‘Up to 80 civilians dead’ after US air strikes in Afghanistan
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We know Al Qaeda isn’t in Afghanistan any more (scared off to the border areas in Pakistan), so why exactly are we still there? Bring ‘em home!

Thanks for that! But the other thing that some of us Brits want to say is : ‘this isn’t all about you.’ That goes for Liebermen, but I’m afraid it also goes for those (pardon my French) f***wits in some parts of the liberal blogosphere – but I hasten to add, not here – who seem to think that this has all been orchestrated to distract attention from Cheney and potential contempt issues.

While it’s probably escaped a lot of people’s notice, we’ve recently acquired a new prime minister in the UK – and, more noticeably a new foreign minister with a trak record of skepticism about British involvment in Iraq. (no link, but check out the Guardian Unlimited site.)

(I’m not saying – of course – that those who want to distract from Republican crimes might not be playing up the news on this for their own agendas. Of course they are. But *everyone* discussing this in the US needs to step back and realıse they are not ın the front lıne of thıs partıcular set of attacks)

janda @ 106

You’re just begging to be investigated by the FBI…or perhaps have your phone tapped.

If you can’t tell, I am getting sick of all of the information coming out about who has been tapped. GRRRRR!!!!

Let them investigate me. I’m up for it. ;0)

i knew the adults weren’t in charge when, right off the bat, Teddy Kennedy turned up on the “no fly” list. i could hear rover haw haw-ing in the background… couldn’t you?

It just floors me that Kissinger has any input whatsoever.

For twenty-five years I called Kissinger the most evil person of the twentieth century. At least I knew where Hitler stood. He was in your face but Kissinger is insidious. Here we are well into the twenty-first century and Kissinger is still around. He’s like Rasputin – goes on and on and on.

Julie Waters @ 82

Heh. It was dumb luck, too. I was taking pictures of the heron with that “hey, what the heck– I’ve got lots of great heron pics but this one might turn out cool, too.” Then I realized I needed to change the camera settings and just then the blackbird showed up. Then I took lots more pictures, and fortunately one worked :)

Hey, don’t knock serendipity! *g* Would you be willing to id some generalized location?

I’d be willing to id as an exact location as I can describe.

First, the original picture is here– that IDs it as being at Dead Creek Wildlife Management area in Vermont. Dead Creek is between rte 22A and the NY Border at Lake Champlain, off rte 17 in Adisson, VT. Traveling on rte 17W from 22A, you’ll see a viewing area on the left– you can often see Snow Geese from there during migration period, but this time of year all you see is tree swallows, house & song sparrows and occasionally a Harrier hunting in the field. Sometimes you can see eagles or osprey.

If you continue past the viewing area, your next left is the road to Bryella pond access area. If you follow that road, you’ll reach a (very) small bridge. As you cross over the bridge, there is a large open water area on the right and a reedy marshy area on the left. I spotted this particular heron on the left side, but you can see them in multiple locations.

I’ve taken some great pictures at Dead Creek, many of which can be found here.

I WILL NOT BE AFRAID of the terrorists. I’m very afraid of my government.

Did you catch the chatter about Bob Woodward’s comments on our secret government at the Bucknell College commencement? Just Google “woodward secret government” without the quotes.

and re Kissinger:

Catch Charlie Rose Special Edition (auditorium & audience) with Zbiggy, Kissinger and Scowcroft. Brezinski presented the critical insights & assessments, Kissinger provided a few well-timed bits of humor ala Groucho Marx, and Scowcroft daydreamed of being somewhere else, like mowing his lawn.