Quickhits

(AP) "Russian leader Vladimir Putin met his Iranian counterpart Tuesday and implicitly warned the U.S. not to use a former Soviet republic to stage an attack on Iran. He also said nations shouldn't pursue oil pipeline projects in the area if they weren't backed by regional powers.....

It was a clear reference to long-standing rumors that the U.S. was planning to use Azerbaijan, a former Soviet republic, as a staging ground for any possible military action against Iran."

(AP) The controversial US-India nuclear deal is breaking down from the Indian side.

(Reuters) Condi Rice's middle east peace deal is getting knocked down by regional Sunni powers, Egypt, Syria, and Saudi Arabia. (Significant because the Saudis played the key role in bringing the Fatah half of Palestine to the table.)

(AFP) Another ceasefire in the Pakistani border regions?

(Reuters) A "misfired" Patriot missile hit a farm in Qatar. (Certainly could be a misfire, but it would be a viable cover story.)

(WaPo) 12 Captains in the US military write a WaPo oped on Iraq blasting the current policy, saying "abandon our volunteer military for compulsory service" or just get out.

And, I'm not alleging anything, but it is curious,

The second-highest-ranking member of the Air Force’s procurement office was found dead Sunday in an apparent suicide, Air Force and police officials said Monday.

The civilian official, Charles D. Riechers, 47, came under scrutiny by the Senate Armed Services Committee this month after reports that the Air Force had arranged for him to be paid about $13,400 a month by a private contractor, Commonwealth Research Institute, while he awaited clearance from the White House for his selection as principal deputy assistant secretary for acquisition.

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