News – Who’s got the Drugs?

US

The government has a fistful of 5.6 billion to entice drug companies into making the drugs we need to ward off toxins and diseases that might be used by terrorists. But that might not be enough when something like a cholesterol drug rakes in $9 billion in revenue a year. The sad thing is that there’s no money in making these drugs if no one uses them. And unless there is an attack or unless the government is the buyer, there won’t be much money to make out of the deal. That’s the sad part of capitalism. Common sense things that make the whole safer fall by the wayside unless there is a need for them that can be profited from.

The FBI has issued alerts for two stolen propane tankers bearing a total of 5,500 gallons of liquefied gas. The timing for this is uncanny and a little disquieting.

A federal judge in San Francisco has ruled against the ban on ‘partial birth abortions‘. It was declared unconstitutional, as it contained no exemption for protection of the mother’s health.

The trouble with Kerry. He’s got to firm it up and define himself better.

Are concerns over Plan B’s effect on young teens exaggerated?

Is “Let America be America again” a winning slogan for the Kerry campaign? Some don’t think so and here’s why.

Iraq

Al Arabiya shows footage from an Iraqi group who have an Egyptian and Turkish hostage, threatening to kill them if their respective countries don’t condemn the US occupation of Iraq.

The UN is suggesting Iraqis set up a broad parliamentary-style body to help oversee the new temporary government. Something between an advisory and legislative body. A watchdog, I suppose.

A blast in a busy northern neighborhood in Baghdad leaves four dead. The precise source of the explosion is unknown, whether it was a car bomb or a roadside bomb. Is it just me or is it starting to sound like a bomb a day to you?

Bush plans to compare Iraq to WW2 and Europe in one of his upcoming speeches. How about if we stop trying to treat this war as like any other in history and realize it is something utterly apart from them all? Iraq isn’t Vietnam, WW1, WW2, the Civil War or any other war we’ve ever fought before. Just deal with it.

Bush give the new interim leaders of Iraq the thumbs up and assures everyone they’re not puppets. Unfortunately, Bush can’ just say they aren’t puppets. The leaders have to prove it. You don’t take the word of a suspected puppet master than all is well, you watch and see what happens.

Chalabi has some fresh allegations. That he tipped off Iran that the US had cracked the secret codes of it’s intelligence service.

France has gotten some of it’s way as the draft US resolution notes a US pullout in early 2006. The US would require a new UN resolution to stay longer.

Scuttlebutt over the latest political moves in Iraq.

Israel/Palestine

Sharon continues to push for his plan with a new endorsement from Bush. The US will only endorse a full pullout, not a watered down version like some ministers are suggest.

Many muse and theorize on just what Sharon’s aim is with his plan and why he’s pushing for it. Could it be a simple matter of demographics?

Iran

Supreme National Security Council secretary-general Hassan Rohani says that Iran’s nuclear case is nearly closed.

Saudi Arabia

Two suspected militants shot at US troops in Riyadh, though no one was reported injured in the incident. The violence is starting to pick up some there.

Africa

A renegade Congolese army colonel says he’s seized the town of Bukavu from government troops. The UN disagrees.

General

Word is Putin won’t be attending the next NATO summit.

Who is afraid of Time’s big bad legal disclaimer?

RNC unveils “Kerryopoly” satirizing John Kerry’s wealth

You can see Michael Moore’s new anti-Bush flick June 25th. Lions Gate Entertainment Corp. and IFC Films will release it to theaters and cable TV will be handled by Showtime.

Today’s Papers has note of the 126 solders who died in Operation Enduring Freedom, suggestions Iran is breaking it’s promises on nukes, Justice Dept declassifying interrogation summaries that it says justify holding Jose Padilla and more.

Amusements

Two ten year olds + bulldozer = $500,000 worth of damage

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop a happy Rasheed Wallace

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