Al-Maliki Remarks on Obama Send White House, McCain Spinning

In an interview with the German magazine Spiegel Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said he supports Barack Obama's 16-month timeline for withdrawal from Iraq:

"When asked in and interview with SPIEGEL when he thinks US troops should leave Iraq, Maliki responded "as soon as possible, as far as we are concerned." He then continued: 'US presidential candidate Barack Obama talks about 16 months. That, we think, would be the right timeframe for a withdrawal, with the possibility of slight changes.' Maliki was careful to back away from outright support for Obama. 'Of course, this is by no means an election endorsement. Who they choose as their president is the Americans' business,' he said. But then, apparently referring to Republican candidate John McCain's more open-ended Iraq policy, Maliki said: 'Those who operate on the premise of short time periods in Iraq today are being more realistic. Artificially prolonging the tenure of US troops in Iraq would cause problems.'"

Here's the full interview.

A White House employee accidentally sent an email touting the interview to its internal distribution list, according to ABC's Jake Tapper.

After Maliki's remarks were seized upon by the media,an al-Maliki spokesperson made a clarification: "...a spokesman for al-Maliki said his remarks 'were misunderstood, mistranslated and not conveyed accurately.' Government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said the possibility of troop withdrawal was based on the continuance of security improvements, echoing statements that the White House made Friday after a meeting between al-Maliki and U.S. President Bush."

The clarification was reportedly prompted by a call from the White House, according to Talking Points Memo: "The gist of the White House's explanation is that the Iraqis and Maliki specifically were simply too unsophisticated to grasp the implications of Maliki's remarks."

According to TPM, the NYT throws water on any notion of a mistranslation. TPM writes: "The interpreter was al Maliki's, not Der Spiegel's. And Der Spiegel provided the Times with a tape recording of the interview, which was then independently translated and confirmed the accuracy of the original Der Spiegel account. "

Spiegel issued a release saying that the publication "sticks to its version of the conversation."

A Republican strategist to the McCain campaign (the GOP candidate appeared over the weekend at a Yankees game with Rudy Giuliani) summed up the series of events thusly: We're fucked.

The McCain campaign responded awkwardly to the news of the al-Maliki interview:

"Today, McCain 2008 Senior Foreign Policy Advisor Randy Scheunemann issued the following statement: 'The difference between John McCain and Barack Obama is that Barack Obama advocates an unconditional withdrawal that ignores the facts on the ground and the advice of our top military commanders. John McCain believes withdrawal must be based on conditions on the ground. Prime Minister Maliki has repeatedly affirmed the same view, and did so again today. Timing is not as important as whether we leave with victory and honor, which is of no apparent concern to Barack Obama. The fundamental truth remains that Senator McCain was right about the surge and Senator Obama was wrong. We would not be in the position to discuss a responsible withdrawal today if Senator Obama's views had prevailed.'"

The Obama campaign took the opportunity to attack McCain's positions on not only Iraq, but Afghanistan and Iran as well. Obama arrived in Iraq this morning: "The presumptive Democratic Party candidate discussed a number of matters with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, including the future of the U.S. military presence and the possibility of reducing troop numbers, Sawt al-Iraq news agency reported on its Arabic-language Web site."

A recent AP report, AFTER THE JUMP...

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Madonna in bid to reunited Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake for her Sticky & Sweet tour. If that doesn't work, maybe Justin could just play both of them.

Bush to attend McCain golf fundraiser. FLASHBACK: "Playing golf during a war just sends the wrong signal."

Sarah Jessica Parker whacked her mole.

Brisbane, Australia's gay, Aboriginal, and civil libertarian communities to march against Pope Benedict tomorrow: "We are protesting against the Pope's anti-queer, anti-abortion, anti-condom stance. The Pope is an extremely powerful and influential figure, who has called homosexuality 'an intrinsic moral evil', has said that abortion rights are a 'new holocaust', and who tells those in the midst of the HIV/AIDS crisis in Africa that contraception and sex education support a 'culture of death'."

Scores of Methodist ministers in California putting careers on the line to officiate same-sex weddings: "The pastors could lose their jobs and clerical credentials in the church, the nation's second-largest Protestant denomination. Ministers in Santa Monica, Claremont, Walnut Creek and other cities have already performed ceremonies for gays and lesbians or are planning to do so. In addition, 82 retired pastors in Northern California signed a resolution in June offering to perform such weddings on behalf of ministers who feel they can't do so themselves."

