News – Attacks are a Good Sign

Or so Bush believes.

Personally, I think he’s full of it.

Iraq

A fresh bombing kills four more. Aid agencies are unsure if they will stick it out or start leaving the country.

Most Arab media blames the latest rash of bombings on the US and a lack of security. That’s kind of obvious, though at this point only extreme precautions could hope to stem the tide. Besides, Bush says that the bombings are proof that things are getting better in Iraq. Those icky rebels are getting desperate, that’s it.. yeah.

An interesting commentary on the auctioning off of Iraq’s economy. Could our actions today be sewing the seeds of resentment for future terror?

Israel/Palestine

Arafat asks his PM, Ahmed Qureia, to form a government by next week. One can hope this move will finally get some stability and relevance to the Palestinian Authority. In part to stop Israel from busting in whenever they want to shoot the place up.

Lebanese Hizbullah guerrillas traded fire with Israeli forces in a disputed area.

Afghanistan

An air raid is said to have killed 22 Taliban/alQueda members. There are also unconfirmed rumors that two US solders were killed.

Saudi Arabia

US sources say there is credible evidence of possible attacks on American targets in Saudi Arabia in the near future. Saudi officials downplayed the warning as an exaggerated precaution.

US

The US Senate has decided to curb aid to Malaysia over the comments of Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, who is three days from stepping down. Seems a bit of an empty gesture, considering he’s on his way out. People who are on their way out tend to say outrageous things.

Spending $32 million to promote the new twenty dollar bill? Yes indeed. I’ve seen on eof the commercials and it’s perfectly fine, though I don’t see why they would need anything more than that one commercials. Says here they have two and a bunch of other crap planned. Seems a bit overkill to me when the bill isn’t that massively changed. I’ve got a few of them and they’re pretty much just money.

Slate’s Fray rumbles over the leaked Rumsfeld memo. Interesting thoughts all around.

Dean has started up with critical ads, but are they truly ‘attack’ ads? They don’t seem like it. They don’t name anyone, more giving Dean’s take on his policies rather than directly defaming his opponents. I’d call them more a call for bragging rights than anything else.

General

Disposable DVDs have been on the shelves for almost a month. They aren’t selling in droves. Personally, I think that’s a good thing. 😉

Bushism: “The ambassador and the general were briefing me on the—the vast majority of Iraqis want to live in a peaceful, free world. And we will find these people and we will bring them to justice.”—Washington, D.C., Oct. 27, 2003 – Normally I don’t post many of these at all, but this one just cracked me up. 😉

International Papers looks at how the death of a French Journalist at the hands of local police has given highlight to a rift between government supporters and rebel groups.

Day to Day: Negative Press in Iraq

Today’s Papers has Russian stocks tumbling after the country’s wealthiest man is arrested for tax evasion and a lot on recent events in Iraq.

Amusements

The Most Amazing Story Ever Told 2

That it requires a sign is disturbing

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