News – Too much like Israel’s

Will our military become like theirs? Tactically, at least. I get a bad mojo vibe off this news.

Iraq

Now Israeli advisors are training US Special Forces in their aggressive seek and destroy tactics, often used with dubious results in their conflict with Palestine. Will our forces have the same collateral damage rate as the Israeli military does now? That’ll turn the American people right off if we start to hear about it.

Another apparent suicide bombing, which resulted in 31 us solders wounded. It was headed for the gates of their base. They fired on it, then it blew up. Some sources now say 41 were wounded.

At seven months in Iraq the military is doing some things smart and other things that could go wrong. The wrong has already been alluded to above. Becoming like Israel’s military. :p

Japan is sending manpower to Iraq, but it’s exclusively non-combat personnel. Japan’s PM has taken pains to point this out to the people, as some might think this deployment breaks Japan’s pacifistic policies since the last round of world wars.

U.S. Ambassador Ralph Boyce thinks that Indonesia’s criticism on Washington’s Iraq policy should be kept to ‘proper channels’. Seems he has a problem with them speaking out publicly. How dare Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda bring up such a topic at an Asia-Pacific security conference.

Sheesh. This ambassador of ours needs to consider the place for his own comments. When allies speak, we should listen. Not bitch at them for how they air their opinions.

Israel/Palestine

Tales from Tel Aviv: Israel, for all its strength, is on hard economic times. IT makes divisions and there is struggle within to find balance.

Russia

A bombing, said to have been perpetrated by a lone woman, kills five ‘within sight of the Kremlin’.

Some US officials are questioning the fairness of Russia’s election, creating possible tension between the two countries. Could we go up against Russia again? Anything is possible I suppose.

In International Papers, the world muses Russia’s future under Putin.

US

Al Gore endorses Howard Dean. Advantage, Dean it seems. It seems a serious power up to his bid. Lieberman takes it well. Publicly at least.

U.S. Rep Janklow resigns after being convicted of second degree manslaughter. He sped through a stop sign and struck a motorcyclist.

Bush has his medicare bill now, but will it really bring him better regard? Many seniors are wary and uncertain. With them looking skeptically at this, they’ll notice anything that seems wrong to them much easier. We’ll have to see how this pans out.

A Detroit radio station was fined $27,500 for airing a broadcast where explicit sex techniques were described, including physical assaults on women.

A new US-Visit project will require all visitors to the US to be digitally fingerprinted and photographed. Some in Congress, however, have been questioning the plan’s effectiveness and privacy protections.

Democratic congressman from California Henry Waxman is encouraging whistle blowers on Iraq war intelligence to come forward with a ‘tip line’ on his website.

A woman who charged Arnold with groping her is now suing him for smearing her as a convicted felon after she went public with the allegations. Personally I don’t see that her potential past legal issues are any factor when it comes to the possibility that Arnold felt her up. Bad move on the part of his advisors.

The latest in gauging the major democratic candidates. I don’t think Kerry will ever live down firing off that one curse word. I find it amusing conservative talk radio hosts bring that up more than than Rush’s drug issues was an issue. Of course, I’m sure hat could be reversed for most liberal focused hosts.

The speculation continues on Rep. Nick Smith, R-Mich, who it is believed by some to have been offered a bribe for his vote on the Medicare bill. Serious stuff, obviously, yet he claims, after making odd comments, that he wasn’t offered any bribes.

General

Day to Day: Medicare vote bribe allegations and Bus, democrats and the 2004 race.

Today’s Papers has a pork filled spending bill, questions of what the US really knows about North Korea, long fuel lines in Iraq and more news tidbits.

Amusements

Memorial

The NRA is shopping around for a television or radio station. Why? So they can be considered a news service and enhance their lobbying powers. I’d lose another chunk of respect for them if I had any left.

Mark Pazuhanich is elected judge in Monroe County. Before he can be sworn in, he gets loaded at a Hillary Duff concert and is caught groping a 10yr old girl.

Flash Game: The Classroom – Cheat your way to the top!

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this winter traffic jam.