Morning copy 7/20/2005: Everything but Roberts

The CIA Leak

Maybe it's the complexity of the case, but I am having a hard time finding a lot on the CIA investigation. I'm sure ABC's The Note will have a lot more in 4 hours, but as of now all I have found is an A.P. story with a few more details on that State memo circulated around the time of Joseph Wilson's arguments against the war, Boston.com/A.P. LINK.:

The memo said Wilson's wife worked for the CIA and suggested her husband go to Niger because he had contacts there and had served as an American diplomat in Africa; however, the official said the memo did not say she worked undercover for the spy agency nor did it identify her as Valerie Plame.

Iraq

L.A. Times story on criticism targeted at ineffective rebuilding efforts in Iraq. LINK.

AQABA, Jordan — In language both sharp and subtle, Iraqi and international officials on Monday criticized the U.S.-led rebuilding effort for moving too slowly to improve the lives of Iraqi citizens.

One of the 15 Sunni Arabs that was to work on the Iraq constitution, due mid-August, were assasinated yesterday. His adviser was also killed. USA Today LINK.

Restrictions on women in matters of divorce and political representation make their way into a draft of the Iraqi constitution. The NY Times has obtained a copy. LINK.

The draft of a chapter of the new constitution obtained by The New York Times on Tuesday guarantees equal rights for women as long as those rights do not "violate Shariah," or Koranic law.

A report estimates as many as 25,000 Iraqi civilians have been killed in the war and insurgency. L.A. Times LINK.

London and terror

Reports of a crackdown in Pakistan yesterday and into the night. Perhaps as many as 100 extremists were detained over night. BBC News LINK.

Reuters reported one British Muslim suspect had been arrested. A Pakistani official has denied this. Guardian LINK.

From al Jazeera: "Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf will address the nation on his government's fresh crackdown on Islamic fighters following the 7 July London bombings." LINK.

Special intelligent units, perhaps a branch load of them, to track Muslim extremists that may turn violent in Britain. Guardian LINK.

More links.

The numerous military base closings in the northeastern United States worries the chairman of the base closing committee. The Chairman believes that there needs to be an active military presence throughout the country. A.P./Military.com LINK.

Chevron ups its bid for Unocal. SF Gate LINK. Also, reported in Bloomberg's news service. Bloomberg LINK.

More on China: Bush avoids a reporter's question on whether China is an emerging military threat. Washington Times LINK.

China's military make-over has garnered a lot of attention in papers today. Report released indicates China is working on winning a high-intensity, short duration conflict over Taiwan. NY Times LINK.

The President's Daily Briefing has been altered to include more intelligence information from agencies other than the CIA. NY Times LINK.

Cautious hopes for peace in the Sudan. CS Monitor LINK. BBC News: Security in Darfur is improving. LINK.

Critical need for aide in Niger, reports the BBC News (LINK):

The United Nations top aid official has accused the international community of neglecting the food crisis in Niger.

Some 150,000 children will die soon without aid, out of 2.5m who need food, said Jan Egeland.

New home building slows for second straight month. CS Monitor LINK.

The D.C. Metro is considering random checks of passengers in latest bid to prevent terrorist violence on the rails. USA Today LINK.

An anlysis of the chance for peace in Aceh. Economist LINK.

The Bush administration inches toward accepting India as a nuclear power, in spite of India not signing the non-proliferation treaty. Economist LINK.

A retired British school teacher would like 'failure' to be replaced by 'deferred success'. Times Online LINK.

Google search for 'miserable failure'.

Google search for 'misserable deferred success'.