Tonight on Countdown

[madokie]

The White House is flatly denying a report that key Shiite leaders are maneuvering to oust Iraq's prime minister. Press Secretary Tony Snow tells reporters there's no move afoot to "dump" Nouri al-Maliki. Iraqi lawmakers are saying Shiites are holding talks on a new alliance because al-Maliki has been unable to end sectarian bloodshed. The alliance reportedly would be led by Abdul-Aziz al-Hakim, who met with President Bush last week, though someone else would likely be prime minister. A senior aide to al-Maliki says, "We know what's going on and we will sabotage it." http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16153991/

U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, in his farewell address, criticized the Bush administration, warning that America must not sacrifice its Democratic ideals while waging war against terrorism. In remarks prepared for delivery Monday at the Truman Presidential Museum and Library, Annan also said the Security Council should be expanded."Human rights and the rule of law are vital to global security and prosperity," Annan's text said. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16153753/

LA Times analysis: Everybody seems to understand that if you want to help amend the disaster in Iraq, the No. 1 rule is that you can't acknowledge it's a disaster in Bush's presence. Weekly Standard Executive Editor Fred Barnes, the court stenographer of the Bush administration, recently reported that this was a key factor in the hiring of Defense Secretary Robert Gates. http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/opinion/la-op-chait10dec10,1,7887600.column

Peace deals between Islamic militants and Pakistan's government have created a virtual Taliban mini-state near Afghanistan, giving militants a "free hand" to recruit, train and arm for cross-border attacks, a think tank reported Monday. The International Crisis Group (ICG) accused Pakistan President Gen. Pervez Musharraf's government of resorting to "appeasement" of pro-Taliban fighters after poorly planned military operations in North and South Waziristan failed and only fueled more militancy.

First it was spinach. Then tomatoes. Now possibly green onions. Over the past three months, fresh produce has been the culprit in one episode of food-borne illness after another, the latest an E. coli outbreak that appears to be linked to green onions served at Taco Bell restaurants in the Northeast. More than 60 people have been sickened in that outbreak. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16145584/

A signature remote for Nintendo's new and revolutionary Wii gaming console that people hold to mimic the physical actions in games, held responsible for injuring users as well as causing damage to household items. http://www.themoneytimes.com/articles/20061209/wii_have_a_problem_with_wiimote-id-102352.html

Nicole Richie was arrested early Monday for investigation of driving under the influence of alcohol, authorities said. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16145066/

The Central Intelligence Agency was bugging the telephone conversations of Britain's Princess Diana on the night she died, a British newspaper reported. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16153112/

That's some of what we're planning tonight.

[Hubert Flottz]

1. "you can't acknowledge it's a disaster in Bush's presence."

Bush may not be Hitler, but he does business exactly like Hitler did it! Nobody was to EVER give Hitler the bad news that the war was lost! I think the entire crew is ready to hole up in the Fuhrerbunker!

[madokie]

2. he'll go down the way hitler did too. for all his bluster and bravado he is but a coward

and he'll take the cowards way out in the end too, methinks

[Hubert Flottz]

3. He's too chickenshit for that...

At least Hitler didn't go AWOL at a time when his country was at war. Hitler did his time in the military.

[Jack from Charlotte]

4. I think AWOL's plan is to force Dems to cut funding ot at least...

threaten to cut funding for his war. He'll resist ALL attempts to end the war. After Dems act he'll he'll then use the "stabbed in the back" excuse that NAZI's used about WWI setting up WWII.

"We wuz winnin' but them defeat-o-crats cut our fundin' and made us lose."