There are reports that the Taliban offered unconditional surrender in December 2001.

This is so shocking that I can't accept it as unquestioned truth without further substantiation. Anand Gopal heard the story in Afghanistan some time after 2008. That was plenty of time for distortion to set in. I took a quick look at his book, but that part doesn't say where he got the information; can anyone tell me whether that is stated elsewhere in the book?

I won't accept it as unquestioned truth, but I won't say it must be false, either.

Dubya had previously rejected an offer by the Taliban to surrender Osama bin Laden and break off with al-Qa'ida. Accepting that offer would have satisfied the supposed purpose for the invasion of Afghanistan.

(satire) *Disappointed Taliban Realizes Taking Over Afghanistan More Fun Than Running It.*

*EPA Bans All Food Uses of Neurotoxic Pesticide Chlorpyrifos.*

It sounds like farm workers tending crops that are not meant for eating, including cotton, hemp, and most tobacco, may still be exposed to chlorpyrifos.

Bolsonaro wants to build a pipeline to buy natural gas from Argentina. I presume some of the methane would leak, and the rest would be burnt.

This would accelerate the loss to the ocean of the historic Brazilian cities on the coast. The name of that fossil fuel deposit is "vaca muerta", but "civilización muerta" would be more accurate.

Enough Texas Democratic legislators returned to the session that the Republicans were able to pass their voter suppression law.

I am very disappointed with the Democrats who wouldn't continue the resistance.