News – The World Back to Square One

It’s surprising to see how little has changed in the wake of recent events. Terrorism remains strong as multiple bombings batter areas around the world. The Iraqi people are free, but they still have no resources, no safety and waning hope as their country shakes itself apart despite the duct tape of US occupation. The only new thing is that the world now mistrusts the US, divided into two general camps. With US or against US. Anyone not in the first is in the latter, which guarantees the cold shoulder from the Bush Administration. Of course, this division comes at the exact wrong time when the world needs to band together to fight terrorism for real, rather than capturing a few guys and gloating.

Two captured individuals involved with the Casablanca bombings have revealed a link from those attacks to international terrorism, says Interior Minister Mustapha Sahel. A vague statement that contradicts an earlier statement by Justice Minister Mohamed Bouzoubaa.

The US is still trying to end run around the UN despite some lip service compromises in their resolution to lif the sanctions on Iraq. Not only that, but it seems they’re looking to gain some exemption from International Law and the Geneva Conventions in their dealings with Iraq. Every moment they pursue this course, my opinion of this Administration goes down even further.

Four more US Marines have died in a helicopter crash in Iraq. Meanwhile Bush is playing up the fear while stating the obvious when it comes to alQueda and their obvious intent to off Americans. We don’t need him to tell us what we already know. We need him to tell us something new.

In Iraq, the revenge killings have started. Or perhaps they’ve been going on quietly for some time. In any case, Daoud al-Qaisy was shot dead on his doorstep by two armed assailants, he a regular sight on Iraq’s state TV, singing Saddam’s praises. Another taste of the lawlessness that continues despite US presence and growing military numbers to maintain order. Some Iraqi POWs are saying they were tortured while in custody. Amnesty International is still taking interviews and plans to investigate this before offering anything concrete.

In a not so shocking bit of news, it has been revealed that US plans for a transitional Iraq government have been scrapped and that they US forces will remain in charge indefinitely. Add to that a snafu in relying on oil revenues to pay for the country’s rebuilding and.. well, back to square one essentially. With a large protest popping up in Baghdad.

International Papers digs into the suicide bombings from the Middle Eastern viewpoint. Interesting thoughts and observations all.

Ari Fleischer is calling it quits on his high profile, high stress job. He gets a little send off on Slate. Chatterbox notes one time that he didn’t lie.

The Philippines is being openly rewarded for following Bush’s lead. I know, that sounds nasty, but I don’t hold anything against the nation. It’s the vibe I get off this like Bush is openly tossing them a big, fat bone as an example of what ‘friends of the US’ get. I might be imagining it, but that’s what I get off it.

The friendly face of Powell is headed for France to seek their agreement on the US’ UN resolution. He’ll also be making rounds to other non-supporters of the Iraq war.

Still no WMD. And the fact of the matter is that either way, not being able to find them puts the US in a large credibility gap. We were either lied to by our government or our government was vastly misled. Either way, they screwed up.

President Hamid Karzai and his administration remain largely powerless in Afghanistan.

Taiwain is having serious SARS issues as more get sick with it and more die. The WHO points toward breaks of infection control routines as a possible cause of their loss of control. Meanwhile researches find SARS insights in interesting places

If you get a mail from Microsoft with an attachment, don’t open it. It will likely be the newest Windows email virus.

Some good news. A federal court restored limits to campaign donations in the interim until he Supreme Court can weigh in on if the limits are unconstitutional.

Why you don’t park in front of a fire hydrant

Extreme Pranking

Some Days are Better than Others. Some aren’t

Tripod won’t let me link to the last of the three pics, so hit the link I made. The one with the dog in it is the one I pointed to.

Have a good one folks. 🙂