Bits and pieces

Indications are that Strom Thurmond did indeed father a child by a black maid in his parents' household.

A 78-year-old retired Los Angeles schoolteacher said she is breaking a lifetime of silence to announce that she is the illegitimate mixed-race daughter of former U.S. senator James Strom Thurmond (R-S.C.), once the nation's leading segregationist. In an interview, the woman said that Thurmond privately acknowledged her as his daughter and provided financial support since 1941.  article

France has indicated a willingness to forgive at least a portion of Iraq's debt provided that the deal is made between France and a true Iraqi government, not the American imitation one.

One source said the US-led occupation authority in Iraq would not be deemed as sufficiently legitimate to sign legal debt deals concerning write-off and rescheduling of repayments over decades, as well as issues such as oil output.  article

Israel has a new weapon - a gun that can shoot around corners. Great, but I suppose that works two ways - if they're firing from around a corner and the opposition has a gun that can also shoot around a corner....whatever.

"It protects soldiers' lives and increases their chances of survival, while drastically improving their ability to gather information and transmit the combat scenario as well as pinpoint and engage targets out of their line of sight."  article

Colin Powell's prostrate surgery went fine, I'm sure you'll be happy to know.

Boucher said Powell was initially diagnosed several months ago and, after consulting his doctors and family, scheduled the surgery at a relatively slow time at work.  article

Not to mention, Wulfowitless is calling the shots about who gets to divide the spoils in Iraq, so we don't even really need a Secretary of State. And really, a prostate surgery is kind of a non-event considering the excitement of the "capture". Now get off that Ambien, Colin.

....but hey, do what you want....you will anyway.