News – Bush Speaks, but Does He Say Anything?

US

Bush made his pitch to the people last night. As expected, no they don’t know who is going to run Iraq yet, even though it’s a month and a half before someone will be getting at least temporary control. Very little of what he said was new. He had loads of rambling rhetoric and emotional imagery, but little in the way of hard facts or thoughtful plan. Thus the American people are handed another placebo. He doesn’t plan on losing his job, but I’m sure many have said the same thing as their famous last words. He seems to think he’s done things flawlessly, but doubts prior actions by some accounting. The faint showing of humility only makes his other responses seem even more false to me. I don’t think the man really grasps the concept of true credibility.

For all of Bush’s talk on tax cuts, what about the Alternative Minimum Tax? Considering how many that it is set to hit, as it isn’t indexed to inflation, lots of people could be looking at paying higher taxes soon.

Next up before the 9/11 Commission, the chiefs of the chefs of the FBI and CIA. They’d better toughen up, looks like they went soft on Ashcroft. Perhaps the bitching about their partisanship has them pulling punches. Just when we don’t need these people to be worrying about something so trivial.

Tax season gives us a look at administration and Kerry financial stats. Cheney made a boatload of cash this year.

Agents other than Kerry are unloading the nasty attack ads to match Bush’s level of truthful flexibility.

Ford is recalling 363.440 Escapes to correct an engine stall issue.

Some guy has come forward saying Michael Jackson molested him on the 80s.

A man in Washington state was arrested for making ricin.

With gas prices rising, seems Diesel cars might be making a comeback.

Legislation is being drafted in California to block release of Goggle’s Gmail over privacy concerns.

Explainer details the ‘sole surviving son or daughter’ rule in the Army.

Musing how Kerry’s views on war are distorted. There’s quite enough on Kerry to have a field day without making stuff up. But I suppose some are never really satisfied with the raw materials given to them.

Iraq

Seems Moqtada al-Sadr is offering peace terms. As usual, there are minimal early details, but one might wonder how much each side might give and ask for in terms of an end to hostilities.

Meanwhile the ceasefire in Falluja seems to be falling off the edge. Both sides are skirmishing again, with further casualties shared between them.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo of the Philippines is considering a withdrawal of troops if the security situation doesn’t improve. I think it pretty much is clear that most of the small allies that inserted troops did so thinking there would be relatively minor danger of life being lost. If they were, there wouldn’t be this potential for them to pull out.

The Japanese government goes mum on the status of the Japanese hostages in Iraq. I don’t think anyone really knows what has yet become of them. Though Junichiro Koizumi maintains he won’t give in to any terrorist demands.

Al-Jazeera claims the US military is pressuring them to show a one sided picture and most western journalists are limiting their range to Baghdad with the spate of kidnappings and violence as of late.

8,000 items are still believed to be missing form the Baghdad Museum after the looting last year.

Various papers muse on how to react to the kidnappings in Iraq

Few seem to look to our past follies for wisdom in the present. They should, rather than trusting to platitudes to persuade a people whoa re largely suspicious of us in general. Instead we continue to assert we know what the Iraqis want.

Israel/Palestine

By the look of things, Sharon will spin any tacit approval given by the US into something he can use. Personally, I think this supposed pull out plan looks shady. Pulling out of some places, but strengthening other settlements? Wasn’t part of the roadmap eventual pull out of all Israeli settlements? If so, why grow them? If Sharon ends up summarily annexing disputed land, with show of US approval, things could get even hotter for us in the region.

General

The Onion is mistakenly taken seriously. My, I’m sure they’re embarrassed now. 😉

Today’s Papers has word on more casualties, 9/11 Commission tidbits, Bush’s speech and more in the one page news.

Amusements

<A HREF="http://www.ericblumrich.com/gta.html”>Grand Theft America – This one isn’t so amusing as educational. Deals with the Florida election, but could have implications for the upcoming 2004 election.

Chinese man pays equivalent of 1.1 million for a lucky phone number.

Dozens of beachgoers ignore croc danger.

Dead man returns to village after 22 years. “Murderer” wants justice

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this Army field-hospital switchboard

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Theme: Non-sports uses for sports equipment