News – Names Trickle Through
Iraq
The names of possible interim government officials are being leaked, though the true powers of this government, especially in regard to the continued US military presence, remains unclear. Hussain Shahristani is mentioned as the PM, a nuclear scientist who defied Saddam and did some time in Abu Ghraib. But he’s also an exile who hasn’t lived in Iraq for a while. Apparently he told Reuters he doesn’t really want the job, but will do it if he must.
Army Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez will be replaced as the top US commander in Iraq. Gen. George Casey, Army vice chief of staff has emerged as a likely candidate to replace Sanchez.
“This has absolutely nothing to do with Abu Ghraib,” added another defense official. “The secretary (Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld) is very mindful that the perception (of punishment) might arise. But it simply is not the case.”
SuuuuuuuureÂ….
Bush’s recent speech on Iraq, one year too late?
Despite a difference in the language with regard to just what powers the interim governemtn will have, the UK denies any break with the US on Iraq policy.
Amnesty International charges that the US led War on Terror is bereft of principal and bankrupt of vision. But condemnation isn’t just for the US, it’s for many of it’s allies as well for jailing suspects unfairly, stamping on legitimate political and religious dissent, and squeezing asylum-seekers The human rights climate at it’s worst n 50 years? That’s harsh.
It seems the US administration isn’t fully against speeding elections from January of next year to late this year. All I have to say is they better have a solid plan either way. Especially if they want to be taken seriously.
A US report on the deaths and alleged abuse of prisoners in Iraq and Afghanistan suggest the abuse has been present on a wider scale than noted before.
US-led forces have captured Riyadh al-Nouri, al-Sadr’s brother-in-law.
The Weir Group has come under scrutiny along with hundreds of others firms for paying Saddam’s regime kickbacks according to US investigators.
The New York Times prepares and editors note of it’s pre-War reporting on WMD. They screwed up.
Israel/Palestine
Operation Rainbow: Attack on militants or revenge foe Israeli dead? Opinions vary, as one might expect.
The press meets the Arab League summit with pessimism. No grand steps to democratize the region or seek peace with Israel are to be seen.
Another article on the bad ole security barrier. It’s a big, ugly pimple on the butt of peace.
Afghanistan
Hamid Karzai is chatting up Northern Alliance leaders to gather support for his bid in September’s election.
Reports of casualties are disparate in the wake of an sustained battle with militants in southern Afghanistan, ended with an air strike that scattered militants.
Japan
Five foreigners are arrested in connection with a widening probe of suspected alQueda activities centering on a French national who spent over a year in Japan.
US
Rumor has it that there is info predicting a large scale attack on the US between now and this Labor Day(Sept 6th this year). Of course, we’ve gone through this before without attacks, so it remains to be seen if this latest rumor will pan out to anything. Personally, I hope it’s another false alarm. They won’t be raising the terror alert level, but might ask citizen to watch out for certain persons suspected of being alQueda operatives.
Kerry leads Bush in California and plans to push his plan for energy independence. Bush promotes health care in Ohio where he and Kerry are tied. Wooster, Ohio remains a tough spot for Bush as they’ve been hit pretty hard by job losses.
Worcester, Springfield and Somerville stopped issuing marriage licenses to gay couples after Massachusetts state Attorney General Thomas Reilly told them to end the practice. Provincetown has not stopped yet.
The rapid proliferation of digicams, phone cams and wireless toys among soldiers and military contractors makes for an easy way for info to slip out through military ranks. Especially embarrassing images as we’ve been seeing recently.
Homeland security’s missing link. We need cash and we need a solid plan.
Explainer details just what the War College is.
Companies are bitching about the cost of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, but as some muse going private, we muse that going private may well be overrated.
General
MTV is planning to start up a gay cable network called LOGO.
Today’s Papers notes a man arrested in the US for allegedly attempting to equip a Hezbollah cell in Athens, deadly flooding in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, an interview with a solider ordered to play detainee at Gitmo who was subsequently beaten and more in the one page news.
Amusements
Man sues wife after discovering she was once ugly
DNA analysis proves Chihuahuas aren’t actually dogs
Motorist caught doing 150 km/h because he was “nervous on the highway.” Thought if he went fast he would spend less time on the highway
Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this rowboat and its rowers
Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this techno hairstyle</A