West Side Story revival to begin Broadway previews in 2009...

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Andrew Lloyd Webber reveals details of Phantom sequel at boozy UK bash.

Participants at the Anglican Lambeth Conference will be invited to take a walk on the gay side: "Peterson Toscano, who is also booked for the Edinburgh Festival and the Greenbelt Christian arts festival this summer, promises good humour and topicality when he takes to the stage at the Keynes Lecture Theatre at the University of Kent on Wednesday 30 and Thursday 31 July 2008, starting at 8pm. The lively theatrical performance activist will share his own spiritual story and experience, liberally sprinkled with excerpts from a play that tells how he survived the 'ex-gay' movement which has been encouraged in some Christian circles - 'Doin' Time in the Homo No Mo Halfway House'. The performances will also include a 'question and answer' session."

Anti-gay protest at McDonald's goes pathetically.

Matt Dillon: open wide.

Afghanistan, Bid Laden first: The John McCain blunder nobody has discussed yet.

Al Gore to make ' moon shot' challenge on environment: "Just as John F. Kennedy set his sights on the moon, Al Gore is challenging the nation to produce every kilowatt of electricity through wind, sun and other Earth-friendly energy sources within 10 years, an audacious goal he hopes the next president will embrace...'I have never seen an opportunity for the country like the one that's emerging now,' Gore told The Associated Press in an interview previewing a speech on global warming he planned to give Thursday in Washington."

Dennis Kucinich's impeachment resolution moves forward, ever so slowly...

H&R Block offers $100 coupons or free TaxCut software to gay couples their software blocked from filing online: "Connecticut taxpayers Jason Smith and Settimio Pisu and the ACLU sent a demand letter last March to Block asking the tax preparer to stop penalizing gay couples because the software in use then didn’t support Connecticut civil union returns. Filers who encountered that problem were asked to contact a Block tax service office for help, for which higher fees were charged."

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Army Concludes Lesbian's Mysterious Death in Afghanistan a Suicide

The investigation surrounding Ciara Durkin, a lesbian serving in Afghanistan whose mysterious death (she was found with a single bullet in her head, lying near the church where she worshipped on the secure Bagram Airfield) spurred calls for investigation from Massachusetts (her home state) Senator John Kerry, has concluded, according to her family, and it doesn't sound like they buy it:

They released a statement on their website: "The Durkin family has received the Army's final report into Ciara's death, with their conclusion that she took her own life. We are very upset and saddened by their conclusion. We have borne an extraordinary amount of pain over the past nine months, compounded by a protracted and at times ambiguous investigation. We now need time and privacy to grieve and let our Ciara finally rest in peace. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam.

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Kathy Griffin ordained into the clergy of the Universal Life Church so that she can marry a straight couple: "People asked if I was concerned that I might upstage the bride. But Elka didn't have to worry. I'm wearing a green gown I wore to the Golden Globes a few years ago - which got me on one of those 'Worst Dressed' lists!"

Star Jones divorcing Al Reynolds: "They hadn’t been seeing eye to eye for months and had already spent a great deal of time apart. Finally, Star decided it was over. She told Al at the end of January that he had 30 days to get his act together or ‘get out.’"

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Security camera developed that sees through clothing: "A camera that can "see" explosives, drugs and weapons hidden under clothing from 25 metres has been invented. The ThruVision system could be deployed at airports, railway stations or other public spaces. It is based on so-called 'terahertz', or T-ray, technology, normally used by astronomers to study dying stars. Although it is able to see through clothes it does not reveal 'body detail' or subject people to 'harmful radiation', according to the designers. 'It is totally and utterly passive - it receives only,' said a spokesperson for Thruvision."

Robbie Williams says he has seen three UFOs and wants to study them when he retires.

Paper reports on gay life in Afghanistan: "There are no organised gay associations in Afghanistan, but contrary to many Western countries, men can freely walk the streets holding hands. This was especially shocking for foreign troops who became fascinating for the Afghan men. Armed and ready to engage in conflicts with Al-Qaeda, the only conflicts the foreign troops had were with local men who only wanted to stroke their hair. 'It was hell. Every village we went into we got a group of men wearing make-up coming up, stroking our hair and cheeks and making kissing noises,' 20-year-old Corporal Paul Richard uttered."

