News – Anti-Semitism?

News Question: What do you consider to be anti-Semitism?

Israel/Palestine

A poll of 7,500 people in 15 EU nations has found that 60% of people polled believe Israel is a bigger threat to world peace than the US, Korea and Iran. Charges of anti-Semitism have been thrown back, but the charge only fits if these people believe Israel is dangerous because of bias against Jews. Personally I would only half agree with the assertion of Israel’s danger and that is because of their government’s policies, not who they are and what they practice for religion. If I were asked, I’d have to say the US has the biggest part to play in damaging the peace.

Arafat and Prime Minister Ahmed Qurie remain at odds over the formation of a new government, mainly on what security powers it will have. The PMs emergency mandate expires tonight and midnight, so the last ditch effort going on now is just that.

Previously classified documents reveal a hidden shame from Israel’s past, during the troubled time of 1949. It holds little bearing on the modern day issues, but is a tragic show of how wars show the true colors of some people.

The Israeli government, banks and trains were halted by a national strike yesterday. This over a planned move to revive its economy by curbing welfare state provisions.

Iraq

Bush gets his money. Now we’ll see what he can do with it. Wagers on the condition of Iraq by this time next year?

The CPI has made out a report seeing to prove the Bush Administration is favoring certain contractors, but it doesn’t seem to hold up. Could it be that there aren’t any dirty dealings going on in that vein? Perhaps, though that’s not certain yet either.

Korea

Hwang Jang-yop says Kim Jong’s biggest ambition is to rule over a unified, communist Korea. Something to that order is pretty much assumed. So what?

Iran

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Mohamed ElBaradei has said that Iran didn’t fully comply with some of its commitments under the nonproliferation treaty. No details yet. Iran isn’t in hot water yet, though, as the investigation into their nuke programs is ongoing. Though the US is likely to try and push for sanctions.

Saudi Arabia

Word is coming out of the country that Saudi security has foiled another plot on pilgrims during the holy month of Ramadan. Part of this was a shoot out that lead to the deaths of two militants.

UN

The UN has but its chief of security on leave due to the August 19th bombing. They’ll be forming a team of experts to assess blame and look for ways to tighten up security.

US

The Supreme Court says no to Roy Moore’s two appeals. You know, I bet he might have had a chance of he acted like a sane human being and played by the rules, rather than thinking he could defy the system. You’d think a judge would know better, but I suppose not.

The Supreme Court will be deciding if managed health care companies can be sued for negligence when they don’t pay for medical care recommended by a doctor. Aetna is seeking this decision after being sued by a man who was covered under them. He was proscribed Vioxx for his arthritis, but Aetna required he try two less expensive medications before covering that. He was later rushed to the hospital with bleeding ulcers. He sued them for negligence for not covering Vioxx from the start. I would assume one of the cheaper medications gave him these ulcers, though I’m not certain. Another case involves a woman who was discharged after a one-day hospital stay following a hysterectomy. Her doctor advised a longer stay and she later had complications. Both cases will be heard next year.

An LA man is suing Coppertone for fostering unhealthy sun worshiping by claiming to shield users from harmful UV rays. I wouldn’t call it completely unfounded, though it would depend on the precise tone of their advertising and what they advertise on their bottles.

Despite low reliability and costs, Wal-Mart and the DOD are pushing retailers to RFID chips. And they’ll past the costs on to you, likely.

The Supreme Court is hearing a case that will decide who gets arrested when a bag of crack is found in the car and no one admits its theirs. Or if it will be legal to arrest everyone in the car.

General

New research suggests that allowing cats in a child’s bedroom, starting from the first year, can help prevent development of allergic asthma and hay fever.

Microsoft is ditching Intel in favor of IBM and it’s Power PC processor, the very same type which powers Macintosh computers. Perhaps I’m the only one that finds that amusing. Could it be that it won’t be Apple which migrates to Intel, but Microsoft who migrates to Power PC? Likely not, but speculation is fun. 😉

Was Jesus celibate? A new documentary suggests he wasn’t and had married.

Day to Day: Democrats and the GDP, Silence of the Clinton Diplomats and Saving the Economy by buying a Rolls.

Today’s Papers has worries over man portable missiles in Iraq, Schwarzenegger’s first appointments, and if “Iraqification” is a winning strategy or an exit strategy. And more.

Amusements

Fark Theme: If I were president..

A mysterious transmission that baffled British intelligence analysts for days was caused by a ram rubbing up against an aerial mast, a government agency said Tuesday. – Kinky

Steve Bell: Four Monkeys and a Funeral