News – Stormy Estimate

Middle East

The National Intelligence Estimate paints a not so good picture on Iraq. As much as people cry about how there is no coverage of the good in Iraq, there is one thing we all must face up to. If all of this bad isn’t dealt with, all of that good won’t amount to jack shit(to be perfectly and crudely blunt). Somehow, hearing that electricity in an area has increased doesn’t make me feel all warm and fuzzy when I hear hundreds are dying everyday and the violence can’t be quelled by the hundreds of thousands of US and Iraqi military/security personnel in the country. Once the serious security situation is handled, I’ll be perfectly happy to coo and aww over every sunny little tidbit anyone can dig up. Until then, you can save it for someone who cares about the little things, as oppose to what really matters in the long run.

We have to face up to the facts. Unless the US military and government figure out some way to bring a modicum of real peace to the whole of Iraq(not just the lowly populated outlying provinces), every good thing we’ve done in there won’t amount to anything. That may include taking Saddam out, since he’s not so unique and new dictators crop up every once in a while. Some might hate to face that sort of possibility or might even disagree, but I really don’t care. What I care about is seeing peace restored to places where it has been sadly lacking for far too long. Everything else is window dressing to that one true need.

Iraq’s Sunni VP wants the US to step up the pace of its surge plan to stop the violence in Iraq. Personally, I don’t think this will stop the violence, just like it didn’t the last few times it was tried.

The US military admits that four recent helicopter crashes have been caused by ground fire. So they’re adjusting tactics to compensate. Which should have been done after the first went down. One wonders if the terrorists and fighters have new toys.

Ali al-Dabbagh., a senior Iraqi official, says that half the militants attacking in Iraq are from Syria. Supposedly, the Iraqi government has provided evidence of this to the Syrian government. Why not show it to us as well to back up your claim? I’d like to actually see

Independent Jewish Voices, a group of British Jews, is declaring independence from Britain’s Jewish community, charging that it puts support for Israel above the human rights of Palestinians. They want freer debate about the Middle East in the Jewish community. Nice to know there are some independent voices out there. Seems there’s a division forming in the worldwide Jewish community.

To me, the issue is pretty simple to understand, if not to fix. The more Israel does whatever the hell it wants with no regard for anything but its own self interest, the more the world in general will respond negatively toward it. And some, by connection, will respond negatively to Jews in general. An unfortunate side effect that many people have felt throughout history. Quashing any dissenting voice is not the way to deal with it, as such attempts are always met with defiance. History teaches this to us as well. By both of these things, Israel is paving itself a hard, potentially fatal path. The people of Israel don’t deserve it, but they are the ones with the power to provide a change to something better.

The US fails to solve the situation in Gaza with a meeting. Wow.. who’d of thought a meeting would be so.. ineffective, eh? Not to mention, the meeting was solely focused on bolstering Abbas while diminishing Hamas. Heck, who’d of thought Hamas might take offense at that, thereby making the real situation on the ground worse.

Africa

Dr James Chin, former head of the WHO’s Global Programme on Aids unit from 1987-1992, says that HIV/Aids campaigners are spreading misconceptions about who is at risk for the disease

The violence in Mogadishu is getting worse. They need a stabilizing force to quell this before it gets too far. That’s one of the lessons of Iraq. Nip it quick before it gets too big, to entrenched.

Asia/Pacific

Pfizer loses it’s court battle to use Wei ge(translated as Mighty Brother) as a name for Viagra while marketing in China.

Europe

UK charities, faith groups and unions unite to tell Tony Blair that a strike on Iran would be a disaster. The simple fact is that the US has too much invested in Iraq to give Iran a go at the moment. Bush won’t be in power long enough now to do anything about Iran and who can say what the next president will have in mind.

UK experts are looking for the source of a Bird Flu outbreak that forced the culling of thousands of Turkeys.

Americas

Bush pushes for restraint in domestic spending to try and reduce the deficit, but not one glance toward the fat, bloated military budget or the constant supplemental for the war. Because those in particular are object models of fiscal perfection, eh? I’m sure if I had a look at the military’s budget, I could find all sorts of crap that can be culled without effecting current efficiency of the military.

The YouTube gotcha game! Internet video is a serious tool in elections now. And often a double edged sword that will cut you if you’re not too careful with what you say and do.

Bush says he welcomes debate on Iraq. I think he’s lying. He might allow it, but I don’t think he welcomes it.

Has the US’s excessive use of renditions weakened the use of this admittedly valuable tool for the future?

General

Divers can reduce the effects on their circulation by taking some Vitamin C and E before they dive. Whether or not it has serious impact on reducing diving related illnesses remains to be seen.

Terror attacks cause stress amongst the populace. Yup. Personally, I’ve never been stressed since the day itself, but I’m not one to show strong emotion under most circumstances.

Apple tells Windows users to wait a bit before upgrading to Vista, iTunes is not yet compatible. They plan to have it ready ‘in the next few weeks’.

Explainer lets you know howto tell if a Super Bowl party is illegal.

The Blogs look at National Intelligence Estimate, the passing of Molly Ivins and the coming of the final Harry Potter book.

Amusements

Mark Fiore: Dick Cheney and his Fireside Chats

Chuck Norris traveled back in time to ask the Founding Fathers what they looked for in a President, and he used this information to endorse Newt Gingrich. Wait, whaat?

Putin’s official plane has silk-lined walls, gold-plated toilets and marble floors (pic)

Teacher gets suspended after putting tape over the mouth of a fourth-grade student who wouldn’t quit talking

The Orlando park service would like to remind you: Please do not feed the homeless

Helicopter parents now able to look up children’s driving records online. So stay in the basement where it’s safe

Today’s “would-be robber foiled by a patch of ice” is brought to you by Pleasant Hill, Iowa

Yokohama to deal with graffiti problem by allowing it, and renaming it “art.” Brilliant

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop Bill explaining something

Fark Photoshop Challenge: A Fark tradition: Photoshop the new Miss America

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Bush said yesterday that Iraqi forces “are beginning to show me something.” Photoshop what they are showing him