News – A Blank Check for Sharon?

Israel/Palestine

Sharon has a letter of endorsement from Bush to pull out of Gaza while retaining control of much of the West Bank. So long roadmap. Bush said it was unrealistic to expect a full Israeli withdrawal from lands occupied during the 1967 war or the right of return for Palestinian refugees. I suppose Sharon can draw his own borders now. By the time anyone raises a successful objection, Israel will be too entrenched to move out, likely.

Israel raids again. Twenty reported wounded, including seven gunmen. Of course, one must wonder how many of these people are normal folk as well who are just pissed at the periodic entry of military vehicles and the eventual loss of property and lives that follows in their wake.

Full text on Blair’s statement on Sharon’s plans.

Iraq

Appears the kidnappers in Iraq have made good on their first public killing of a hostage. Al Jazeera received a tape of an Italian security guard’s killing. Silvio Berlusconi, Prime Minister of Italy, has maintained his solidarity with the US despite this.

A tape, purported to be from Osama, has offered European nations a truce if they get out of Iraq, but has offered no such quarter to the US or Israel. Britain has ruled out any such deal.

An Iranian diplomat was slain close to the Iranian mission in Baghdad. There is alszo note, alongside this, that the three held Japanese civilians were freed. They were said to be free as “the guests of Muslim scholars”, whatever that means.

Bush and Kerry are looking to the UN now, but the UN is playing it cautious. All things considered, I’m not surprised. I doubt the UN will be on board for a June 30th date if they don’t think its feasible.

20k troops in Iraq will be getting extended tours of duty. Sorry guys, looks like the one year promise won’t be fulfilled.

The exodus of over 800 Russians will begin today. A significant loss of personnel for rebuilding the country.

The US will be setting senior officers from Iraq’s former army(under Saddam) into place in the new Iraqi security forces. A good idea? Only if they’ve debriefed these fellows and believe them to be trustworthy. Some Iraqis might get leery of having members of Saddam’s government back in charge of anything.

Lakhdar Brahimi, the UN’s man in Iraq currently, made a surprise attack on the handling of the occupation. He condemned the detention of prisoners without trial or charge and offering a withering analysis of America’s governance of the country.

Pakistan

Pakistani forces are sent for a fresh push into the tribal regions near the Afghanistan border. Tribal elders make last ditch efforts to avoid bloodshed, but as many can attest to, avoiding bloodshed is neigh on impossible in recent years. Hopefully they’ll be able to pull it off.

US

The White House clears up an error in Bush’s speech, largely having to do with Mustard Gas found in Libya. Of course, this is yet another reason to wonder if this man is in the know with the things going on in his own government.

Charges against Cpt. James Yee, a Muslim army chaplain, have been dropped. Charges of espionage against him were dropped last September, citing national security would be compromised by releasing evidence against him. Non-criminal charges of adultery and storing porn on a government computer were the most recent charges dropped. His record will remain clean.

Martha Stewart’s lawyers, seeking to get a new trial for their client, have brought forth evidence that a juror, Chappell Hartridge, made false statements.

California’s highest court is asking for suggestions on just what to do about those same sex couples if it finds their marriages to be null and void.

Two senators ask the TSA why they said they had not gathered airline passenger data, now that airlines have said to the contrary. Why did the TSA lie about this?

The economy is looking alright. Hopefully the momentum will hold.

What do you think of a chip in a gun owners arm and the gun they won making the gun inoperable by anyone save the owner? Personally, I can think of ways that such a safety system could be twisted. If it is done, it had better be extremely secure.

There is some sentiment that Jamie Gorelick should resign from the 9/11 Commission. Largely due to her previous positions with the Clinton Administration and other such conflicts of interest. As of yet, she has said she will not resign.

Often seems Bush is one uninformed president. At least, compared to his predecessors. He has his PDB’s read to him? I surely hope this is untrue.

Of course, not even a PDB can help if the prez is on vacation and his national security people don’t talk to him for a month.

General

Google is musing changes to their Gmail service. All considered, that’s likely a good idea.

Today’s Papers has the EPA shelving regs to make it harder for kids to scarf rat poison, the ambush of a marine convoy in Falluja, signals that Sadr wants to settle and more in the one page news.

Amusements

Woman in Kentucky jail crawls through ductwork to meet with male inmate, later ends up pregnant. They insist they didn’t have sex

Fifty-three tickets, four DUIs, 102 license suspensions. Meet the Henry Earl of driving

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop Barry Bonds using the force

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop karma coming back to bite someone in the arse.

Mark Fiore: The Buck Stops Where?

TooStupidToBePresident.com: The Emperor’s Apprentice</A