News – Breaking the Silence
Middle East
Israeli military prosecutors pursue investigations after Israeli soldiers say they carried out illegal shoot-to-kill orders against unarmed Palestinians. Amounting to seventeen investigations based off the testimony of dozens of soldiers. Serious allegations that would confirm a lot that has been said about the Israeli military.
Israeli Education Minister Limor Livnat states that Israel should put up more settlements in the West Bank despite US concerns “I’ll say this clearly: We are a sovereign nation. The great United States is our friend, but there are times when we have to say, even to the United States, that we will act in accordance with our interests,” he says. Good enough. If they continue to do other than we would like them to, we should withdraw a significant portion of our support for them. Sadly, our politicians are too weak to act in a manner that truly shows displeasure at Israel’s lack of consideration for our concerns. And like a child with no boundaries, Israel’s government will continue to push the limits.
Homes are razed in Palestine over an affair between a Christian man and Muslim woman. The sort of extreme reaction to such matters that must be cooled and controlled to adhere to more civilized standards.
Kofi Annan expresses regrets that the UN ever dealt with the Food-for-Oil program. I can’t say I blame him, it’s been quite a problem. Sad that it is so.
But it isn’t all bad. Here we have a sterling example, a Sunni teenager who sacrificed himself to save Shiites during the bridge stampede days ago.
North America
Rehnquist has died. Bush decides to shift Roberts from simple justice, to his pick for chief justice. I’m sure a few of the senior republicans on the court are smarting at this new guy being promoted. And as such, Democrats want deeper scrutiny of Roberts to match his new post.
The Bush administration is generally getting knocked for the slowness of the reaction to Katrina’s destructive aftermath. On his second visit to Louisiana, Bush lets the survivors know that he acknowledges the initial effort was unacceptable, but that he understands now. Well, good.
The EU is sending aid, though it has hit some snags in getting it over. NATO will be lending a hand as well. Bush Sr. and Clinton are back on the road again, collecting funds together.
The contrast in who has remained and who has escaped the storm’s fury continues to fuel accusations of race bias, which is roundly denied. As someone else noted, I think the only bias is on the color green with that, though the media has shown a bias in it’s prior mistake as noting a black person looting while some white people were finding things. Was that ever a boneheaded maneuver.
Many New Orleans residents who live on the spots of dry land are refusing official order that they be evacuated as well. I can understand that, can’t protect your home when you’re not at it, but it’s dangerous with the nasty water and all.
On the good news front, the major breaks that flooded the city have been closed and the draining has begun.
A Louisiana National Guard unit will be drawn from Iraq to be sent to help with Katrina.
A dispatch from one of the survivors.
In my opinion, many factors, including federal befuddlement, local lack of preparation and the reduction in funds to deal with natural disasters contributed to the sluggish response. There were people who saw this coming. That they didn’t recognize it or fooled themselves thinking it wouldn’t be so bad is the problem that needs to be corrected. Things would have been better had someone been preparing, lining up aid and manpower outside the ring of danger, ready to rush in the moment the all clear was given. It would also help if we had some clear cut disaster plans to implement without the need of government red tape, such that funds and manpower for them would simply be set aside and ready to go.
As well, I don’t think we should look to resettle the area flooded after it has been drained. Initial rebuilding and resettlement should happen in areas that were outside the realm of flooding. It was tempting fate to build a grand city in that little bowl. Without a clear, impregnable means of keeping back water in serious storms, it is only a matter of time before the same happens again. Leave that little scrap of land to nature and settle elsewhere. We need to learn some common sense from the poorer nations. Then again, we often disregard the lessons of the past.
The press is starting to get more aggressive, though, in crushing through the bland platitudes of interviewed public officials on the disaster area. Nice to see some spine growing for them in terms of getting rough with public officials.
General
A new medical test <A HREF="http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=domesticNews&storyID=2005-09-06T022823Z_01_SPI608804_RTRIDST_0_USREPORT-CANCER-SPREAD-DC.XML”>can predict if breast cancer has spread or is likely to recur.
Hydrological engineers are looking for a better way to keep water back, the Levee system one that provides little room for error.
An extension for FireFox called Greasemonkey, which lets you modify the display of a website to suit your tastes.
Blizzard wins a case, ruling that computer programmers don’t have the right to reverse engineer their games to improve their playability.
Explainer details martial law, what happens with those whose houses are destroyed, and how hurricane damage is estimated.
Today’s Papers has kids across the country raising thousands from lemonade selling for the hurricane survivors(cute and with a good cause, who could refuse?), a large temporary mortuary setting up in St. Gabriel to identify the many bodies, heavy criticism for FEMA director Michael Brown and more in the one page news.
Mark Fiore: Pauly the Appointee
Police arrest domestic disturbance suspect after he emerged from the garage wearing a gas mask, removed his shirt, and whipped out a 12-inch sword from his pants
Police believe that the driver involved in a minor crash may have been distracted by something. Specifically, by the nearly-naked drunk woman in his car
Grandmothers decide that they will end the fashion of hoodie swearshirts and baseball caps by wearing it themselves, making it uncool by default
Woman’s missing gargoyle reappears with $20 and pictures of him on vacation around the country
Jesus walks into a hotel with a box of nails and says “Can you put me up for the night?” The 10 most offensive religious jokes ever. Bonus: The 10 funniest. Revrunt Pat wants you on his hit list.
Mexican dwarf bullfighters use traditional techniques along with the aid of ‘squeezy plastic hammers’ to delight the public, supplement earnings from chocolate factory.
Train engineer participates in ‘take your daughters to work day’ and lets them drive the train. What could possibly go wrong?
Something Awful forced to refund the $27,695.41 raised for Red Cross. No word on why Paypal hates America
Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this dog taking an awesome plunge
Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this scientific demonstration
Fark Photoshop Challenge: Theme: Combine any childrens movie with any horror movie