This decision is going to pose a significant problem for Blackwater customers in Iraq:

Iraq’s Interior Ministry has revoked the license of Blackwater Security Consulting, an American firm whose contractors are blamed for a Sunday gunbattle in Baghdad that left eight civilians dead.

U.S. soldiers talk with Iraqi shopkeepers while patrolling Sunday in Baghdad.

The firefight took place near Nisoor Square about noon, an Interior Ministry official said Sunday. In addition to the fatalities, 14 people were wounded, most of them civilians, the official said.

Details were sketchy, but the official said witnesses reported that one side of the gunbattle involved Westerners driving sport utility vehicles, which security contractors often use. The state television network al-Iraqiya reported that a Western security company was involved in the shootout, but it did not identify the firm.

An official with the U.S. Embassy told The Associated Press that a State Department motorcade came under small-arms fire near Nisoor Square, and one of the vehicles was disabled.

The official said no State Department officials were injured but provided no information on Iraqi casualties, the AP reported.

I’m not sure how many folks Blackwater has in Iraq but it has to be a pretty substantial number. I have a feeling that this ruling won’t stand. An abrupt transition would put a lot of influential Blackwater customers at risk. I’d bet on the Iraqis allowing the company to continue operations after paying a hefty fine.

Fresh from the White House Press Secretary’s office:

On keeping us safe here at home:

In Iraq, an ally of the United States is fighting for its survival. Terrorists and extremists who are at war with us around the world are seeking to topple Iraq’s government, dominate the region, and attack us here at home.

This ally has placed its trust in the United States. And tonight, our moral and strategic imperatives are one: We must help Iraq defeat those who threaten its future – and also threaten ours.

On the success of the surge:

The premise of our strategy is that securing the Iraqi population is the foundation for all other progress… The goal of the surge is to provide that security – and to help prepare Iraqi forces to maintain it. As I will explain tonight, our success in meeting these objectives now allows us to begin bringing some of our troops home.

On political progress:

Now the Iraqi government must bring the same determination to achieving reconciliation. This is an enormous undertaking after more than three decades of tyranny and division. The government has not met its own legislative benchmarks – and in my meetings with Iraqi leaders, I have made it clear that they must.

Yet Iraq’s national leaders are getting some things done. For example, they have passed a budget. They are sharing oil revenues with the provinces… And local reconciliation is taking place. The key now is to link this progress in the provinces to progress in Baghdad. As local politics change, so will national politics.

On the principle of “Return on Success”:

The principle guiding my decisions on troop levels in Iraq is “return on success.” The more successful we are, the more American troops can return home. And in all we do, I will ensure that our commanders on the ground have the troops and flexibility they need to defeat the enemy.

On coming together as a Nation to support this mission:

Americans want our country to be safe, and our troops to begin coming home from Iraq. Yet those of us who believe success in Iraq is essential to our security, and those who believe we should bring our troops home, have been at odds. Now, because of the measure of success we are seeing in Iraq, we can begin seeing troops come home.

The way forward I have described tonight makes it possible, for the first time in years, for people who have been on opposite sides of this difficult debate to come together.

On an enduring relationship with Iraq that requires many fewer American troops:

This vision for a reduced American presence also has the support of Iraqi leaders from all communities. At the same time, they understand that their success will require U.S. political, economic, and security engagement that extends beyond my Presidency. These Iraqi leaders have asked for an enduring relationship with America. And we are ready to begin building that relationship – in a way that protects our interests in the region and requires many fewer American troops.

On why we must succeed:

The success of a free Iraq is critical to the security of the United States.
Realizing this vision will be difficult – but it is achievable. Our military commanders believe we can succeed. Our diplomats believe we can succeed. And for the safety of future generations of Americans, we must succeed.

Whatever political party you belong to, whatever your position on Iraq, we should be able to agree that America has a vital interest in preventing chaos and providing hope in the Middle East. We should be able to agree that we must defeat al Qaeda, counter Iran, help the Afghan government, work for peace in the Holy Land, and strengthen our military so we can prevail in the struggle against terrorists and extremists.