The underground drag queens of Tel Aviv: "In an effort to carve out a space for themselves, Palestinian drag queens gather every few months at a club in the heart of Tel Aviv to take part in underground shows. These parties offer a rare forum for them to explore complicated and convoluted ideas about sexuality, politics, nationalism, militancy and religion. They're forging their identities at the center of what some consider an occupying power. The Palestinian nationalists among them recognize the irony in the fact that Israel has become their sanctuary. 'I didn't choose this place; it's the place that I found I could be myself in,' said M, a 24-year-old Arab-Israeli woman with short black hair who's performed at the club. 'That's my only refuge.'"

Cyndi Lauper asks Britney Spears to join her on the True Colors tour which starts on May 31.

What's Justin Timberlake's problem with women?

Tireless battle to save Laguna Beach's Boom Boom Room goes on: "Supporters of a beachside nightclub that catered for half a century to Hollywood's gay stars are hitting its owner with a blizzard of yellow postcards urging that the shuttered bar be reopened. Supporters, including 'Brady Bunch' co-star Florence Henderson and former National Basketball Association player Dennis Rodman, have sent about 500 yellow postcards emblazoned 'SAVE the BOOM!!!' to [owner Steven] Udvar-Hazy's Los Angeles office..."

Tucker Carlson's show gets dumped: "The official announcement, expected tomorrow, will include details about who will replace Tucker at 6pmET as well as other political programming additions. Sources say the network is going to beef up its schedule with more NBC News talent."

Olympic ambassador and former British silver medallist hurdler Colin Jackson: I'm not gay. " “I don't mind having people say what they like in that circumstance. I know that I am not but I don't think it's for me to be going round screaming it from the rooftops. I think it's just rubbish. It makes no real sense to me. It's quite strange and bizarre but people say what they say."

A gay and lesbian hotel brand with Attitude.

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British Troops Sent Home from Norway for Playing 'Naked Bar'

A group of British soldiers training in Norway has been sent home after their not-so-private game of "naked bar" was photographed and reported in the national media.

The Daily Mail reports: "The rules are simple - participants immediately remove all clothing - and the game is usually tolerated among high-spirited troops when it is played well away from the public gaze. In this case, however, the soldiers began urinating on one of their party who had slumped drunkenly to the floor, splashing urine over the bar's furniture and other customers. Local police were called, and handed spot fines of £500 to each of the men before handing them over to the Royal Military Police. Harstad police spokesman Gair Pedersen said: 'They were drunk and there was a problem in the bar but we are quite used to dealing with British soldiers like this.' Norway's biggest newspaper, Aftenposten, quoted locals as saying the soldiers had been 'bothering' female customers. One, Cecilie Kleppe, 29, said: 'Some of them even started waving their private parts at the other guests. Two of the Englishmen urinated on a fellow soldier who was lying on the floor. It was disgusting.' Bar manager Petter Holmbakken said he had never seen anything like it."

The soldiers are reportedly training for a tour of duty in Afghanistan.

NSFW photo AFTER THE JUMP, plus news on Chris Cuomo's dumb Prince Harry comments, and the U.S. Marine's sickening puppy incident...

The British troops play a game of 'naked bar' in Norway.

In related news, this morning on Good Morning America, Chris Cuomo said that Prince Harry was sent to Afghanistan rather than William, because Harry is "expendable".

In other news, a U.S. Marine based out of Hawaii is being investigated after a sick, graphic video appeared on YouTube showing the soldier throwing a puppy off a cliff into a steep ravine.

Said the Kane'ohe Bay base in a release: "The video is shocking and deplorable and is contrary to the high standards we expect of every Marine. We do not tolerate this type of behavior and will take appropriate action."

I'm not going to link to the video, but the Honolulu Advertiser provides an accurate description.

"Two Marines are seen in combat gear smiling as one holds a white-and-black puppy by the scruff of its neck. The dog seems to be about 8 weeks old and is motionless as it is held. 'Cute little puppy, huh?' says one Marine as he smiles broadly. 'Oh so cute, so cute, little puppy,' says another in a child-like voice. The Marine holding the puppy is then seen throwing the animal overhand into a desert-like gully below. The animal yelps until it thuds to the ground at the bottom of the gully. 'That's mean,' one Marine says afterward."

