The new Iraq constitution is now likely to pass, as the Sunnis have been offered a deal to support this weekend's vote. Admittedly, the deal is along the lines of "vote for it now, and we'll change it next year. Honest!", but I guess it's better than nothing. While Article 7 (which says that no law shall contradict 'universally agreed tenets of Islam') strikes me as a worrying loophole that could be used Weimar Republic-style, I suppose agreement is better than none,

Meanwhile, in the new home of women's rights that is Afghanistan!

Last week Baloch was in the news for jailing the editor of an Afghan women's magazine. The editor had questioned the harshness of sentences handed out under Shariah law. He also said that Muslims who reject their faith should not be punished.

Back at the Supreme Court:

As the White House seeks to rally senators behind the Supreme Court nomination of Harriet E. Miers, lawyers for the Republican senators on the Judiciary Committee are expressing dissatisfaction with the choice and pushing back against her, aides to 6 of the 10 Republican committee members said yesterday.

Ouch. It's amusing to watch the Republicans tear themselves apart over this, but you have to wonder who they'll get if Miers doesn't make it through the confirmation hearings.

On the other, hand, this is just funny.