Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama today released yet another new campaign ad.

While his previous advertorial endeavors have focused largely on his biography and political evolution, the new 30-second spot - entitled "America's Leadership" - broadens the candidate's perspective a bit by taking on the "greatest threat" against America: nukes.

[The] commercial is being released on the same day that Senator Barack Obama is giving what his campaign billed as a “major policy address” on Iraq and Afghanistan in Washington, D.C., and when his opponent, Senator John McCain is in New Mexico, offering his views on the wars. The ad also aims at reinforcing Mr. Obama’s opinion that the war against terrorism extends far beyond Iraq.

The commercial itself doesn't specifically address Iraq, but Mr. Obama today told reporters that the ongoing conflict is "distracting" American foreign policy.

This war distracts us from every threat that we face and so many opportunities we could seize. This war diminishes our security, our standing in the world, our military, our economy, and the resources that we need to confront the challenges of the 21st century. By any measure, our single-minded and open-ended focus on Iraq is not a sound strategy for keeping America safe.

I am running for President of the United States to lead this country in a new direction – to seize this moment’s promise. Instead of being distracted from the most pressing threats that we face, I want to overcome them. Instead of pushing the entire burden of our foreign policy on to the brave men and women of our military, I want to use all elements of American power to keep us safe, and prosperous, and free. Instead of alienating ourselves from the world, I want America – once again – to lead.

Obama will head to the Middle East later this month. The trip - and this speech - are both meant to bolster his national security image, of course. The campaign even rolled out a new slogan: "Judgment To Lead."

Could the movie business really be that sick?

Rumor has it former Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum - who likens homosexuality to bestiality, among other things - has held meetings with Passion Of The Christ producer Steve McEveety.

The movie reportedly revolves around terrorism, so we imagine it'll be called "Towel Head" or something equally terrible.

Meanwhile, good old Rick's definitely got another new gig: newspaper columnist. The Philadelphia Inquirer's giving Mr. S. a regular column. Maybe print really is dead.

The good news: we won't have to listen to him talk.

Michael Lucas' virulent, disturbing Islamophobia continues to blind his logic.

In his latest NY Blade column, in which he regularly spills ink against Muslims, the porn producer celebrates Charles Merrill's Qu'ran burning, writing: "…I salute Charles Merrill for his artistic and social bravery in burning a Koran."

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Charles Merrill's latest act gives new meaning to "incendiary". In an effort to protest spiritually sanctioned homophobia, Merrill tuned his ire into fire.

The 72-year old artist activist, who used to be married to Johnson & Johnson heiress Evangeline, took it upon himself to ignite an antique Qur'an valued at $60,000. He also recently used markers and scissors to edit a copy of the Bible. No surprise Merrill's take on the protests are just as combustible as the actions themselves:

The purpose of editing and burning Abrahamic Holy Books is to eliminate homophobic hate. Both ancient books are terrorist manuals… Airplanes are flown into buildings because of words, [as are] hate crimes against gays.

Talk about an explosive statement! We understand religion can be used for evil, but Merrill seems to forget that it can also be used for good.

So, where did Merrill get the now destroyed book? The King of Jordan gave it to his late wife in the 1950s, when Evangeline traveled the world spreading the peaceful word of the United Nations.

• We saw a line of people waiting for the iPhone. They were all playing with their soon-to-be old phones. We think they're insane, as is the rest of the country.

• Talk about a tabloid wet dream: Francesca Hilton, daugher of Zsa Zsa Gabor and Paris Hilton's late grandfather, Conrad, called Zsa Zsa's current (ninth) husband, Prince Frederic von Anhalt, a faggot. von Anhalt's claim to fame, besides being married to Gabor, would be his claim that he fathered Anna Nicole Smith's baby. The icing - it went down outside a court house. And TMZ got it on video. Tune in for a special peek into Paris' future. (Cue splooge.)

• Mitt Romney's a cat person:

Romney placed his family dog, an Irish setter named Seamus, into a kennel leashed to the top of his station wagon for a 12-hour family trip from Boston to Ontario in 1983. Despite being shielded by a wind screen the former Massachusetts governor erected, Seamus expressed his discomfort with a diarrhea attack.

Romney claims the dog loved riding on the roof in a swirl of liquified shit: "He scrambled up there every time we went on trips." Scrambled? More like slid.

• London Pride ain't afraid of no car bombs. The parade marches on tomorrow. With a mock Eurovision to protest anti-gay nations.

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The View girls get all hot and bothered while discussing who does and who doesn't qualify as a terrorist. And guess what?!? Elisabeth Hasselbeck and Rosie O'Donnell disagree!!! Shocking.

We have to say we feel a bit bad for poor, misguided Elisabeth. Those girls obviously get off on picking the lone conservative…

(Thanks to virtual matter for the heads up!)

Perhaps the fella with the toned delts and chiseled triceps finishing up another set of Romanian Deadlifts isn't just the hottie you're too neverous to approach — perhaps he's a terrorist. Turns out, more than a few of our unwelcome jihad soldiers had gym memberships. Whether they got locked into a 12-month contract to tone their adductors or network with other terrorists is not, necessarily, a mutually exclusive decision.

The British government recently published its Report of the Official Account of the Bombings in London on 7th July 2005. It reveals that three of the four members of the 7/7 cell seem to have become radicalized in gyms rather than in mosques. Mohammed Sidique Khan, leader of the cell, worked on his protégés in "informal settings," primarily at a local Islamic bookshop where they watched radical DVDs and at local gyms, some of which were based in rooms below mosques. According to the report, "Khan gave talks [at the gyms], and worked out." He set up two gyms, one in 2000 with local government money—which means that government officials unwittingly funded one of the settings for his efforts—and another in 2004. Shehzad Tanweer, the 22-year-old who seems to have been the second-in-command of the 7/7 cell, "got to know [Khan] again (having known him a little as a child) through one of the gyms." Indeed, Tanweer was as much a fitness fanatic as he was a religious one. Shortly after 7/7, one of his former friends told the Guardian: "Shehzad went to a few mosques around here but he was more interested in his jujitsu. I trained with him all the time. He is really fit." Jermaine Lindsay, another of the 7/7 bombers, has also been described as a "fitness fanatic." A report published by the Terrorism Monitor at the end of July 2005 said that he "met his fellow bombers while attending one of the gyms set up by Khan."

We're not saying you need to be wary of the ravishing bloke seated next to you in the sauna, but when you're back at your place and he mentions how much he wants you to explode, it might be wise to think twice.

Killer Workout [Slate]