliable results, may damage subsequent collection efforts, and can induce the source to say what he thinks the (interrogator) wants to hear." Yes, so let's torture the life out of these suspects. That'll guarantee some credible intelligence. It's like we've gone back to the Middle Ages here. Where is the civility and humanity in this?

Economy - President Bush said that "it's clear our economy has slowed" and tried to reassure an anxious public that the long-term outlook is good. Yeah, good luck with that, Mr. Prez. Congress passed and Bush signed a stimulus package that will send tax rebates to many families and businesses. But some fear it will come too late — or that people will use the money to save or pay off debt, rather than go on a spending spree that would boost the economy. Bush gently urged people to do the latter. "When the money reaches the American people, we expect they will use it to boost consumer spending," he said. No need to worry about your own selfish wants--you know, like your mortgage or rent--when the economy needs your help. Go out and spend what you don't have. Remember, this isn't about you--it's about the economy.

Nicaragua - Nicaragua broke off diplomatic ties with Colombia, widening a Latin American crisis over a raid by Colombia on a rebel camp inside Ecuador last Saturday. Venezuela and Ecuador have also cut relations with Colombia and sent troops to their frontiers with the U.S.-backed state in reaction to the cross-border raid, which prompted leftist allies in Latin America to line up against Colombia. Nicaragua's move strengthened the leftist alliance that has formed around Ecuador and Venezuela and left their neighbor, Colombian President Alvaro Uribe, increasingly isolated and under pressure to apologize. Honestly, dude. Wouldn't it be easier for all parties concerned for you to mea culpa this whole deal? I'm all for sticking with your principles, but is it really worth the all the trouble this has caused? Earlier this week, the United States helped block moves at the Organization of American States for a formal condemnation of Colombia. Instead, the diplomatic body noted that Colombia had broken international law by violating Ecuador's sovereignty. So like Colombia broke international law, but according to the U.S. that's okay. Is it any wonder, why nobody likes us? If it was Venezuela that stood accused of violating another country's sovereignty, you just know we would be all over these guys regardless of the circumstances.

Belarus - The Belarusian Foreign Ministry told the U.S. ambassador to leave the country and recalled its own ambassador from the U.S. over economic sanctions Washington imposed on the former Soviet nation last year. Oh, I'm sure she's all bummed out over that. Holding down a diplomatic position in a country most people haven't even heard of let alone care about, versus coming back home. Yeah, that's a tough call. The Belarusian Foreign Ministry said its demand that the U.S. ambassador leave the country had been prompted by U.S. sanctions imposed last fall against Belarus' state-controlled oil-processing and chemicals company, Belneftekhim. The United States and the European Union, which also introduced economic and travel sanctions against Belarus, have made clear that Belarus must free political prisoners and allow more democratic freedoms before sanctions can be lifted and relations normalized. I may be missing the big picture in all of this, but what are these guys doing that is so much different from Russia's politics. Last time I checked, we weren't slapping any sanctions on the Russians.

American Idol - I don't want to brag or nothing--okay maybe just a little bit--but I call all 4 rejects this week. The popular Fox singing contest cut four contestants from the competition Thursday night, leaving a dozen finalists to vie for the show's record contract grand prize. Four contestants — two women and two men — were sent home Thursday. Kady Malloy was the first to get the boot during the live telecast. Simon Cowell called Malloy "forgettable" after she sang Queen's "Who Wants To Live Forever" on Wednesday's female performance show. Her rendition pretty much blew chow. Luke Menard was dismissed second based on his performance from Tuesday's '80s-themed male performance show: "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go." On second thought, bro', why don't you just let me sleep while you show yourself out. Asia'h Epperson was third to exit. Cowell had called Epperson a "second-rate" Whitney Houston after her rendition of "I Wanna Dance with Somebody." I'd say Cowell was being uncharacteristically kind with that review.Danny Noriega was the last semifinalist to be expelled. The over-the-top contestant, who sang "Tainted Love," was in tears following his removal. That makes sense. I was in tears listening to him butcher the song.