News – The New Resolution

Iraq

The new UN resolution is delivered(Click here for full text of the draft). Sovereignty for Iraq, but the US military stays, to be allowed to ‘take all measures’ to keep order with no set date for them leaving. France already has ideas for improvements, likely in the area of giving Iraqis more power than the current resolution gives. The vote on it will likely come after Lakhdar Brahimi reveals his list of people for the new Iraq interim government.

Tony Blair says the interim Iraq government would have veto power over foreign military in their country. I’ll wait until I see that in practice before I believe it will be so.

The International Institute for Strategic Studies states the obvious. If the US fails in Iraq, it won’t do much for us strategically. As much as I’d like action over there to end, doing it too quickly will leave chaos in our wake. After punching out way in, we’d lose any hope of peace with Iraq if the people of the country were left to fend for themselves.

The Imam Ali Mosque in Najaf, holiest shrine in Iraq, was damaged as US forces and militants battled. It isn’t clear who did the damage to the shrine, but either way it’s a black mark.

Seems Iraqis weren’t impressed by Bush’s speech last night. Though I doubt any words the prez offers would appease them now. Only clear, tangible results that effect them. Hours after the speech, car bombs and clashes continue to be a daily event, something that effects Iraqis directly.

Chalabi has been accused recently of passing info to Iran and using his contacts with the US to pass bad intelligence to get the US to attack Iraq. Some intelligence officials are thinking it possible that these charges are true. Wouldn’t that be a kick in the pants?

The US is going to raze Abu Ghraib and replace it with a new installation as well as punish Brigadier General Janis Karpinski, commander of the 800th military police brigade. Demolishing the prison is likely to at least give a sense of closure and perhaps even improve relations with Iraqis overall in my opinion. Though it’s a bit too late to reap great benefits from it.

Israel/Palestine

Two positives for Sharon recently. Seems he’ll escape charges in the bribery scandal and Israel’s cabinet has narrowly approved an amended pullout plan. By the new plan, the pullout would be in stages rather than all at once.

In Rafah, the people bury their dead, with militants vowing revenge.

Haiti

Haiti is to get another 100 million in cash money to set up it’s democracy.

US

Bush’s approval rating is still low. I’m sure it didn’t help that the broadcast TV stations didn’t cover his speech last night. I’m somewhat annoyed by that, as I did want to see it, at the very least to know what he was up to. Sounded from what I read that he was being a bit more realistic than before, which is at least moderately pleasant.

The White House brushes off criticism from retired Marine Gen. Anthony Zinni, largely by emphasizing his retired status. Of course, he did draw up a battle plan for Iraq before his retirement that noted the use of 300,000 troops.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation added Vermont to its annual list of most endangered historic places, saying that WalMart threatens the picturesque state with an “onslaught of big-box” stores. Seven of their big, blocky superstores appear to be planned for the state.

Cartoonist Garry Trudeau, creator of Doonesbury, will be devoting a strip to listing the US military war dead in Iraq. The same sort of thing Nightline did and got blasted for. Trudeau has run into a few issues with recent strips on Iraq, though as much for offensive content than his generally critical view on the war.

General

Drugs in online games? Sure, and it’s interesting out the microcosm of the game world starts to mirror the real world.

Summary Judgment, among other things, looks at criticism of Michael Moore’s Fahrenheit 911. I’ll probably pick it up when I can find it for ten(likely used), just like I did Bowling for Columbine.

Today’s Papers goes over Bush’s speech and muses if Bush truly seeks history and learns from it.

Amusements

Distant relative of Adolf Hitler possibly entitled to royalties from sale of book “Mein Kampf”. Turns down offer, wants no part of it

Phone company admits to raising prices “because it could”

Palestinian terror group plans on killing Madonna. If successful, they’ll go after other Eighties pop stars like Kajagoogoo and Wang Chung

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this polar bear

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Theme: To celebrate the genetic research on differing dog breeds, come up with a new breed of dog

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop something otherthan a baseball that Prince Fielder is focused on catching