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Prince Harry Returns from Afghanistan

Prince Harry is back from Afghanistan and talking about his deployment:

"It was fantastic. I was hugely grateful for having the opportunity. I enjoyed being out there. I did enjoy it a little bit more I suppose than I should, but not in a sick way. Actually being out in the middle of nowhere, with the stars out, is just a fantastic place to be. Sometimes you actually forget...it's hard to actually bring yourself back to reality and say, ‘I could actually get shot at at any point' just because the area itself was so nice. Two mornings before I left I heard birds sing—in the desert. I hope that this has now been proven that the system can work and the British press go along with the deal. It has proved that it can actually work so I don't see why it can't work again. The British media kept to their side of the bargain. I'm very grateful for that and thanks to all the British media for keeping their mouths shut. And I know for a fact that there was stuff they did behind the scenes to stop stuff coming out which was massively kind of them. But at the same time, it was foreign media that spilled the beans. I didn't see it coming. It's a shame. Angry would be the wrong word to use but I am slightly disappointed. I really thought I could see it through to the end and come back with our guys and the colonel himself. But I'm back here now and I suppose deep down inside it's quite nice. I'm looking forward to having a bath but, no, I would like to have stayed back with the guys. Whatever has happened has happened and it doesn't surprise me, there's always someone out there who is willing to ruin the party but, well, job's done."

The Royal Family also released these shots of Harry playing football in the desert.

Prince Harry's FULL INTERVIEW and one more shot AFTER THE JUMP...

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Prince Harry has been fighting undercover in Afghanistan for the past 10 weeks: "The news of his operational posting leaked out following the breakdown of a news blackout agreement with the media when the story was posted on the US-based Drudge Report website. The chief of the general staff, Sir Richard Dannatt, who is head of the British army, expressed disappointment over the leak. 'I am very disappointed that foreign websites have decided to run this story without consulting us,' he said. 'This is in stark contrast to the highly responsible attitude that the whole of the UK print and broadcast media, along with a small number overseas, who have entered into an understanding with us over the coverage of Prince Harry on operations.' Dannatt, who had opposed Harry's deployment to Iraq, went on to praise the prince's performance on deployment."

Orlando Bloom is tired of complaints about his natural manly scent.

NYC sees surge in gay syphilis cases: "After seeing the number of syphilis cases remain stable in 2004 and 2005 then decrease in 2006, the city health department is reporting that syphilis cases increased by 60 percent in 2007 over 2006, with that growth due to new infections among gay and bisexual men."

Bollywood actor rejected: not gay enough to play a fashionista. Kushal Punjabi: "I really got along well with Madhur. He's my kind of director. But I really didn't see myself in that role at all. I'd like to work with directors like Madhur who look at actors as actors and not as stars."

Ben Affleck discusses his revenge sex video with Jimmy Kimmel: "You couldn't really do it half-speed. You had to be painting toes and blow-drying hair. At one point we were going to take a bath together, but the bubbles couldn't get high enough, so that ended up getting scrapped. The little outfits, the short shorts, the hands in the pockets -- it wouldn't have been funny if you didn't really commit to it."

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Gay Canadian Health Minister Smitherman criticized for proposing to wear adult diaper as test in response to nursing home 'filth' issues: "Opposition politicians, the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) and a nursing home association said Smitherman's plan to test drive a diaper shows he doesn't understand the issue is about staffing levels – not diaper technology. 'For him to suggest that's his answer is a disgrace,' said Progressive Conservative Leader John Tory. 'It's some kind of a sideshow he seems determined to put on when, in fact, I think people in Ontario would say: 'George Smitherman, do something about it. Let's see the revolution you promised in long-term care.''"

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Eagle Scout leaves organization disgusted by anti-gay policies: "I am ashamed an organization to which I owe so much has chosen to take such a myopic stance on this issue and hides behind a legal veil to exclude gay Scouts."

Wired publishes disturbing new photos from Abu Ghraib (warning: extremely graphic)

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Towleroad Guide to the Tube #184

CIARA DURKIN: CNN coverage of the slain lesbian soldier serving in Afghanistan. The circumstances surrounding her death remain a mystery.

