News – Attack = Defense

It’s common sense. Attack something, even in an indirect way, and it will be bolstered by active defense. This can’t be a surprise. Terror won’t just be squashed by being attacked.

NOTE: Previous version of this entry deleted because of quote issue. It was the cause of all the broken links in teh last entry. Fuckin Word and IE.

Iraq

The International Institute for Strategic Studies claims that the war in Iraq has bolstered alQueda’s ranks. I wonder if their information is good. They do toss in the plus of one less supplier for terrorists, but I don’t think suppliers are a problem for them, really. The fear of the US is, as fear will motivate more to join them. Being able to lash out at what you fear is a positive thing for humans in general.

Iraqis are going for the Saddam-free money. Banks are also confiscating lots of fake bank notes.

Child Kidnapping is a rising crime in Iraq, according to aid agencies in the country. The new trend has some parents keeping their children home, even away from school. A speokesman for Save the Children UK says that 50% aren’t going to school.

One thing that hasn’t yet changed in Iraq is the shortage of drugs, a problem before and now after the sanctions have been lifted. The WHO is shipping in drugs bought throught he food for Oil program, but those delivers will cease in November.

Israel/Palestine

A US Embassy comvoy was bombed on the Gaza Strip. Three Americans killed in the attack. A mildly interesting addition is that Palestinian youths were throwing stones at US investigators who arrived on scene. Islamic Jihad and Hamas have denied responsibility.

Predictably, Sharon has dismissed the unofficial Peace Treaty being crafted by opposition Israeli diplomats and Palestinian Leaders. The Israelis involved, however, realized that, but purport to have proven that there is someone to negotiate with, despite government assertions to the contrary. There is a note at the bottom that tanks and bulldozers have reentered Rafah to destroy more homes.

Iran

Iranian Nobel Peace Prize Winner Shirin Ebadi is demanding the release of dissidents jailed in Iran. The few thousand who come to greet her at the airport seemed to agree.

The IAEA wants access to Iran’s military sites as well, now. They don’t note a conflict over it yet, but I can’t see that going without resistance.

Afghanistan

US and Afghan troops drove Taliban guerrillas out of the village of Uruzgan. Official counts have ten Taliban killed, with two dead and six wounded on the US/Afghan side.

US

Bush is going to Asia this week. He’s expected to remind leaders about Iraq, but he’s not going with his hand out or anything.

The Supreme Court is going to decide if ‘Under God’ is unconstitutional in the Pledge of Allegiance. I don’t know about anyone else, but to me the right solution to this issue is very simple. Take out ‘Under God’. It was not part of the original pledge, so it is best to set the pledge back to the how it was originally conceived.

Will a US panel decide to do away with the ban on silicone breast implants? We shall see, but take it form me ladies. More than a handful is wasted. Don’t worry about how big they are. 😉

Looks like Bush’s new resolution, vote due today, will likely pass. Though getting the minimum nine votes is not quite as strong as getting the main doubters to sign on rather than abstain.

Wesley Clark is proposing a Civilian Volunteer Corp. Basically, people that want to volunteer sign up for a five year stint and list their skills. When a disaster strikes, they can be called up to assist. This can be either at home or abroad. Considering the at home aspect, it seems mostly a formalizing of what we’ve seen a few times already. People trekking cross country to help out at disaster areas. Seems, as presented, a generally good idea to me. Official volunteers would make things quite a bit more orderly.

Ross Plank, a software engineer from Playa del Rey, California, says the RIAA is targetting the wrong man with a lawsuit they’ve filed against him. He’d be the second to officially say so.

Explainer muses of Sonar Kills Whales.

Is Howard Dean his own worst enemy?

Sheny was not good for Halliburon.

General

A return to the issue of daughters and sons and their impact on a marriage. Basically, this one is reader response and rethink of the theories of the last article on this issue. Quite interesting.

Day to Day: Stephen King dissed and the Sniper Trial begins.

Today’s Papers has the Supreme Court not letting the Feds go after docs who proscribe pot, China launches I man into space and over tidbits.

Amusements

Change the Sign

Sucker Bet