News – Russia and Making Shit Up

Russia

Shamil Basayev, Chechen warlord, claims responsibility for the school siege in Beslan. While saying he regrets the outcome, he maintains blaming the Kremlin for it and makes it clear there will be no pause in attacks. He’s said that if Russia withdrew its troops and recognized Chechen independence, Chechnya would neither support nor finance groups fighting Russia, and: “We can guarantee that all of Russia’s Muslims would refrain from armed methods of struggle against the Russian federation, at least for 10-15 years, on condition that freedom of religion (as is guaranteed in the Russian federation) be respected.” U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage has said of Basayev, “He has proved beyond the shadow of a doubt that he is inhuman. Anyone who would use (the killing of) innocents for political aims is not worthy of existence in the type of society that we endorse.”

While I in no way condone the acts of Basayev and his ilk, I have to take exception with Armitage’s words. If Basayev meant to make a point with the killing of innocents, there would have been no siege. The rebels would have laid waste to the school right off the bat. It’s a subtle distinction, but I despise hearing people make patently false statements. There’s enough to revile about some people that you don’t have to start making shit up.

International Papers take their respective turns musing the power play of Putin.

Iraq

A suicide car bomber strikes at a police checkpoint in Baghdad, killing 13 and wounding as many as 50. It seems this space is filled almost every day with something like this. This kind of regularity we don’t need.

Earlier today a wave of US attacks on suspected militant positions have resulted in 44 deaths and 27 injuries. The US report talks of an estimate 60 militants killed, but a health minister noted at least 17 children and two women among the wounded and some among the dead as well.

A July report that summarized the views of a number of US intelligence agencies in noting the risk of civil war in Iraq and predicted three likely outcomes. Tenuous stability, political fragmentation, or civil war.

A source says the report being finalized by Charles Duelfer, CIA-appointed leader of the WMD hunt, will say that no stockpiles have been found, but evidence that Saddam intended to resurrect his weapons programs were.

Israel/Palestine

When a Palestinian girl takes a bullet while in her classroom, it makes one wonder if Palestinians not involved in the fight between militants and Israeli forces can find sanctuary.

Afghanistan

Bush pops Afghanistan, success that he’s painted it as, on the list of major drug producing nations. He notes Karzai lacks the capacity to solve the problem. Well, what he lacks are the alternate means of support for his people that would allow them to make a living without the vast poppy fields. He’s too busy with the Taliban rebels and trying to keep the country in one piece, unfortunately. Maybe you should have finished fixing Afghanistan before taking on Iraq, Bush.

Three suspected Taliban have arrested for the rocket attack on Hamid Karzai’s helicopter. The men were captured after they tried to flee by motorcycle and were chased to a house in the center of Gardez, where police found detonators and explosives.

Iran

Undersecretary of State John Bolton believes the offer of a nuclear freeze by Iran is a ploy to escape tough action by the UN. “That is so transparent I do not believe anyone will fall for it.”

Korea

A massive blast was reported previously in North Korea, one that had been thought to be too mushroom-like for comfort. It has since been widely thought to not be a nuclear blast simply because it wasn’t powerful enough to be one. Now South Korea is saying there was no explosion at all.

UK

British Defense Secretary Geoff Hoon says that Britain is prepared to send more troops to Iraq if necessary to safeguard elections.

US

The debates still haven’t been agreed to. Kerry has agreed to the suggested three presidential debates, but the Bush camp wants to limit them to two. Doesn’t fit with Bush’s confident remains on debates. Come on, Bush. Do all three. Live dangerously. I want more entertainment, it’s the least you owe me for your part in this torrid election cycle.

Florida, Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi get smacked about by Ivan, tornados spawned by the storm in northwest Florida. The death toll for the US stands at 9, bur searchers could find still more over the next few days.

Bush unveils his plans for US intelligence. In his plans the National Intelligence Director would have the authority to “develop and determine” the budget for the National Foreign Intelligence Program, doing so based on the proposals of the individual intelligence agencies and after “obtaining the advice” of the defense secretary and other members of the cabinet. Funding would also continue to flow through the Defense Department so the White House can keep the overall intelligence budget classified. While the NID would have the authority to “transfer or reprogram” funds within the National Foreign Intelligence Program, he’d first have to obtain the approval of the director of the White House Office of Management and Budget as well as consult with department heads. Sounds like a paper pusher to me.

Coats will be screened in airports now, adding to new procedures to check for explosives. I need to get my old trenchcoat cleaned so I can wear it to the airport when I fly this December. 😉

Bush and Kerry continue to spar on the same positions over Iraq. Kerry says <A HREf="http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=politicsNews&storyID=6259621″>Bush lives in a fantasy world and Bush says Kerry is too pessimistic. Personally, I’m siding with pessimism in this subject. It’s far better to plan for the worst and act accordingly than to hope for the best despite the stagnant situation.

General

A review of Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow that lauds the style, but not the content. I think I’ll see for myself this Sunday.

Kryptonite’s near indestructible locks can be opened with a simply plastic pen. Wired tested the claim and found it to be true, true, true.

Tired of carpal tunnel in using your hand-powered mouse? A nose steered mouse with eye blinks for button clicks is being toyed with.

Explainer muses the definition of an assault weapon.

Bush and Kerry and the Guard.

Today’s Papers has various tidbits from Ivan’s aftermath, musings of Iraqi body counts, more prisoner abuse tidbits and other such bric-a-brac in the one page news.

Amusements

NZ installs anti-DUI ads in bar and restaurant toilets that are activated by warm urine

If you’re going to call your cab driver an Iranian terrorist, then threaten to shoot him and suck his blood, make sure he’s really from Iran.

“Hey, let’s take our motorcyles and do wheelies without our any pants. What could go wrong?”

Fark Photoshop Challenge: SpaceShipOne gets more nitrous, thrust. Pimp it out to give it even more power

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this Italian waterfront

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop these kids in a moonbounce