So tonight I want to speak to Members of the United States Congress: Let us come together on a policy of strength in the Middle East. I thank you for providing crucial funds and resources for our military. And I ask you to join me in supporting the recommendations General Petraeus has made, and the troop levels he has asked for.

On the gains we are making in Iraq:

Some say the gains we are making in Iraq come too late. They are mistaken. It is never too late to deal a blow to al Qaeda. It is never too late to advance freedom. And it is never too late to support our troops in a fight they can win.

Evan Coyne Maloney released Crystal Morning for the fifth anniversary of the attacks:

Emergency services radio and phone calls were taken from publicly released tapes originally recorded on 11 September 2001.

The “Melissa” speaking on the phone with an unidentified 911 operator was Melissa C. Doi. The recording of her phone call was originally released during the trial of Zacarias Moussaoui.

All footage in Crystal Morning was shot on the 11th, 12th and 30th of September 2001 by David Vogler.

The audio and video used in the film is not arranged in exact chronological order.

The video of the World Trade Center rubble that appears during the post-collapse “mayday” radio calls was not shot on the same day the calls were recorded. The radio calls occurred on 11 September 2001, while the footage was recorded on 30 September 2001.

Back to back videos. It’s kind of odd:

People in the intelligence community who have seen the tape feel it is directly related to the 9/11 anniversary since the al Qaeda leader introduces the prerecorded martyr video of one of the 9/11 hijackers, Waleed al Shehri.

Waleed al Shehri was one of the hijackers on American Airlines flight 11 that crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center.

No word on whether he’s still working off the Democratic playbook (or are they using his?) in this latest installment but if the trend continues look for him to release one in broken Spanish soon.

The Israeli response it pretty funny actually. According to them it’s just not a big deal:

In the first reaction from an Israeli official to Wednesday night’s alleged IAF foray over Syria, Science, Culture and Sports Minister Ghaleb Majadle said Friday that IAF planes enter Syrian airspace on a daily basis, adding that he did not believe the latest alleged incident would spark off a war.

Majadle told the Nazareth-based A-Sinara newspaper that while he had no specific information about the latest alleged operation, it was likely that “the planes either entered Syrian airspace to take photographs or in error.”

So they were either spying or there accidentally. I’ll let you decide which.

Hillary is getting bad news for breakfast:

Norman Hsu’s quickly jumpstarted life on the lam came to a screeching stop less than 48 hours after it began when he got sick on the California Zephyr and was nabbed after being rushed to a Colorado hospital, according to the FBI.

The prolific Democratic fundraiser and fugitive was busted at 7 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time by FBI agents from the Denver office, according to Special Agent Joseph M. Schadler in the FBI’s San Francisco office.

He was still in St. Mary’s Hospital in Grand Junction - 250 miles west of Denver - Thursday evening, according to Pete Smarr, a nursing supervisor. Smarr declined to say what Hsu was suffering from - other than to report him in custody and in “fair” condition.

Hsu was traveling on Train #6, according to Cliff Cole, an Amtrak spokesman. Hsu boarded the train in Emeryville and was scheduled to get off the train in Denver, Cole said. Cole had no information as to who - if anyone - Hsu may have been traveling with.

Hsu was arrested on federal charges of unlawful flight to avoid prosecution, according to a statement released Thursday night by the FBI.

I’m not a conspiracy theorist but you have to wonder about this guy’s sudden illness given the number of powerful people who’d like to see him vanish. Then again he was probably eating Amtrak food. I guess we’re lucky to have him alive.

Why would he try to escape via the California Zephyr anyway? Apparently his final stop was in Colorado:

Cliff Cole, a spokesman for Amtrak in New York, said Hsu was on the California Zephyr and boarded the train in Emeryville, Calif. He said Hsu’s ticket indicated his destination was Denver.

I’m guessing Denver International Airport was his intended destination but who knows.

