Today is the Iraq War's fifth birthday. While more realistic people might take this time to reflect upon five years that have been marked by death, disappointment, and the most insidious of lies, the Bush Administration continues to try to make this disaster of a war look like something that's actually working.

Said Bush to an invite-only audience at the Pentagon today, “By defeating al Qaeda in Iraq, we will show the world that al Qaeda is the weak horse… On this anniversary, the American people should know, that since the beginning of the surge, violence is down." Funny Bush would bring up al Qaeda right now, after what we always knew has been unequivocally proven — there was no link between Saddam Hussein and the big A.Q. There's an important lesson to be learned from the Bush administration's endless train of disillusionment — and this is directed at the "I won't vote for Barack if Hillary loses/I won't vote for Hillary if Barack loses/fuck them all, I'm voting for Nader" camps — this will only continue if we allow another GOP warmonger to take the White House. Just sayin'.

• At this point, it would almost be funny if it wasn't so sad and infuriating. Good ol' Bush has appointed a woman who is anti-birth control to head the family planning division of the Department of Health And Human Services. [WP]

• This is what Jason Kidd has resorted to? Grabbing crotches in the club? [Bossip]

• It's hard to pick just one thing wrong with this picture. [C&D]

• No matter how hard this guy tries, I will never, ever, ever, ever be interested in NASCAR. [DS]

• So, considering the current racial climate, it's probably a good idea to keep that Halloween hangman decoration in the garage this year. [SL]

• Of course, you've subconsciously been dying to take a peek at the sports memorabilia OJ got nabbed trying to steal back. It looks like it's totally worth the 10 felony charges. [MSN]

• Well, Tyra does like to tell people how cheap she is. [Gawker]

• I was watching this press conference this morning, and I didn't think for a second Bush thought we'd believe he got a B in Econ 101. [QT]

• Naomi Campbell is really trying to segue into a movie career. [BV]

• Essence does its version of Blind Date, which means no staged, forced dates culminating in awkward hookups. Sorry. [Essence]

• Did you see people rocking the all-black for the Jena Six today? [TFB]

Quote of the Week

50 Cent on President Bush and war:

"Me and George Bush were both actually born on July 6, he's just a little older than me. And he does have a talent: He has less compassion than a regular human being." He added, "Me and George Bush are so different. … I actually go to war, when I go to war. Bush just sends [people] to war. When I took a trip to Iraq — 'cause I went to perform for the soldiers in Iraq — they had the same vehicles that I ride around in New York."

Scooter Libby, who, I'll say it, deserved to go to jail (along with a few others who unfortunately weren't put to trial) a hell of a lot more than Paris Hilton did, won't be spending a day behind bars. Why? Because he's Bush's friend, that's why. And, you know, he's been through enough as it is. I guess committing a perjury and obstructing justice while trying to protect the President's administration is the surest way to get your sentence commuted.

CNN has reactions to Bush's decision to erase Libby's jail sentence. Guess which of the two people on the list are Republicans?