News – Enforced Liberation? Dictated Democracy?

Garner has another meeting with ‘academic and community leaders’ in Iraq. The Shia majority is still largely calling for US departure and the like, while some opine that Iran might be sticking their fingers in, but that is, denied by Iran of course. Garner’s deputy, a british general made me wonder again:

Garner’s deputy, British general Tim Cross, told reporters that Iraqis must be allowed to vent their fury after decades of Saddam’s iron rule, but he did not want to see this lead to a fundamentalist religious government like that ruling neighboring Shi’ite Iran.

Cross said he did not believe all of Iraq’s Shi’ites wanted such a government either.

“I genuinely believe that many of these people want to be part of a democratic Iraq…there are many people in that community who want a democratic Iraq. I’m absolutely confident of that,” he said.

What if they don’t, buddy?

Of course, some do. There are always some for any side. But even some of those folk want the US out quickly after quick and effective results. The self styled mayor of Baghdad seems intent to continue on despite Garner’s snub. This is another potential flash point. If this guy does enough stabilizing on his own, getting local Iraqis together, people in Baghdad, who already don’t trust Americans, may well throw their lot in behind him. That Garner seems to ignore him is, IMHO, another selling point for the discontent.

The parallels between Iraq and previous mistakes made by the US are uncanny and not very heartening.

Kuwaitis now have little chance to find the 550 of their kin who may have gone missing in Iraq as records of all different types were lost in the flames of weeks ago.

France is urging Iran to sign the ‘Additional Protocols’, which would allow IAEA inspectors unfettered access to its nuclear plants. Thus far they’ve been allowed several visits recently, but Iran has refused to allow that last bit.

A Palestinian suicide bomber blew himself up in an Israeli trans station, killing a security guard and injuring 13. The quiet of almost a month free of such attacks shattered. Retaliation by Sharon eminent, IMHO. The cycle starts anew. And as it seems, more attacks are coming.

Apparently, there is legislation in the works looking to ban sodomy, which would make homosexual relationships illegal for the most part. Rick Santorum, the third-highest ranking Republican in the U.S. Senate, assert that if you allow sodomy as a private right, then the same could be extended to incest, bigamy, polygamy and adultery. Which is why he’s trying to pass this legislation. Personally, I think he’s cracked. Sodomy should be allowed in private between two consenting adults, no matter what match up of sexes. Incest can’t be put in the same space as incest involves minors how, by and large, can’t give consent legally until they’re 18, at which point they aren’t minors anymore and incest no longer matters. Adultery is a matter of contract breaking and I’ve no inherent problem with polygamy and bigamy. Just the sort of rat bastards who practice it and use it as a means of humiliating women. A loving polygamous relationship would be an interesting thing, but so far it doesn’t exist. But what do you think?

Chatterbox’s Kurd Sellout Watch is again updated on day 52. There are hints that US forces might be looking for Turkish support in Baghdad, but nothing is certain yet. This may or may not be a bad thing, depending on how it effects the friction between Turks and Kurds.

Scottish MP George Galloway has been accused of taking money from Saddam. Almost 600k a year.

I think I’ll stop trying to summarize Today’s Papers. It’s already a pretty good summary, which has elements of what I’ve pointed out as well as some extra tidbits which are quite interesting.

China put an upbeat spin on the talks between the US and N Korea. Personally, I hope its true about getting an understanding going. I’m not going to trust to that, but I hope it’s true.

China is also taking some heavy steps in its battle against SARS. A large hospital in Beijing was closed off, none allowed in or out, in the latest bid to head off further spread. Toronto mayor Mel Lastman is angry at the World Health Organization for assign Toronto to the avoid list due to SARS. The city has most of Canada’s SARS cases and deaths, but it seems from Mel’s quote that WHO didn’t exactly visit Toronto openly before making this addition. Is this addition simply based on numbers or based on visits to the city?

US customs has been finding a few looted items, like paintings and gold plated guns, from returning Americans. Most were reporters, but the guns were believed in the possession of a member of the US military. Though none were the priceless items from the Baghdad museum. As well, on the issue of finding lost things, the initials of navy pilot Scott Speicher were found on the wall of a Baghdad prison cell, the strongest evidence of his presence in a while. E’s a pilot who was shot down during the opening night of the 1991 Gulf War. Unfortunately, there weren’t too many more clues.

Here’s a potentially nifty invention that could be an end to our oil woes. It’s a device that turns forms of waste, from human to inorganic material, into oil. Maybe Bush should take notice of this and look into really breaking us of need for importing the crude.

Why? Why not?

Axle of Evil