DEBBIE HARRY: Her performance on yesterday's Today show.

MITT ROMNEY: Turns his back on man with muscular dystrophy when he is asked about medical marijuana.

IRAN STUDENT PROTEST: You may have heard about a rare student demonstration against Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in which he was called a "dictator" among other things. Here is some video. More here.

Check out our previous guides to the Tube here!

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Mystery Surrounds Shooting Death of Lesbian Soldier

Mystery surrounds the shooting death of Ciara Durkin, a lesbian serving in Afghanistan with troops from the Massachusetts National Guard.

The Boston Globe reports: "The Defense Department says it is investigating Durkin's death, which it described as a 'non-combat-related incident.' Durkin's family says Army officials have told them she was found with a single bullet in her head, lying near the church where she worshipped on the secure Bagram Airfield. The Army has not publicly disclosed whether a weapon was found near her body. The Massachusetts National Guard initially reported that Durkin was killed in action, though a Guard spokesman later said the term meant only that Durkin was serving in Afghanistan at the time."

US Senators John F. Kerry and Edward M. Kennedy and US Representative William D. Delahunt have made special requests to the Defense Department for answers about Durkin, a resident of Quincy, Massachusetts.

Durkin's sister, Fiona Canavan, one of nine siblings in the family, has concerns that the shooting could have been related to Durkin's sexuality: "Ciara was a lesbian, and that's bound to come out. It is possible that someone over there found that out, and, you know, maybe they were very homophobic."

Canavan added: "She did say to us that she had concerns about things she was seeing when she was over there. She told us if anything happened to her, that we were to investigate it."

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Clay Aiken on Mission to Afghanistan

Good for Clay Aiken. The former American Idol contestant is a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. He just spent five days in Afghanistan: "As a former teacher I recognize that spark of hope and excitement all children possess when given the opportunity to learn. Rebuilding schools, training teachers, providing essential supplies and teaching materials are just some of the advances UNICEF and its partners have made to keep that hope flourishing." It's nice to see that he's using his fame to do some good.

Of course, there may have been a few Jesus Christ Superstar musical workshops here and there.

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Laura Bush: Iraq stable "except for the one bombing a day that discourages everybody."

Status reports from our fronts:

Dick Cheney in Afghanistan: "A suicide bomber blew himself up this morning outside the main gate of the United States military base at Bagram while Vice President Dick Cheney was inside. Mr. Cheney was not hurt in the attack. The blast killed and wounded American soldiers and Afghan and Pakistani truck drivers and laborers waiting for access at the gate. The incident was at the first security gate of the base, far from where Mr. Cheney was staying. The Associated Press reported that the Taliban claimed responsibility and said Mr. Cheney was the target of the attack."

Laura Bush to Larry King on Iraq: "I hope that they can build their government and reconcile with each other and build a country. This is their opportunity to seize the moment, to build a really good and stable country. And many parts of Iraq are stable now. But, of course, what we see on television is the one bombing a day that discourages everybody." (transcript)

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Gay Montana Police Officer Tapped for Afghanistan Mission

In November 2005 following a homophobic assault in Missoula, Montana, openly gay police officer Scott Oak volunteered to be a liaison between the GLBTI community and law enforcement there.

Oak's actions caught the attention of the U.S. State Department. They've tapped him to join the police force in Afghanistan for a year to "conduct training in human and civil rights, ethics, diversity and basic police operations" according to The Missoulian.

Oak has served in the U.S. Air Force, and jumped at the unique opportunity.

Said Oak: "It's just the way I'm hardwired. I come from a background in service with the military and law enforcement. I'm sort of set on offering those services wherever they're needed. Ideally, I think that by going over there and helping out as a civilian instructor it will make for a smoother transition and allow America to pull out of there more quickly. I want to go experience another culture without breaking my commitment to public service. I think I'll be fulfilling that by helping to build a police department kind of from the ground up. I could be training police on everything from human rights to building searches. But I think, because of my experience as the GLBTI liaison officer, I'll be helping to enlighten them about cultural diversity."

The Mayor of Missoula, John Engen, has promised Oak that his job will be waiting for him when he returns but the more difficult part of the job for the officer will be leaving behind his partner of 12 years and the teenage foster son they're raising together.

Missoula to Afghanistan: Protect, serve abroad [the missoulian]

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