News – Bad US PR in the Cards. Many Reasons

Enough of the silly tricks, lets get back to the straight stuff and see just what’s been going down. More info for the people, all you’ve gotta do is read it.

Firefights just 70 miles south of Baghdad and continued bombing campaigns on the city, purported to have been aimed at Republican Guard defenses as well as other targets. There are reports of a possible alQueda terrorist camp found in Iraq. But looking at the article, you’d think US officials were assuming it was. Even assuming the ricin found in the UK came from there. I only have one thing to say. Send in the International inspectors and show me the proof.

Attacks in Afganistan are said, by Peacekeepers there, to have no link to Iraq. Which is easy to believe, as it has already been put forth that US actions would evoke a response from terrorist groups. Mubarak, president of Egypt has said such as well. Though I think he’s being a little sensationalist. We’re more likely to have thousands of extra bombers, not bin Ladens. More foot soldiers that could possibly become leaders and planners.

Seems China is trying to reign in North Korea. They cut off oil supplies to them briefly. Likely as a shock to the system. I don’t know about you, but if Russia, China and South Korea manage to get North Korea called without US intervention, that could do further damage to US political clout in light of all that’s happened. It shows that, despite US arrogance in the political arena, other nations can handle their problems without us. Personally, I can’t but hope they show us up in this case. The Administration needs a slap.

Richard Perle thinks the Iraq War will be over ‘quickly’. Faster than the Gulf War. Personally, I think conflict in Iraq will continue for some time. It just depends when you think the state of warfare will end. Personally, I’m thinking Iraq will become like Afghanistan, where even a year later there are still pockets of underground resistance. Let’s wait and see if I turn out right again, though I hope I’m wrong.

Worried about the strange virus that’s been being a pain as of late? Wash your hands regularly, health officials advise. When it comes to a virus, transfer from person to person can be limited with regular hand washing as explained in this article.

Real Hackers condemn the constant harrying that Al Jazeera’s website has gotten. Truth be told, it is against the law, but I know that the US won’t make a big deal out of this vicious threat to cyber-security, as it is effecting the enemy, so its ok. Nice to know American morals can be so one sided. ‘But they show propaganda and (insert many more reasons)‘. Irrelevant. A crime is a crime, no matter who is the victim.

The economist discusses possible effects of war on the environment of the battleground. This little flash goodie gives a light overview of the current aid operations in Iraq. A fragment of good news, Halliburton has not made the shortlist of two companies that will be doing the rebuilding of Iraq. However, the companies are only US and British companies had not even been invited to bid, despite British troops in the field and Tony Blair’s oftentimes self destructive loyalty. Ain’t that a kick in the face?

There has been a recent raid in Shatra looking for the Iraqi General Ali Hassan al-Majid, nicknamed ‘Chemical Ali’. No report on success or failure.

An American A10 ‘Tankbuster’ went out of its proscribed area and attacked a pair of British armored recon vehicles. They took two passes, even though a smoke signal colored to indicate friendlies was sent up. They would have made a third if they hadn’t been called off. Three Britons were killed and two Iraqis nearby, waving white flags, were slain. And afterward, instead of providing cover to the disabled vehicles, they ‘baled out’. In other words, left. Considering all of the vehicles were clearly marked, the US needs to do the right thing and bring these two men up on charges. There cannot be any wishy washy slaps on the hand. Too many times US solders are allowed, by the US administration, to get away with being stupid. Now is not the time to let these two slip through.

If you want a little visual representation of the war and tools in the Iraq conflict, the Guardian has some good interactive flash guides. This link will take you to the base off which all of them can be accessed.

We also have a distillation of the papers for Sunday and for Today. Today’s distillation brings up a good point. We have a mess of pause and non-pause statements by officials here and there. But one question is, will the attack on Baghdad be delayed until the 4th Infantry division is equipped and ready? That likely to take weeks.

The post’s note about the rounding up of ‘irregulars’, including a hint that the Pentagon is pondering sending some to Guatanimo Bay brings forward the US’ purported Geneva Convention violations by holding those men already there for such extended periods. What will be the designation of people taken from Iraq to camp X-Ray? Are they POWs or are they ‘unlawful combatants’ who have no rights? Guilty until proven innocent? This won’t help US image at all.

Saddam is playing us, even as we’re bombing him.