Vox Verax: A leaked memo from the outgoing ambassador to Iraq warned British Prime Minister Blair that civil war is a more likely outcome in that country than democracy.

The Decembrist: Beyond checklist liberalism...an excellent analysis of why Holy Joe is in big trouble.

Crooked Timber: Here's a story that doesn’t seem to have gotten all that much attention among the blogs, but it’s outrageous, and deserves, for that reason alone, to be better known.

James Wolcott: The latest winger talking point is that innocent civilian casualties of Israeli bombardment are staged photo ops!

Majikthise: Remember G-Dub's first choice for director of Homeland Security, Bernie Kerik? Looks like the already deep sh*t he's in just got deeper. He may be the only Bush bullet we've dodged.