The weekly blog wrap-up in a new format:

War and Politics

The week started with the historic and early handover in Iraq. Michael King has the photo montage of Bush and Blair during this week's Iraq handover. Later in the week Saddam's Iraqi trial started. Chrenkoff covers the trial and the media's mis-reporting of it. Joe talks about what is at stake in this trial. There are also some great entries in the various caption contests on the trial, including Michele, Allah and Jeff.

Via Ace comes yet another reason not to believe everything you read in Big Media AND another tick for blogs as fact-checkers.

Belmont has an article on this week's NATO meeting (it should have been called "The Search for Meaning"), plus a pointer to this OxBlog entry on the issues facing NATO. Wretchard also looks at France's objections to sending NATO forces to Afghanistan, despite Afghanistan requesting them.

Chrenkoff presents a round-up of all the good news out of Afghanistan. He also takes a close look at the other topical documentary of the moment: Supersize Me.

Wind Rider on Abu Graihb being the exception, not the rule. DaGoddess, in the meantime, confronts some moonbats first-hand.

Mike Moore's movie is at least providing plenty of blog fodder. Via Harvey comes an entire blog pointing out factual errors.

Via Dean comes the only wrap-up of this week's Canadian election you need.

Blogs

The Showcase is going strong (more on that later). However it also lead to an example of the insanity that sometimes overtakes people when it comes to politics. Michele posted a interesting entry on how she changed her views from left to right at the Showcase. It won a lot of fans and was well-received, but not by everyone. Harvey documented an ill-conceived attempt by some of Michele's erstwhile friends to hijack her site (and read the comments too). Michele started again at her new site rather than fold in the face of this vandalism. Hopefully she will reconsider the offer to move to Munu because no-one should have to go through this juvenile insanity.

Kevin reports on the inevitable book deal at the end of the Washingtonienne saga. Wonkette says she's getting $300,000 for it. Who says blogs can't make money?

Ace also has reports from the hottest new blog in town.

In blogiversaries Jen and Dana both turn one.

Rusty commits all seven deadly blogging sins in a single post.

Living Room is looking for Underbloggers, those blogs whose readership should be a vast multiple of its current numbers. Like this one, for instance. Being the humble type, I've nominated a couple myself, but it wouldn't hurt at least one of you to nominate your favourite Hong Kong blog written by an Aussie (**HINT: I'm referring to me. Just making sure it's not too subtle, people.**)

You must go and check the Showcase. There's lots of good entries again this week. And I finally managed my first Instalanche. No more need for Harry's special walking stick. That gets crossed of the New Year Resolution list. Now its just my weight and world peace to go.

Miscellany

Tim Blair documents an outrage against my fellow Australian Jews. I'd just give up being kosher, if I hadn't already. And via Jim it turns out Australians are slowly taking over the world*.

Bre neatly summarises how to win arguments.

LeeAnn finds someone having even more trouble than us with names.

Via TMATBATB comes Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen's previously unpublished letters.

Finally Fumier has a darn fine idea for improving Wimbledon.

* _{of Barbie}