News – Sadr Troubles

Iraq

Mustapha Yacoubi, aide to radical Shi’ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, has been arrested by US forces and put into Iraqi custody. He’s charged with complicity in the murder of Ayatollah Abdul Majid al-Khoei. In many cities supporters of Sadr clashed with US forces. At least 48 Iraqis, 8 US solders and one Salvadoran were killed.

To add to the above mess, there’s been a helicopter strike in the Shuala district in the northwest area of Baghdad. As well, Sadr is now branded an outlaw.

Japanese soldiers in southern Iraq tighten their security as the latest surge of violence goes on.

Do you think the June 20th deadline for power transfer in Iraq to be feasible. Personally, I don’t think it will be very feasible, unless there is a significant shift in the security situation.

The little town if Tar has it’s first election. The results are interesting as secular and non-religious candidates do better than Islamists.

Note of a little background dealing from France to compromise with the US during the run up to the Iraq war. Add to that a note that Bush and Blair made a pact to oust Saddam 9 days after 9/11 according to Sir Christopher Meyer, the former British Ambassador to Washington.

SUV’s. The most dangerous car to drive around Iraq. Since white SUVs ar the car of choice for Coalition travelers, that makes them prime targets.

Israel/Palestine

Three 19 year old Palestinians are killed when they’re shot at with a tank. An Israeli military source confirmed forces fired at “three suspicious figures” spotted approaching a road leading out of Netzarim that Israel has declared off limits to Palestinians for fear its convoys could come under attack. Israel’s government wonders why some dislike them? The bodies were later recovered, it discovered they were unarmed. I wonder if they even gave a warning.

Sharon says that all Gaza settlements and four in the West Bank will be going in his pull back plan.

Zvi Shtauber, a former soldier and university vice-president(now Israeli ambassador to Britain) accuses the British left of tolerating and in some cases encouraging anti-Semitism.

Pakistan

Gunmen raid a Pakistani police station in Karachi. They kill five police men and wound another after telling them to recite Islamic verses.

Spain

Suspected bombing leaders die in an apartment blast as Spanish police raid. The police say they’re getting enough info from the rubble, but there is that denial in not being able to interrogate the men themselves.

US

Kerry hits Bush. Bush touts economy. Bush to double job training.

The Bush Administration will go over the 9/11 commission’s final report line by line before it’s released. Logically, this is to make sure no national security secrets get put in, but the suspicious aspect of my mind grumbles, certain that there will be some liberal use of the black pen to ink out things that aren’t necessarily beholden to national security.

Our high gas prices aren’t a matter of Suadi Arabia’s cutting back supplies, apparently. Adel Al-Jubeir, foreign affairs adviser to Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah, defends their action saying that the US’ anti-pollutoin laws and lack of refinery capacity are to blame.

Do you think Condi can salvage Bush’s image on the War on Terror? Listening to many discussions, there seems to be some confidence in her ability now that she’ll be testifying before the 9/11 commission in public and on the record.

The General Accounting Office says the Future Combat Systems program, an ambitious centerpiece to Rumsfeld’s moves to reshape the army, is ‘poised for major delays and a financial train wreck’. Not only that, but that the Army knew that much from the start. A heavy accusation.

John H. Marburger, Bush’s Sicience advisor, denies that the Bush administration spins science data. He’s a democrat in a republican White House, you can trust him, he says.

More unfounded scuttlebutt of a possible Roy Moore run for the Presidency.

General

Among the movies, Summary Judgement looks at the uncertain start of Air America, a liberal talk radio station.

A peek at Shaolin Soccer.

Today’s Pappers has rumblings of big offensives coming in Iraq, and a bevy of tidbits about the current furor involving Sadr.

Amusements

Terrorize your neighbors, get a free house.

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop these happy go-lucky kids

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Shatner has Rollins on his new album, so photoshop Rollins into Star Trek