BBC: another opposition MP in Kenya shot
But the killing seems unrelated to politics: "A local police chief says Mr Too was having an affair with the girlfriend of the policeman, who shot them both." The killing has prompted Kikuyus to flee town, Eldoret, nonetheless.
Econ: talks so far inching along, as violence continues
BBC: rebels capture town in Chad
"'We are moving towards N'Djamena,' rebel spokesman Abderaman Koulamallah confirmed to AFP. Meanwhile, army units have stepped up patrols on the streets of the capital, Reuters news agency says."
BBC: UN peacekeepers in Western Sahara deface ancient rock paintings
middle east
BBC: former supreme court chief in Pakistan denounces Musharraf
"He described his treatment at the hands of President Musharraf as an 'incredible outrage' committed by an 'extremist general' who is supported by the West. "
WP: the US "urges" fair elections, after surprising allegations of intimidation
SWJ: analysis of possible US military operations in Waziristan, featuring some shaky generalizations related to "tribal" and "western" logics
BBC: Fatah militant killed near Gaza border gap; Mubarak meets with Abbas
WP: Israeli Supreme Court oks reduced energy supply to Gaza, enough to meet "basic humanitarian needs"
IHT: Israeli report faults leadership in 2006 Lebanon war, but Olmert likely to retain power
Ind: text of (unclassified) Winograd Report
"•We found serious failings and shortcomings in the decision-making processes and staff-work in the political and the military echelons and their interface.
•We found serious failings and flaws in the quality of preparedness, decision-making and performance in the IDF high command, especially in the Army.
•We found serious failings and flaws in the lack of strategic thinking and planning, in both the political and the military echelons.
•We found severe failings and flaws in the defence of the civilian population and in coping with its being attacked by rockets.
•These weaknesses resulted in part from inadequacies of preparedness and strategic and operative planning which go back long before the 2nd Lebanon war."
BBC: bomb in Helmand mosque kills deputy governor; suicide bomber in Kabul kills one.IHT: developments in Mosul
AP: US commanders warn that the campaign there will be long
"Lieutenant Colonel Michael Simmering, of the 3rd Armored Cavalry, based near Mosul, described the insurgent force in the city as a patchwork of groups, including Al Qaeda in Mesopotamia and other factions, 'all vying for different things at this point.'
'The thing about the insurgency in Mosul is that there are many different facets,' he said.
'This is going to be a long, protracted push by coalition forces and more importantly by Iraqi security forces to re-establish security,' Simmering said. 'If you're looking for one big culminating event, you'll never quite see it. I call this the 'campaign for Mosul.' "
WP: speaking of long, US commanders in favor of freezing troop reductions at 15 brigades
SWJ: has round-up of Iraq updates
BBC: four separatists killed in Indian Kashmir, from group Hizb-ul Mujahideen
BBC: extortion trial of former Bangladeshi prime minister, Sheik Hasina, begins
Gdn: China suffering in cold spell; food shortages severe
Ind: soldiers called in to clear roads
LAT: in bizarre timing, China announces that it's working to control the weather - for the Olympics (imagine! a regime so powerful it can control the weather. nevermind about those pesky citizens starving in the snow)
"Cloud-seeding is a relatively well-known practice that involves shooting various substances into clouds, such as silver iodide, salts and dry ice, that bring on the formation of larger raindrops, triggering a downpour. But Chinese scientists believe they have perfected a technique that reduces the size of the raindrops, delaying the rain until the clouds move on.
The weather modification would be used only on a small area, opening what would be in effect a meteorological umbrella over the 91,000-seat Olympic stadium."
Econ: North Korea's (violations of) human rights record
americas
BBC: 43 Rio policemen offer mass resignation days before Carnival, after chief sacked for allowing protest about low pay.
IHT: police kill at least 6 anti-drug trafficking operation in Rio slums
LAT: Mexican city a safe-haven for illegal immigrants
Ecatepec is the place where Hondurans, Guatemalans, Salvadorans and others begin the long, final stage of their journey across Mexico, northward to the U.S. border aboard a freight train known as 'the beast.'"
BBC: Canada says it will pull out of Afghanistan unless more NATO troops are sent
IHT: "election" outcome in Cuba: shocker, Castros retain power
Slate: Mukasey to Congress: torture, smorture
"Unless someone were to actually be water-boarded before Mukasey's eyes at the witness table in the Hart Senate Building, America's lawyer cannot hazard an opinion as to its legality."
WP: more on the volley
"At one point, Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.) asked: 'Would waterboarding be torture if it was done to you?'
'I would feel that it was,' Mukasey replied.
But Mukasey said that does not mean it would be illegal."
Also, he *might* investigate the conduct of CIA officers shown on the tapes, rather than just the destruction of them.
The Onion: the CIA has a plan to make this whole conversation irrelevant
NYT: concussions, stress linked to PTSD in soldiers
NYT: police shoot woman and baby in Lima, Ohio, sparking protests of racism and brutality
europe
BBC: Slovakia delays EU reform vote
WP: linguistic, ethnic conflict in Belgium
misc
Wonkette: here's another news round-up. of sorts.
"If Americans know one thing about the Foreigns (and sometimes that’s a near thing), it’s that they live in Foreign countries, which, obviously, are hellholes of awfulness and despair."
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