"In a speech at the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, Powell outlined what he called a U.S.-Middle East Partnership Initiative that he said would attempt to move Arab societies out of their current state of economic stagnation, closed and rigid political systems and severely limited educational opportunities, especially for women."

This sounds like it might be a small step in the right direction.  With a budget of only $29 million, emphasis on small?

8:00:20 AM    

Google It!

Lott Has Moved Little On Civil Rights Issues (washingtonpost.com) "The controversy over incoming Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott's praise last week for Strom Thurmond's segregationist 1948 presidential campaign has focused attention on the Mississippi Republican's record on racial issues. An examination of his record shows that over the past 40 years, he has consistently taken positions at odds with those of the traditional civil rights community."

7:57:44 AM    

Google It!

 Andrew Sullivan has an interesting discussion with Christopher Hitchens about Hitchens' book Why Orwell Matters.  More here.

7:29:57 AM