torture smorture

LAT: while everyone's giddy with the idea of him not being president next year, Bush says torture [waterboarding] is a-ok, reminds everyone he can keep shaming the country for 11 more months
"The surprise assertion from the Bush administration reopened a debate that many in Washington had considered closed. Two laws passed by Congress in recent years -- as well as a Supreme Court ruling on the treatment of detainees -- were widely interpreted to have banned the CIA's use of the extreme interrogation method."
Gdn: meanwhile, UN special rapporteur on torture censures the US
"Nowak, an Austrian law professor, said: 'I'm not willing any more to discuss these questions with the US government, when they still say that this is allowed. It's not allowed.'"
NYT: more evidence that CIA tapes were destroyed during an investigation (apparently unnecessary, since the administration doesn't mind torture)

middle east
USAT: in Mosul, Al-Qaeda changes tactics, eases off the harsh rules and warns civilians before bombings
WP: Samarra mosque under reconstruction

NYT: quick facts on Pakistan's tribal region

Gdn: attacks continue in Gaza between Hamas and Israel

europe
BBC: OSCE will boycott Russia's Mar 2 presidential election

asia
BBC: journalists in Sri Lanka live in danger; many threatened have been Tamils working in north

BBC: mass grave discovered in Nepal, thought to contain remains of 49 people disappeared by military during war with Maoists

the carrot
BBC: back on track: US rewards new government in Thailand with resumed military aid
and the stick
Gdn: US imposes travel ban on 10 politicians linked to post-election violence in Kenya

africa
Gdn: background on conflicts and recent violence in Kenya
BBC: Kenyan police officer charged with murder during post-election violence

BBC: opposition candidate in Zimbabwe threatened by Zanu-PF militants

BBC: UN concerned about potential war between Ethiopia and Eritrea
Econ: and things don't look good in Central Africa, either

BBC: MSF estimates that 100 people were killed in Chad; capital is still quiet, with French soldiers patrolling

americas
WP: President Calderon might reduce role of military in drug war

still scratching your head over super tuesday?
TNR blog: let's just broker this, like the good ol' days
(Wiki: when did we start voting in primaries, anyhow?)
Slate: who has more delegates? depends on who you ask
USAT: make your own spreadsheet with the formulas
Slate: will florida seriously screw everything up again?