What Caught My Eye Today

Georgia - The White House declared Russia in violation of its commitments to leave the territory of Georgia after routing Georgian forces in a war that erupted two weeks ago. In a sign of growing tension between Moscow and the West over the conflict in Georgia, a Russian news agency reported that Russia had temporarily frozen cooperation with the NATO alliance, though there was no immediate confirmation. That could threaten a deal under which many of the supplies to the NATO security force in Afghanistan are flown in through Russian airspace. It's always comforting to see two global powers able to put aside their differences and work toward a common good. And I'm confident that one day before I die, I will see the U.S. and Russia do just that.

2008 Presidential Race - We'll start with Barack Obama today (not to worry I've got McCain covered as well). Barack Obama says he's decided on a running mate, but he won't say who. Big deal. I've just come up with a plan for world peace...but I'm not gonna tell anyone what it is. The Democratic presidential candidate said that he went with someone who is independent and would challenge him in the White House. He also said he wanted someone who is prepared to be president and would help him strengthen the economy. Well, that's a relief. I was sure Obama was going to pick a guy (or gal) completely unqualified for the job. As for picking someone who is independent, does that mean that Barack may have gone outside the Democratic party for his VP? I guess we'll find out soon.

Now let's see what the headlines have on our boy John McCain. Hours after a report that the Republican nominee didn't know exactly how many homes he and his multimillionaire wife own, Democratic rival Barack Obama launched a national TV ad and a series of campaign stops aimed at portraying McCain as wealthy and out of touch. Last week McCain cracked that being rich in the U.S. meant earning at least $5 million a year. With most Americans feeling the pinch of a worsening economy, the remarks allow Democrats to suggest that McCain cannot relate to ordinary voters. Honestly, in the world that these two guys live in, I'm not sure either Obama or McCain can relate to ordinary voters. Think about it, how many ordinary voters have any interest in becoming President of the United States. Most of us aren't willing to compromise our ethics or morals the way these two are.

Iraq - Iraq and the U.S. have reached preliminary agreement to withdraw American forces from Iraqi cities by next June, six years into the increasingly unpopular war. Better late than never, I suppose. The draft agreement with Iraq would link troop reductions to achievement of certain security milestones. The proposed deal reflects growing confidence in the ability of Iraqi forces to secure the country. A final agreement would require endorsement of the proposed deal by top Iraqi leaders and the Iraqi parliament. The Bush administration does not plan to submit the deal to Congress for approval. Why start now? As for the upcoming Presidential election, I wonder which candidate is going to spin this latest development to his advantage. Logic would suggest Obama, given his position on withdrawing troops soon after he takes office, but then again, McCain has been on the rise in the polls, so perhaps he'll come out ahead, claiming that it was his wartime strategy that made this deal possible in the first place.

Iran - Iran plans to send a manned rocket into space in the next 10 years. Yeah, good luck with that. Iran said it had put a dummy satellite into orbit on a home-grown rocket for the first time, though U.S. security officials said Tehran's attempted satellite launch was a failure that fell short of claimed successes. The long-range ballistic technology used to put satellites into space can also be used for launching weapons. Iran says it has no such intention. Of course not, what conceivable reason could Iran possibly have for being able to launch nuclear warheads over long distances? The West accuses Iran of seeking to build a nuclear warhead, a charge Tehran denies, insisting its nuclear ambitions are aimed at generating electricity so it that it can export more of its massive oil and gas reserves. See, Iran's motives are completely innocent. They merely have an interest in space exploration. An expensive interest to be sure, but totally harmless...one hopes.

Greeting Cards - Now, now. Work with me. The story is worth reading, trust me. Most states don't recognize gay marriage — but now Hallmark does. The nation's largest greeting card company is rolling out same-sex wedding cards — featuring two tuxedos, overlapping hearts or intertwined flowers, with best wishes inside. Clearly a landmark day for gay rights. Hallmark added the cards after California joined Massachusetts as the only U.S. states with legal gay marriage. A handful of other states have recognized same-sex civil unions. The language inside the cards is neutral, with no mention of wedding or marriage, making them also suitable for a commitment ceremony. Hallmark says the move is a response to consumer demand, not any political pressure. Funny how all the posturing by conservatives and liberal hasn't done squat to quiet the debate over gay rights, but when it comes to the almighty equalizer--that would be money--things tends to just sort themselves out.