This article in The Independent of all places [pinching self and checking temperature down there] shows clearly that Michael Moore lied, again, and this time to his own fans just to get publicity for his new movie.
In an indignant letter to his supporters, Moore said he had learnt only on Monday that Disney had put the kibosh on distributing the film, which has been financed by the semi-independent Disney subsidiary Miramax.
But in the CNN interview he said: "Almost a year ago, after we'd started making the film, the chairman of Disney, Michael Eisner, told my agent he was upset Miramax had made the film and he will not distribute it."
Will his supporters give a shit? Of course not. Will the film be full of distortions, lies and hateful attacks? Naturally. Will it still get a distributor and fill Michael Moore's coffers? Sure as hell.
A purported statement by al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden offered rewards in gold for killing U.S Iraq administrator Paul Bremer or U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan, an Islamist Web site said Thursday.
Hey, I thought the UN were the good guys that would make the baddies lay down their arms and become pacifists by their sheer presence. Not so after all, it seems.
The recording on an Islamist Web site said a prize of 22 lb in gold would also be given to anyone who killed other officials including Bremer's deputy and U.N. envoy to Iraq Lakhdar Brahimi. The reward would be worth around $125,000 at current gold prices.
A bit unclear whether suicide killers "can take it with them," according to the latest theological interpretations.
Iraqi extremist cleric Moqtada al-Sadr is under pressure from several fronts these days. US forces continue to fight the Mahdi militia, yesterday killing 41 militants. Around 150 top Shiah leaders, including al-Sistani's representatives, met in Baghdad, and delivered a demand to al-Sadr to disarm or disband his milita, and especially to cease using mosques as "arsenals." Finally, the mystical Thulfiqar Army reportedly keeps killing Sadr's men, who have increasingly shed their black clothing out of fear.
Most people in Najaf support Mr Sistani and many shopkeepers are angry at the loss of business since Sadr seized the city.
Privately, coalition officials described the Shia leaders' statement after the meeting as "very helpful" although publicly they were more cautious.
Asked whether it could mark a turning point, Gareth Bayley, a British coalition spokesman, said: "It's too early to say but it's always welcome to see Iraqis dealing with an Iraqi problem."
In Fallujah, the special truce introduced with the newly formed Fallujah brigade patrolling the city, seems to hold.
In another development, Bush has publicly apologised for "the humiliation suffered by Iraqi prisoners and the humiliation suffered by their families" to King Abdullah II of Jordan in a meeting in Washington DC.
