There was something suspicious about the official triumphalism behind the announcement of the capture of the "Taliban's No 2", Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, in Karachi earlier this week in a "joint CIA and Pakistan intelligence operation". Now suspicions are growing across the region that this may have been one of the biggest double-crosses at a high level in the long and tangled wars afflicting Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The Israeli Air Force has introduced a fleet of pilotless aircraft that can stay in the air for nearly a day and fly as far as the Gulf.

The Eitan drones, which have a wingspan of 86ft (26m), are the size of Boeing 737 passenger jets.

They can reach an altitude of more than 40,000ft (12,000m) and fly for more than 20 consecutive hours.

Stop me if you think you've heard this one before

 

ANTHONY ACKROYD

For a hard-working comedian, hearing someone else ripping off your material is no laughing matter - and the internet doesn't help, writes Anthony Ackroyd.

from the ABC

The BBC has been accused of having a "total sense of humour failure" after banning its political editor, Nick Robinson, and other senior journalists such as Huw Edwards and George Alagiah from taking part in one of the corporation's own entertainment television programmes.

From Robert Fisk

from John Pilger

Why are so many films so bad? This year's Oscar nominations are a parade of propaganda, stereotypes and downright dishonesty. The dominant theme is as old as Hollywood: America's divine right to invade other societies, steal their history and occupy our memory. When will directors and writers behave like artists and not pimps for a world view devoted to control and destruction?

read more of John Pilger...

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Abbott remarks draw Salvos' fire

The Salvation Army says it is worried by comments by Federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott that homelessness can be a choice for some people.

Mr Abbott made the comments to a meeting of social service providers last week.

Major David Eldridge from the Salvation Army says he hopes Mr Abbott was not trying to politicise the issue.

Am I on my lonesome to believe that for the last 60 years the US has been trying to stop the formation of Europe?...

A strong Europe would pose a "challenge" to the US.

Before, during and after the war in Iraq, the Australian Wheat Board was selling tonnes of wheat to Iraq. But before the war it was selling wheat while paying bribes to Saddam to get the gig, contrary to the letter of UN sanctions. Of course, the UN authorities alerted ASIO, which unlike the WMDs fictional double-cross set-up, got the right info on the AWB deception. But, according to our previous government, the boffins at ASIO decided to say NOFIN'...

From the SMH

Opposition leader Tony Abbott has been branded "incredibly old-fashioned" for implying that housewives still do all the ironing.

Mr Abbott made the comment in a dry cleaners in the NSW town of Queanbeyan yesterday, as he warned of higher electricity prices under the government's emissions trading scheme.

Gerard Alexander: Why are liberals [US democrats mostly] so condescending?

Visiting British climate change commentator Christopher Monckton has attacked the Federal Government's emissions trading scheme (ETS), arguing part of it is unconstitutional.

Lord Monckton is using a speaking tour of Australia to question the need for countries to cut carbon emissions.

He told a gathering in Canberra that a provision in the ETS that allows the state to expropriate land is against the constitution.