News – Waiting for the Other Shoe

Israel/Palestine

Amid the outright condemnations of Israel’s killing of Yassin, the US ‘disapproves’ while denying green lighting the killing. I’m sorry, but we look so much like Israel’s bitch and have been for decades, who wouldn’t give such a possibility thought? Even I wonder for a moment. It’s a short moment, but it’s there.

Israel says no militant leader is safe. Lets stir the waters up with some more high explosive ‘justice’. Not like things are at rock bottom yet, after all! Seems they have a taste for blood if they’re going to try and knock them all off.

A muse on why it was a mistake to take out Yassin. It was Yassin the incarnation of evil in the eyes of Israelis – who kept Hamas in line and ensured that its violent outbursts were measured, calibrated, and doled out strategically rather than haphazardly. I’ve heard the above sentiment several times. I don’t know personally, but if true this could be worse than I thought.

The UK press is rounded up for reaction. Even papers regularly supportative of Israel wonder if this was the best of ideas.

A report from Gaza City. bits from eyewitnesses and the funeral as well as a general sense of the situation. What I find most mind-boggling is that the Israelis fired more than one rocket. The first landed and took him out. But despite that hit, as people were coming to Yassin after the first missile, another was fired. Overkill? I think so.

Meanwhile the retaliation remains in planning. They want something big. I hope they don’t manage it, their desire for haste might well be the undoing of any attack planned. Israelis brace for the inevitable.

Iraq

Croatia has decided against sending troops to Iraq. Nor does the country intend to sign an accord barring the handover of US military or state officials to the International Criminal Court.

Fourteen British soldiers were hurt, three seriously, when Iraqis protesting over job shortages threw stones and Molotov cocktails.

A Reuters senior editor cautions the US military to do more to protect journalists in Iraq.

China

The US urges a UN watchdog to condemn China on its human rights backslide. China breaks off dialogue on the topic in response.

Pakistan

A few tunnels have been discovered in the area where tribal fighters were defending. Thus it becomes obvious that if anyone of importance was around, they may well have already slid out and be gone. Of course, that assumes anyone of importance was there, which no one knows a thing about still. A Pakistani convoy was ambushed and three vehicles destroyed, several dead fighters are being tested for DNA, 123 captured fighters are being interrogated and five other dead bodies are being shown to the press. Everyone’s busy down there.

Spain

Worries abound over how terrorists managed to lift 100 kg of quarry explosives used in the Spain bombing.

US

A Senate hearing is scheduled today on the Gay Marriage amendment. Bush gets his warm fuzzy for giving it the thumbs up, but most camps are leery of toying so idly with the Constitution.

Richard Clarke is branded as yet another disgruntled employee. They deny Bush ignored terrorism before 9/11 and focused on Iraq over alQueda afterward.

Powell and Rumsfeld will be meeting with the 9/11 panel today</A..

Former Treasury Secretary Paul O’Neill has been cleared of wrongdoing with regard to the documents he garnered. He did get some sensitive, unclassified documents, though. Which makes one wonder about the document handling in the government.

Lisa Dean, a vocal critic of the government’s privacy policies, has taken a job as the TSA’s top privacy officer this week. If she remains true, this could be a good thing. But it should be watched.

Kerry pitches his ‘New Direction’ for America.

General

Insurance companies are starting to look closer at Stomach stapling and its relatively high cost and complication rate. Some no longer cover it under their plans.

Day to Day: Election day thrust and parry.

Today’s Papers has a profile on Richard Clarke(he’s got heavy credentials), the use of artificial blood, the Pakistani offensive faltering and more.

Amusements

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop these high-tech drop-down thingees

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop these Chicago firefighters, circa 1905

Foreign Leaders

Kerry and Munster: Separated at Birth?

Kerry’s Infidelity