More calls for Resignation...Iran still in the crosshairs....Good Friday

Good Morning. SecDef Rumsfeld is such a fine example of the leadership in Washington. Small wonder that more generals are calling for his resignation. Can you impeach a member of the Cabinet?

Pressure is growing on US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, with more retired generals calling for him to resign over the Iraq war.

The White House has said it is happy with the way Mr Rumsfeld is handling his job and the situation in Iraq.

But the backing comes as the number of retired generals calling for him to be replaced has risen to six.

It is being described as a rebellion led by those who know Mr Rumsfeld's handling of the war from the inside.

The two most recent generals to voice their unease about Mr Rumsfeld's handling of the war are retired army Maj Gen John Riggs and retired Maj Gen Charles H Swannack Jr.

In a radio interview Maj Gen Riggs, a former division commander, said it was time for Mr Rumsfeld to go because he fostered an atmosphere of "arrogance" among the Pentagon's top civilian leadership.

"They only need the military advice when it satisfies their agenda. I think that's a mistake, and that's why I think he should resign," he told National Public Radio (NPR).

Maj Gen Swannack Jr, who led the 82nd Airborne Division in Iraq, went even further.

He questioned whether Mr Rumsfeld was the right person to lead the fight against terrorism.

"I really believe that we need a new secretary of defence because Secretary Rumsfeld carried way too much baggage with him," he told CNN.

"Specifically, I feel he has micromanaged the generals who are leading our forces."

Maj Gen Riggs, who has been critically outspoken on problems facing the US military before, served in the army for 39 years and became a three-star general.

He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his actions as a helicopter pilot during Vietnam, but retired with the loss of one of his stars after the army said he had misused contractors, according to the NPR website.

Maj Gen Swannack Jr commanded the 82nd Airborne Division in Iraq from 2003-4.

The fresh resignation calls add to those already made by four other retired generals directly involved in the Iraq war and its planning.

Retired Marine Gen Anthony Zinni told CNN Mr Rumsfeld should be held responsible for a series of mistakes, beginning with "throwing away 10 years worth of planning, plans that had taken into account what we would face in an occupation of Iraq".

Meanwhile, the saber-rattling in the Middle East continues on....Iran has been warned yet again by the fascists that they better fall in line...or else!

Ms Rice on Thursday raised publicly the possibility that Iran might face punitive sanctions at the UN Security Council if it did not change course.

She said that when the council reconvened on the issue at the end of the month there could not be a repeat of March's "presidential statement" in which Iran had been told to halt all sensitive atomic activities within 30 days.

Iran has so far refused to comply.

"There will have to be some consequence for that action and that defiance. We will look at a whole range of options available to the Security Council," Ms Rice said.

She said the council would have to look at a Chapter 7 resolution - which UN members are mandated to comply with.

It could possibly lead to sanctions and eventually even the use of force.

But the BBC's Justin Webb in Washington says council members Russia and China believe that talk of punishment and coercion is premature.

Beijing hopes its envoy will help defuse the situation.

BBC China correspondent Daniel Griffiths says Beijing would like to avoid sanctions and wants to take a higher profile over Iran to strengthen its credentials as a responsible, international player.

Ah well. It is Good Friday...let's take a step back and remember that Christ died on the cross for all our sins. Perhaps he'll forgive the people that did this.

At least 15 people have been injured by knife-wielding attackers at three churches in Egypt, police have said.

The attacks happened in three Coptic churches in the city of Alexandria.

The three incidents took place during Friday Mass and were simultaneous, police officials said, according to the Associated Press news agency.

There were no reports of any arrests. Hundreds of Christians gathered in protest outside the three churches, the agency reported.

The Coptic Christian community is believed to make up 10% of Egypt's population of about 70 million.

Enjoy your Easter and Passover, everyone!