G.O.P. Wields Iraq as an Issue in Fall Races for the Senate. Republicans have gone on the offensive on Iraq and related national security topics in a handful of tight Senate races in recent days. By Alison Mitchell. [New York Times: Politics]

One of the more sick and perverting thing in politics is to question the patriotism of your opponent. It’s flat out stupid and a childish form of name calling. Anyone running for a major office has  ton of community service and work behind them and cares about the country, why would they bother with the job if they didn’t? This years new political issue, is to tie any weapons/military view not in lock step with the administration as anti-military and hence unpatriotic. The sad part is that Conservatives seem to eat this crap up.

Axis of [Your Country’s Characteristic Here]
Pick any three countries and this cool applet tells you what they are an “Axis” of. (Link courtesy David Weinberger.) [Scott Rosenberg’s Links & Comment]

India Mom Kills Daughters Over Dowry [Washington Post]

Charles Simonyi leaves Microsoft [Slashdot]

Russia demands return of inspectors. Russia says UN arms inspectors must make a “speedy” return to Iraq after Baghdad’s invitation¸ but the US wants a tough new Security Council resolution. [BBC News | WORLD]

Linux Worm Spreading, Many Systems Vulnerable [Slashdot]
sigh. Welcome to security.

Some Grown-Ups Go Silly For Buying Putty in Bulk [Wall Street Journal]
“But, he warns, you have to be careful when you handle putty by the pound. Recently he dropped a 10-pound ball in his office, and it bounced. “It banged into a door and shook a few windows,” he says”

Key 11 September suspect arrested. Ramzi Binalshibh¸ an alleged mastermind of the 11 September attacks¸ is arrested in Pakistan. [BBC News | WORLD]

UN progresses on Iraq resolution. The five permanent Security Council members agree action is needed to force Iraq to re-admit weapons inspectors¸ but set no deadline. [BBC News | WORLD]

Damned if we do, damned if we don’t. Even in moderate Arab states like Egypt, anti-Americanism burns so hot that the U.S. can do no right. [Salon.com]