Baghdad market bombing adds to soaring death toll

A market bombing in central Baghdad killed 15 people Friday morning, continuing the spike in violence as the deadline approaches for the United States to withdraw combat troops from Iraqi cities. The bomb went off in a commercial area where men buy and sell motorcycles, an Interior Ministry official said.

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New ‘Great Satan’? Iran, U.K. Relations Worsen

If the number of protesters on the streets of Tehran has thinned in recent days — a result of the bloody crackdown by police and militia that continued in parts of the capital on June 24 — there’s little sign of a letup in Iran’s overseas offensive. British passport holders “had a role” in the violent clashes sparked by Iran’s disputed election on June 12, Iranian Intelligence Minister Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei told the Fars news agency on June 24. Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki announced that Tehran might downgrade its diplomatic ties with the U.K.

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Lessons For the U.S. As the Iranian Revolution Unravels

Who would have thought that Iran, a country that has been the nemesis of the past five American presidents, might actually become a model for what Washington wants to see happen politically in the Middle East? Who would have thought that a Berlin Wall moment for the region might happen in the strict Islamic republic, where a revolution 30 years ago unleashed Islam as a modern political idiom and extremism as a tool to confront the West Unlikely as it seems, the rise of a popular movement relying on civil disobedience to confront authoritarian rule — in the last bloc of countries to hold out against the tide of change that has swept the rest of the world over the past quarter century — is almost a diplomatic dream for the Obama administration

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How to Reach Teens in a Recession? Ask Aeropostale

Can a recession actually cause teenage daughters and their moms to shop peacefully together at the mall? Believe it or not, yes. At a New York City shopping center one recent June evening, Adina Armstrong, 13, and her mother Tracy sauntered out of teen retailer Aéropostale, Adina cheerily chirping away on her cell phone, Tracy happily holding a bag full of t-shirts.

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Visiting Gadhafi stokes protests in Rome

Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi arrived in Rome Wednesday for a historic — and controversial — first visit to the capital of Italy, Libya’s former colonial master. Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi greeted the former pariah at Rome’s Ciampino airport, with tight security in the city. Gadhafi met President Giorgio Napolitano Wednesday, afterwards declaring: “Today’s Italy is not the same one of the past.

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Paul Slansky’s News Index: This Preposterous Week

Aiken, Clay •Adam Lambert is not enjoyed by, and apparently not because of his ambiguous sexuality Blagojevich, Patti •acceptance by of NBC offer to appear on Costa Rican jungle-based reality show that husband of was unable to appear on due to being under indictment Bush, George W. •shredding of the preposterous endlessly repeated meme that the nation was “kept safe” by, a quintessentially ludicrous claim given that, among other ignominious fiascos, the worst attack on American soil, the destruction of a major American city, and the collapse of the American economy all occurred under the “watch” of •speeches by Obama and Cheney are not seen as essential viewing by carbon dioxide •potential danger of to the environment is pooh-poohed by conservatives because “we breathe” it and “we are made of carbon” Carter, Graydon •Brooke Astor’s question to — “Have you seen Graydon Carter” — is recalled by Cheney, Dick •criticism of torture is dismissed by as “contrived indignation,” “phony moralizing” and “feigned outrage” •”snarling” fear-mongering speech by is pepper-sprayed with repeated references to “danger,” “threat,” “attack” and a Giuliani-esque two dozen-plus mentions of “9/11” Democrats •preternatural spinelessness of euphemisms •use of by Obama “to obscure the debate over national security” is scoffed at by Cheney, whose description of torture as “enhanced interrogation methods” has now been topped by the even less specific “unpleasant things” Gates, Defense Secretary Robert •first name of is gotten wrong time and time and time again gay marriage •replacement of abortion by as hot-button issue in upcoming Supreme Court confirmation hearings Goldberg, Whoopi •Glenn Beck is called a “lying sack of dog mess” by Gordon, Lucy •suicide of Grey, Brad •wife of signs papers finalizing divorce from with a smiley face Jackson, Michael •beginning of comeback tour is, of course, postponed Kennedy, Sen

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