News – Facing a Professional

Middle East

Now we have an insurgent sniper, nicknamed Juba by US forces, who is taking out US troops in Southern Baghdad. There is, as of yet, no intelligence on who this person is or even how many coalition deaths are due to his attacks. One comment paints him(or perhaps her, you neer know) as a professional, which spells bad things for US troop morale if they can’t track down and end this person’s attacks.

Israel goes on alert after a Jewish militant kills four Israeli Arabs. Details say this militant was an orthodox Israeli soldier, who was subsequently beaten to death by an angry crowd.

Iraqi transportation minister Salam al Maliki has issued an order banning alcohol at Baghdad International Airport. This is likely to fuel the concern among some secular and non-Muslim Iraqis about the creeping Islamisation of the country under the Shia-dominated government.

Kurdish rebels kill five Turkish soldiers in Semdinli, which is near the borders with Iraq and Iran.

Iran is deploying mass numbers of troops to cities in the northwestern region which borders Iraq in an effort to quell three weeks of civil unrest that has left up to 20 people dead and more than 300 wounded according to dissident groups. The intent, they said, is to crack down on pro-Kurdish demonstrations.

Guerrilla graffiti artist Banksy is adding his mark on Israel’s security barrier, playing a dangerous game to make a little artwork on, likely, the biggest canvas of it’s kind.

Europe

Blair puts forth a proposal to extend the British government’s powers to deport or exclude foreigners who promote terrorism.

Asia

Hong Kong journalist Ching Cheong is formally arrested in China on charges of spying for Taiwan.

800 Chinese police clash with armed villagers as they raid four villages in Hezhou in Guangxi province. This after residents defied a crackdown on illegal mining and went on a rampage, a local paper and officials said.

North America

Two former AIPAC(American Israel Public Affairs Committee) members are charged with conspiring with a Pentagon analyst to obtain and disclose classified national defense information.

Republican Sen. Rick Santorum doesn’t back Intelligent Design being taught in science classes, saying it lacks scientific credibility. For once, I agree with Santorum.

There are concerns about the civil liberties board that Congress ordered last year. It has never met to discuss its job of protecting rights in the fight against terrorism, and critics say it is a toothless, underfunded shell with inadequate support from President Bush. I can’t say I’m surprised.

Now comes the test for the bag searches in New York, with the New York Civil Liberties Union suing the police commissioner and state, saying they violate U.S. constitutional rights of privacy

General

How to identify the song of an extinct bird.

Bloggers mourn freelance journalist Steven Vincent, discuss John Roberts’ pro bono work on a gay rights case and question President Bush’s assertion that Intelligent Design should be taught in science classes.

Today’s Papers has hint of another attack in Britain, the administration is trying to transfer nearly 70 percent of Gitmo detainees back to prisons in their home countries, a video of al-Qaida pooh-bah Ayman Zawahiri and more in the one page news.

Amusements

Taxachusetts airport bureaucrats try to pull the plug on Continental’s free WiFi, say it’s a threat to security, unlike the airport’s own $7.95/day WiFi

“Hi, welcome to Buckley Air Force Base, can I help you?” “I have a bomb in my van”

Golfing deputy gets upset with slow play of foursome in front of him, thinks whipping out his gun and shouting “I will kill you!” will help move things along. Jailarity ensues (Down the page slightly)

Two Jackson jurors now say Michael was guilty after all; too late for the trial, but just in time for their book deals

Male nurse with incredibly thin skin files sexual-harassment suit after females nurses tell him that men are jerks and idiots

European Union cracking down on barmaids who show too much boobie. Officials claim they run the risk of skin cancer when they go outside to collect used beer glasses

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Theme: Timely interjections

Fark Photoshop Challenge: You don’t tug on Superman’s cape. You don’t spit into the wind. You don’t pull the mask off the old Lone Ranger. Photoshop other things you just don’t do

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Theme: It seemed like a good idea at the time</A