News – Israel’s Guantanamo

I might have to see if I can dig some more up on this. While I thought something in the Israeli government smelled, I didn’t expect to see anything this funky come down the wire.

Israel/Palestine

Israel’s Guantanamo: Facility 1391 – A secret prison removed from maps and airbrushed from landscape images of the area. Why does Israel need a secret prison such as this? The standard response is: “Facility 1391 is situated on a secret military base. The base is used by the security services for various classified activities and thus its location is kept confidential.”

Armed Israeli settlers are systematically wrecking the olive groves that have stood fore centuries and been the only source of income for some Palestinian families. The acts have, surprisingly, drawn criticism from Sharon and the leaders of the settlements involved. Yet little is done about it. Observe the possible genesis of further attackers on Israel or it’s settlements.

The Israeli government admitted in a secret memo that Sharon failed to honor face to face commitments to Bush on settlement dismantlement.

Iraq

A US Apache Helicopter on patrol spotted rebels preparing to fire rockets at a US military camp. They were attacked. Seven killed, one wounded, one escaped. A later search by ground forces found an impressive stash of weapons.

Four former heads of Israel’s Shin Bet security service railed on Sharon’s policies in an interview today.

Iran

French, British and German diplomats are working on a strongly worded resolution with regard to Iran and its failure to be upfront about its nuclear dealings. Question is, will it be enough to please the US, Canada and Australia(who are tough on Iran)? And what does Iran’s ambassador mean when he says “I hope we do not reach such a stage because then things could very easily get out of control,” in regard to Iran being reported to the security Council?

Bush will be visiting with the families of British soldiers killed in Iraq. He’ll also be working on bolstering Blair’s political standing while he’s there.

The Department of Homeland Security will be spreading over 700 million around to secure fifty cities in the US. Where’s that money been for the past two years? It’s a start, but there are more than 50 cities to secure and I doubt that much will make grand, sweeping changes that we need.

I’m sure the 100 million Bush will be wasting on campaigning and the money raised by all the democrats could go quite well with securing more of our country.

Civil Rights violations against HIV/AIDS infected people in the US is higher than the ACLU thought. I’m sure far too many of them are treated like pariahs when it is hardly necessary. I’d blame lack of widespread education on the condition and it’s relatively low chance of casual contagiousness.

Colon Powell says economic growth will help us fight terrorism. Yes, economic growth in the countries that generate terrorists might as a higher standard of living would likely dissuade some from joining such groups. But growth in the US wouldn’t, necessarily.

Can you hate Bush and like his tax cuts?

Is the New Yorker’s slam on Clark and his role in the Kosovo war faulty? Seems like a case of slanting context to me. Mistakes were made, but lets not manufacture things here.

General

Kudos for the new movie, Master and Commander

Today’s Papers has some allies of the US blaking in the wake of the bombing strike on Italian solders in Nasiriyah. Judge Morre is judge no more, the goal off the enemy in Iraq and more tidbits for the day.

Amusements

Dexterity test – I didn’t do so well with it. :p

Empty Warheads