Beijing’s promise to veto new sanctions on Iran is one more sign of increased Chinese assertiveness, and may eventually help the growing economic power-house secure another oil supply outside the US sphere.  It is also an ironic twist in the history of Security Council action in the region, as China take’s the American role of the lone hold-out.

After negative reactions from the US and the UN and numerous cries of protest from within Iraq, many expected that the Iraqi government might find some way to retreat from the barring of more than 500 mostly Sunni candidates from the upcoming elections.  The disqualifications would undermine the legitimacy of the elections, it was reasoned, and a friendly visit from VP Joe Biden would surely move leaders to see some of the alternatives.  Now Biden’s proposals have been predictably but politely rebuffed, and the Iraqi establishment is showing every sign that they will simply shrug their shoulders and let Sunni politicians rage.  The fact is that the disqualifications do not really threaten the viability of the elections.

Osama bin Fartin' has claimed the latest militant wardrobe malfunction for Al-Qaeda, heaping praise and congratulations on the would-be underpants bomber.  No one knows whether these words will bring any comfort to Umar Farouk the Eunuch, who is still laid up in a maximum-security hospital recovering from his dramatic rendition of "Great Balls of Fire".

In the French capital last Tuesday Muntadher Al-Zaidi, TV reporter of ill-gotten shoe-chucking fame, was himself nearly struck by a flying sole.  The pitcher this time was Saif Al-Khayaat, who prior to launch gave a short speech decrying Muntadher’s purported hatred of democracy and love of terror and dictatorship.