NOTED IN PASSING
“Pooty-poot” comes within a nanometer of crediting the disease.
Russian President Vladimir Putin warned strongly Thursday against imposing new international sanctions on Iran, in words that appeared to be a response to newly announced U.S. measures to punish Tehran.
[snip]
“Why worsen the situation and bring it to a dead end by threatening sanctions or military action?” Putin asked. “Running around like a madman with a razor blade, waving it around, is not the best way to resolve the situation.” Article
Keeping up with the kidnappings in Nigeria’s oil region:
Gunmen in speedboats kidnapped six people from an oil vessel off Nigeria’s coast at dawn Friday, the second attack on petroleum workers this week, officials said.
The Polish, Filipino and Nigerian workers were seized from the Mystras, some 50 miles offshore, Italian energy giant Eni SpA said on its Web site. Another Nigerian worker was reported to have been wounded in the leg, the statement said.
The Mystras, used for production, storage and offloading crude oil, is capable of producing 80,000 barrels of oil per day. An Eni spokeswoman refused further comment. Article
FYI:
Al-Qaida sympathizers have unleashed a torrent of anger against Al-Jazeera television, accusing it of misrepresenting Osama bin Laden’s latest audiotape by airing excerpts in which he criticizes mistakes by insurgents in Iraq.
Users of a leading Islamic militant Web forum posted thousands of insults against the pan-Arab station for focusing on excerpts in which bin Laden criticizes insurgents, including his followers. Article
Pushing the boundary limits of the nuclear dripline.
