More quick takes

* In "Why Europe Ignores Bush," Tony Karon explains that Bush's efforts to mend fences are a day late and a dollar short. The Iraq project, rather than ushering in the New American Century, is quickly shifting international relations away from post-Cold War "unipolarity" towards a "multipolar" system heavily influenced by the emergence of China. Plus, Conn Hallinan asks, "Is it really a good idea to push that dragon into a corner?"

* Along similar lines, Kirkpatrick Sale reads Jared Diamond's Collapse thesis into current affairs to discern an American Empire on the way down.

* The New Scientist has a special report on "India: The next knowledge superpower." Worth checking out.

* Not this time, Mr. Chalabi. Ibrahim Jaafari is the new Iraqi prime minister.

* Sanjay Suri says the situation in Iraq is getting worse for women, according to a new report from Amnesty International.

* Pankaj Mishra went in search of the "real Afghanistan" to write his essay for the NYRB. He found Afghans "weary but still hopeful" as "they compete for the attention and goodwill of an easily distracted world."

* Will there be a draft? Tom Regan probes recent media reports.

* Looking for a cause? How 'bout fighting for a living wage.