News – Iraq War Hindsight

Iraq

Liberal Hawks reconsider the Iraq War Paul Berman, Thomas Friedman, Christopher Hitchens, Fred Kaplan, George Packer, Kenneth M. Pollack, and Fareed Zakaria begin a week long bout of looking back and reevaluating their views in the wake of what is now known contrasted with their personal ideals. Interesting stuff here.

An Apache chopper goes down west of Baghdad. The third in the same area in two weeks. Enemy fire is suspected. So, how many choppers do we have over there and how long until we run out?

A US army commander notes it likely that US troops opened fire on a family in a Jan 3rd incident. The caliber of the bullets involved point at vehicle mounted machine guns, which aren’t something used by the insurgents.

Reuters is lodging formal protest with the Pentagon saying three of it’s staff were wrongfully arrested and ‘brutalized’ by US forces in Iraq. The US military claimed at first that they were enemy personnel who had opened fire on US soldiers. Thus far the US military has refused to apologize and has bluntly told Reuters to drop the issue.

Shortage of body armor is blamed for the death of Sergeant Steven Roberts, a UK soldier shot in the chest by friendly fire. Yes, if he had armor, he would likely have survived. OF course, the situation that brought about the incident share the blame as well.

Israel/Palestine

In the Middle East, water is one of the most important commodities. Considering how many are being packed into the area, I wonder if the water will ever be insufficient.. perhaps Israel’s import of it shows that such a limit might well be reached eventually. It’s sad that they can’t get a major desalinization industry going like Saudi Arabia has. I think they have the largest of those plants.

Israel’s future is pondered by Middle East papers.

Iran

A dozen top Iranian government officials are prepared to quit of the hardliners continue to bar hundreds of reformists from running for various government positions. The list includes four of Iran’s six vice presidents and six cabinet ministers.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei steps into try and calm the furor raised in the above issue. He’s hinted at possible compromise. We’ll see what he might bring to the table.

A Homeland Security official denies accusations that CAPPS2 and US-Visit may be linked. Obviously, we’ve had it confirmed that the program they’re instituting at airports will be CAPPS2, previously shot down due to privacy concerns. Ren is not pleased.

So what will happen with Blair’s pro-war stance if Dean becomes president? This is something I hadn’t thought to muse before. What happens if a seriously anti-war candidate gets into the White House?

The Treasury is probing Paul O’Neill’s interview with 60 Minutes. Apparently, one of the documents shown in it may have been labeled secret. That’s a no-no.

A Chicago publisher is convinced of spying for Saddam.

The Mars rover still hasn’t set wheel on the planet’s surface. The maneuvers to get it off its platform have been delayed due to obstruction by the airbags that cushioned it’s landing. Why so careful? Likely because, if they screw up and the thing flips over.. that’s it. Not like someone can reach over and tip it level again.

General

Microsoft has decided it will continue to support Win 98 through June of 2006. This largely due to developing countries still relying on Win 98.

One of Michael Jackson’s advisors says his finances are fine. One has to wonder, though. He does like to spend extravagantly on the most frivolous of things.

Apple is working with Hewlett-Packard to put out HP branded iPods. They won’t support WMA.

One of the leading candidates to replace the current Pope has broken with Catholic ranks to give the nod to condoms. Why do I have a feeling he might not be a leading candidate for long?

Explainer details why Mars is red.

Today’s Papers has the US tweaking it’s plan for Iraq sovereignty to look more democratic, more O’Neill bits, the Supreme Court ruling in favor of the government in keeping 9/11 detainee’s secret and more.

Amusements

Neurotically Yours: Suggestion Box

Man Said He Was Ordered By God To Taunt Lions

Woman Gets Arrested After Dialing Wrong Number To Buy Crack

German police investigate potato computer scam

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Now is the time on Fark when we Photoshop these German mimes