Daily Headliners--Sadr Surfaces, Growing Pay Gap between CEOs and Top Lieutenants, Bush's Delusions, Candidates wanted for U.S. Attorneys

Well, it has been a fun news dump day for President Bush regarding Iraq. Not only has a CIA intelligence report been released, showing that the Bush administration ignored the CIA's worst-case scenario predictions before the invasion of Iraq, but also that President Bush may be thinking about going "Back to the Future" in reviewing the Iraq Study Group's report, and the recommendations.

But there is more....

Shiite Cleric Resurfaces With Anti-U.S. Sermon: In this New York Times story, Shiite cleric cleric Moktada al-Sadr appeared in public for the first time in months to deliver an anti-American sermon. Sadr spoke to 1,000 worshipers at a mosque in Kufa, a Shiite holy city about 100 miles south of Baghdad. It is interesting that as American casualties increase for this month, now at 90 Americans killed for May, and as the latest NY Times/CBS News poll show even greater deteriorating American support for the war, Sadr is now resurfacing to make speeches attacking the American occupation of Iraq.

More Than Ever, It Pays to Be the Top Executive: This is a fascinating New York Times article showing how the gap in earnings between the CEOs and their number two executives has also been rapidly growing. The NY Times reports that "the gap in the executive suite between No. 1 [executive] and No. 3 [executive] had swollen to 260 percent." The Times also reports that CEOs can drive their own pay, "in part by manipulating directors they work closely with and encouraging the use of consulting firms that have a built-in incentive to increase pay packages for those who hire them." It seems like the rising tide is only lifting up the CEO's mega yacht--everyone else's boats have been sunk!

Hyping al-Qaida: Slate Magazine's Fred Kaplan destroys President Bush's argument, from yesterday's press conference, that if the U.S. doesn't fight the al Qaida terrorists in Iraq, then we'll fight the al Qaida terrorists here. Kaplan's reply: First, the Iraqi insurgents are fighting a sectarian war with themselves, and have nothing to do with al Qaida. Second, the true global terrorist could attack the U.S. anytime they want whether or not U.S. troops stay or leave Iraq. And third, Bush's bombast of the U.S. attacking Iraq so the terrorist can't attack us at home is both angering and alienating our allies. It is an incredible read.

Candidates Wanted for U.S. Attorneys: This McClatchy story is bringing up a whole new problem for the Bush administration--recruiting applicants to fill the 22 open U.S. attorney positions. These positions are currently being held by interim prosecutors without Senate confirmation. There is an irony here with the Bush administration first trying to politicize the U.S. Attorney's Office, only to have the office face a shortage of qualified applicants due to their political meddling.