WTF Is It Now?!?

Global testiness

European governments are lobbying the Bush administration to change course over Iran before next month's presidential election, urging Washington to adopt an incentive-driven policy that Senator John Kerry has already pledged, according to diplomats and U.S. politicians. "The European message was that we cannot let weeks pass before the next deadline without doing something," said one diplomat.

A prominent member of Jordan's ruling royal family used a trip to France on Friday to take issue with the official US attitude to his country - a key Middle East ally - and to question George W. Bush's mental capacities. "We need respect, intellectual tolerance, Mr president of the United States, of a meeting of minds - and if you actually have one, I'd like to see it," Prince Hassan bin Talal said.