News – Rummy Writes up Trouble

Americas

Here comes the latest bombshell classified memo. One penned by Rummy himself, so it is said, days before he got his pink slip. In said memo, he opines on the need for major changes in how we deal with Iraq. His thoughts included troop redeployments, base closures, modest withdrawals of US troops, focusing reconstruction in less violent areas, gifting key political leaders to ensure their loyalty(bribes?) and so on.

Personally, I the “not rewarding bad behavior” suggestion(shifting reconstruction focus) is a bad idea. The bad behavior isn’t coming from the majority. Punishing with lack of reconstruction is going to effect the majority more than the fighters, thus it targets the wrong people.

You shouldn’t just worry about Democrats when it comes to messing with free trade. Republicans have been mucking with it themselves.

Middle East

Israel’s leadership as ordered troops to avoid “unnecessary friction” in the West Bank to help the current ceasefire remain intact. Best thing they can do to lower friction is to kill fewer innocents and destroy less personal property. That would go a long way.

However, I do have to give the benefit of the doubt for now. It’s good to see Israel making an real effort to cull the violence. I hope it works and I hope it lasts in good faith.

Qatar is going to pay the wages of some 40k Palestinian education workers for several months, totaling over $22 million per month. They might also pay for workers in the health sector. This will help. It alleviates suffering on those who are trying to work and may calm some of the disorder over unpaid wages.

Stuart Bowen, who has been in charge of Iraq’s reconstruction since 2004, says that Iraq is facing a second insurgency. One represented by the wholesale smuggling of the nation’s oil and other forms of corruption.

Africa

Rwandan President Paul Kagame accuses France of bullying when a French court issues arrest warrants for his top aides. Kagame thinks that France should investigate its own role in the killing of some 800k people. Ren says investigate them all. Usually turns out that everyone has a finger in the cookie jar.

A good sign, Ethiopian Deputy Foreign Minister Tekeda Alemu and representatives from Somalia’s Union of Islamic Courts meet up to have direct talks. Perhaps they can avoid a war and the unneeded suffering that comes with it.

South Africa announces a 5 year plan to combat AIDS, promising to cut infection rates by half.

Asia/Pacific

Fiji’s military has set up roadblocks around the country’s capital of Suva and is collecting police weapons. Looks like a coup is coming down the line soon.

Effective January, for the 2008 Olympics in China, rules on reporters will be relaxed. They’ll be able to travel with fewer restrictions and will expire with the end of the Olympics.

Europe

Britain’s security is shown to be lacking when a BBC journalist manages to enter the UK twice with fake and stolen passports.

Italians gather in pass protest against a series of tax increases and spending cuts. The center-right opposition calls them an attack against the middle class. The center-left government says they’re needed to reduce Italy’s public deficit.

General

Questioning young people in cities across the word, one finds that two thirds thing people should live in whatever country they choose. Of course, the details are more complex than that simple figure. Have a look.

Researchers say that women who are underweight(BMI less than 18.5) are 72% more likely to miscarry in the first three months of pregnancy. So look to he healthy, but don’t push yourself to be a stick. Also, eating fruits, vegetables and chocolate daily helps reduce the chance of miscarriage.

It seems that people with psychopathic disorders have their brains wired a bit differently. Areas of the brain devoted to assessing the emotion of facial expressions show less activity for them. Most notably when it comes to fearful expressions and emotions. According to research, they just don’t process them very well, which some opine is why they can commit heinous acts without remorse. Very intriguing. Perhaps helping this area of the brain process better might cure these damaged people.

People with pacemakers should be careful around fridge magnets. They can mess with the device, so don’t get too close to them(or any other neodymium magnet).

Microsoft’s Zune battles it’s way to superiority.. over Apple’s iPod charger. Yeah, I know, too early to tell what will happen with Zune, but I found the article amusing. 😉

The legal danger of office holiday parties.

Explainer talks about changes in the nation’s citizenship quiz.

The blogs look at the Hezbollah-backed protest that surrounded government offices in Beirut Friday, recent developments in the KGB-spy poisoning case and if Hannibal Lecter or Mel Gibson directed Apocalypto. Commenting on Apocalypto, Ren wonders what’s up with Mel. He’s been doing some pretty visceral movies. Maybe he should get into the horror genre.

Today’s Papers has Democratic Sen. Evan Bayh of Indiana forming an exploratory committee(another possible prez contender), considering Robert Gates as defense secretary, top Iraqi officials, including President Jalal Talabani, against an international conference to solve the country’s problems and more in the one page news.

Amusements

Mark Fiore: Alliance of Wimpiness

Songs banned by the BBC — for whatever reason

X-rated ‘pornaments’ are raising a few eyebrows in everybody’s favorite state

Michigan House kicks men in the balls again, passes bill making it illegal to break up with a pregnant woman

<A HREF="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2003459108_merit03.html”>In retrospect, mortgage company’s practice of providing kegs of beer at business meetings may have contributed to its loan officers playing fast and loose with the rules

Emergency call center worker, who was fired after using the police computers to check out potential girlfriends, plans to fight his dismissal with the “everybody does it” defense

Germans upset about Nazi-era law still on books that authorizes chimney sweeps do regular chimney checkups – by force if necessary

Reverse Asteroids: Steer your giant asteroid around smashing all the triangular ships shooting at you

Dad stunned when talking bear he bought for Christmas present shouts “PRICK” when removed from box

If you’re going to snatch a woman’s purse, don’t do it in front of the White House, and definitely don’t target a police chief’s wife

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this hungry polar bear and his snack

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this sneaky guy

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop theme: 2006 Macy’s Parade balloons that should have been, but weren’t. LGT possible blank