Update II:
The State Department assisted:

The Mesa County Sheriff’s Office, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the US State Department Diplomatic Security Service assisted in the investigation.

From the Bureau of Diplomatic Security website:

Operating from a global platform in 25 U.S. cities and 159 foreign countries, DS ensures that America can conduct diplomacy safely and securely. DS plays a vital role in protecting U.S. embassies and personnel overseas, securing critical information systems, investigating passport and visa fraud, and fighting the war on terror.

Update:
Michelle Malkin is up late:

Allah had the same reaction I did to reports saying that the federal charges of unlawful flight will be dropped when he lands back in California: Huh?

I’m not sure if that’s standard procedure but it sure sounds odd.

Air Show Buzz has the video. Flying into a storm this powerful isn’t for the faint of heart. One of the missions even had to be aborted:

NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft N42RF experienced a truly awesome and terrifying mission into the heart of Hurricane Felix last night. Flying at 10,000 feet through Felix at 7pm EDT, N42RF dropped a sonde into the southeast eyewall. The swirling winds of the storm were so powerful that the sonde spun a full 3/4 circle around the eye before splashing into the northwest eyewall. It is VERY rare for a sonde to make nearly a complete circle around the eye like this. As the plane entered the eye of the now Category 5 hurricane, they found a 17-mile wide stadium lit up by intense lightning on all sides. The pressure at the bottom of the eye had hit 934 mb, and the temperature outside, a balmy 77 degrees at 10,000 feet. This is about 24 degrees warmer than the atmosphere normally is at that altitude, and a phenomenally warm eye for a hurricane. N42RF then punched into the northwest eyewall. Flight level winds hit 175 mph, and small hail lashed the airplane as lighting continued to flash. Then, the crew hit what Hurricane Hunters fear most–a powerful updraft followed a few seconds later by an equally powerful downdraft. The resulting extreme turbulence and wind shear likely made the aircraft impossible to control. Four G’s of acceleration battered the airplane, pushing the aircraft close to its design limit of 6 G’s. Although no one was injured and no obvious damage to the airplane occurred, the aircraft commander wisely aborted the mission and N42RF returned safely to St. Croix. N42RF is the same aircraft that survived a pounding of 5.6 g’s in the eyewall of Hurricane Hugo in 1989. A special inspection of the aircraft is planned for today to determine if it is fit to fly further missions into Felix, and its scheduled afternoon flight into the hurricane was canceled. Hurricane Hunter missions since have fared better, and no more extreme turbulence has been reported.

Quick, pull the records on every Just for Men purchase in Pakistan over the past month. Osama has new video on the way and he’s reportedly looking pretty sharp:

Terror mastermind Osama bin Laden plans a new video addressing the American people regarding the anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, terror monitoring groups said Thursday.

SITE Intelligence Group said an Internet announcement of the plan included a photo of the al-Qaida leader from the upcoming video—his beard, which in previous messages had been streaked with gray, was entirely dark.

Intelcenter, which is based in Alexandria, Va., and also monitors Islamic Web sites, said the video was expected within the next 72 hours, or by Sunday. That would come before the sixth anniversary next Tuesday of the World Trade Center attack. The last bin Laden video was in October 2004, shortly before the U.S. presidential elections.

The Blotter has more:

Federal law enforcement authorities say that another Web site had posted a message on Sept. 2, promising “a special gift to be delivered on the blessed day of the invasion of Manhattan.”

I hope it’s just a video. Hot Air has a still shot from the video. While Stratfor reminds us that:

We have no idea whether bin Laden is still alive and therefore no idea whether this tape will actually appear. It would appear to us that bin Laden, in order to maintain his credibility, would have wanted to appear more recently and frequently than he has. It is possible that security considerations have caused him to avoid videos or more frequent audios, or it might have been useful to maintain his mystique. It also is possible that he is dead.

The video is gross but very cool. I’m just getting over a bug, and I’m still a little queasy, so watching this wasn’t easy. Bear Grylls really earns his pay.

Another video, a more lengthy announcement, is available here. There’s more at Fred08.