in Lebanon. “Lebanon is facing an environmental crisis after an Israeli air strike on the Jiyeh power station, about 20km south of Beirut caused 10,000 tons of oil to spill into the Mediterranean sea.”

Number of U.S. troops in Iraq, up from 127,000 last week. The Financial Times reports, “The US administration has quietly reversed its goal from whittling down troop numbers in Iraq before the mid-term congressional elections in November.”

Percentage of Americans who want all U.S. troops withdrawn from Iraq within 12 months, according to a new Gallup Poll. In the summer of 1970, a Gallup Poll found 48% of Americans wanted all U.S. troops withdrawn from Vietnam within 12 months.

“The United Nations Human Rights Committee on Friday urged U.S. lawmakers to give the District of Columbia a voting member of Congress, saying the lack of such representation appeared inconsistent with international law.”