The Gamut

The US military is reporting that they have killed 104 "insurgents," but hey say nothing about insurgents who have been taken into custody. I wonder - why is that?

For those who think that the news that Rove will not be indicted is the same as his having been cleared of all charges; let's look at how the news that others have been cleared of all charges has been reported.

• Guantanamo chaplain cleared of all charges

• Apartheid-era 'Dr Death' cleared of all charges

• Jury finds Puckett not guilty on all charges

Hall of Famer Kirby Puckett was cleared Thursday of all charges in the alleged sexual assault of a woman in a restaurant bathroom

• Woman in Knox trial cleared of all charges

Now, let's look at the Rove story.

Rove faces no charges over CIA leak

"On June 12, 2006, special counsel Patrick Fitzgerald formally advised us that he does not anticipate seeking charges against Karl Rove," Rove's lawyer, Robert Luskin, said in a statement.

Let's see who else was told they faced no charges.

• Prosecutors rest in the Enron trial; defense to start Monday

Lay faces no charges in the trial related to his line of credit. Prosecutors appeared to be trying to show jurors that Lay was dumping stock in late 2001 while telling employees they should buy more.

• Forgotten Detainee Only Dreams of Flight to Freedom

He has been locked up for 6 years even though he has committed no crime, faces no charges and is not considered a terrorist, an "enemy combatant" or a ...

• Drug tip leads to weird find: 8 pups in freezer

Having the pups in the freezer is not illegal, and Reynolds faces no charges for that, Robinson said. He faces charges in connection with 30 marijuana plants found growing in three bedrooms in his home, Robinson said.

And what about the wording of Fitz's statemnt and Luskins reporting of it? Well, let's look at a few other cases where no charges were sought.

• Plea deal will see Aziz walk free in exchange for his testimony on Saddam atrocities

• snitch: the case that challenged leniency deals

Her co-conspirator Napoleon Douglas entered into a plea agreement in which he agreed to testify truthfully in return for the government's promise not to prosecute him for related offenses

• Getting away with murder in Pike

Woody Christian, shown at his home in 2000, maintained that the prosecution had promised him immunity in exchange for his testimony against his accomplices.

Look, if Rove had been cleared of all suspicion, that's what Luskin would have said. It's really as simple as that.

Bush reviews Iraq plan, says oil is key

Duh!

President Bush began a two-day strategy session on Iraq at Camp David on Monday, saying Iraq's neighbors should be doing more to help and suggesting the nation's vast supply of oil could be a way of reuniting the country.

Yeah, that's the problem. The Sunnis, Shiia and Kurds have forgotten their common bond. No, not their shared religions, or their shared heritage, or their shared suffering under Hussein. No, the common bond that unites all Iraqis is that we want their oil.

This was also a good line from the story.

Bush said the United States expects countries that have promised $13 billion in financial assistance to make good on their pledges.

Wow! $13 billion! Later...

The House and Senate are poised to deal with a $94.5 billion measure to fund Iraq and provide additional aid for the hurricane-ravaged Gulf Coast. The bill should receive easy approval, even as impatience is growing with the Iraq war and its $8 billion monthly tab.

So, yeah, unnamed other countries, you better pay for those six weeks worth of war you promised us.