News – He Who Defends the Indefensable (1/2)

Iraq

Jacques Verges, a French lawyer noted for heading the defense of unpopular figures, was asked to be Saddam’s defense lawyer and accepted. Verges, hwoever, voiced concern that Saddam would ever get a trial. Personally, I think it takes a lot of guts to constnatly take on the side of those who are reviled by the world. It can’t win him any friends.

Jordan is to return over 700 stolen antiquities liberated from smugglers.

British soldiers clash with supporters of a hardliner Islamist group leaving three soldiers and four protestors injured. The trouble started when the soldiers tried to move members of the Shia ‘Revenge of God’ party out of an office building they were occupying illegally.

Silvio Berlusconi is now under pressure on Iraq troops. I don’t like to suggest it, but I’d think it prudent for Italy to pay close attention to their security.

Could international debt and reparations be just as dangerous to Iraq’s recovery as security concerns? I thought they were doing well at reducing the amount owed, but I suppose not.

The evidence of Saddam’s atrocities I collected was enough to vindicate invasion, but it wasn’t taken seriously

Israel/Palestine

Sharon is under pressure from ministers in his government to delay his trip to the US until it’s decided if he will face trial for corruption. Afterward, it is said he’ll be putting the Gaza pullout plan to a party vote amongst the 200k members of his Likud party.

Secret recordings were part of what finally convinced prosecutors to charge Sharon. Two comments in a recorded conversation in particular, noted in the article.

After two years of debate, Israel’s supreme court is set to decide if targeted assassinations are part of Israel’s right to defend itself against enemies or a war crime. The repercussions of this decision could be serious either way.

Pakistan

A government official says that alQueda militants killed to Pakistani hostages. They were found among the fourteen kidnapped government men found in a ditch Monday.

Uzbekistan

Uzbek special forces raided a terrorist hideout in Tashkent after a Monday suicide blast killed 19 people. Islamic terrorist groups are blamed for the Monday blast while one group claimed the government orchestrated it to give reason for cracking down on legitimate political opposition. The state has, however, drawn criticism for its tough tactics against Islamic opposition, including accusations of torture.

Police seize explosives and suspects in London and southeast England. Sources say there were enough explosives to launch an attack similar to the 1996 bombing near Canary Wharf.

Bush hits Kerry. Kerry hits Bush. Cheney and Kerry rumble over taxes.

Massachusetts lawmakers have brought a temporary end to the furor over gay marriage, banning it, but allowing for civil unions. The amendment will be voted for again in 2005 and then put to public vote in 2006 to see if it will be a permanent addition to the country’s oldest constitution.

Seems the pressure over Condi’s testimony is weaking the White House’s resolve. They’re considering releasing transcripts of her prior testimony before the 9/11 council.

Looking back and Richard Clarke’s prior thoughts on Iraq and alQueda. What weight to these past thoughts hold on his present criticism?

California has its first power emergency of 2004. And summer isn’t even set in yet.

Gas prices reach a record high. It would behoove us to seek alternatives to driving when possible. Walking, public transport and the like.

The Grand Jury hearing in the Michael Jackson case is cloaked in secrecy.

The ban on ‘partial birth’ abortion is being fought in three courts. They say the ban is far too vague in language and is unconstitutional, as it offers no exception that would allow the procedure to protect a woman’s health.

Outsourcing to India is starting to drive up prices over there. Will India be a viable long-term base for US companies to get low cost labor? I suppose that it is inevitable that, if more people get better paying(by their standards) jobs, it will eventually lead to more pay being asked for. Perhaps soon the jobs will shift back toward the US.

An interesting musing on the Unborn Victims of Violence Act and its relation to abortion.

A theory on why Wolfowitz was wrong about Iraq.