News – Increased Vigilance. Still Blind

That sums it all up I think. Have a look.

We have yet another ‘increase in vigilance’ with the rise of the color coded threat level to High again. Not based on any specific threat against the US, but because of the recent bombings and other miscellaneous chatter. Of course, now there are dirty bomb fears after US blunders allowed Iraqi nuke sites to be looted. The Pentagon has formally dropped its objections to UN weapons inspectors now(that it is too late) but any inclusion of them awaits the US’ self serving resolutions to be passed.

Ooo.. this is good. It is possible that bribes played a large part in the Iraq war effort. If this is true, then it would throw much into doubt. Most obviously, the real effectiveness of Rummy’s lighter, quicker ideas for the army. If anyone sees anything more about this, note me links to some info.

Bremer has said the national conference to pick new Iraqi leaders would likely be postponed until July, a month later than said before, but hasn’t committed to that date either. He’s also admitted, more or less, to the lawlessness and looking that Rummy scoffed at before. I bet Rummy isn’t too pleased with that.

Adding to the fun, Baghdad’s most powerful Shia cleric issued a fatwa that more or less stated he’s use a “hand of iron” to impose an extreme vision of Islam. Which obviously goes against US plans to keep Islam entirely out of Iraq’s new government. You know, the one that will come.. eventually. Maybe.

US troops in Kabul shot dead four Afghanistan soldiers who they mistakenly thought were about to attack them.

The presence of Israeli tanks have lead to the scrapping of the visit to Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza by Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas. In other news, Bush might be heading over to personally try and rescue his tattered plan. He’s already done the phone thing.

With other nations slowing in regard to SARS cases, most of the focus has been turned to Taiwan and its growing number of cases.

The Senate is backing the sturdy of low-yield nukes. Rumsfeld, obviously thinking we’re all stupid, said he just wants to study them. Not to develop, deploy or use them. Oh, suuuuuuuuure we believe you Rummy. </Sarcasm>

Bush has denounced Castro on Cuban Independence Day and given his usual ‘hope they have freedom like us’ speech. Meanwhile Rummy brushes off Iranian denials as he accuses Iran again of links to alQueda. No evidence yet, but he was nice enough to admit that “I have no information that people who engaged physically in terrorist acts in Saudi Arabia have since fled to Iran.” Cry wolf some more, Rummy.

A British Army officer is being investigated for possible war crimes issues. Note, this is by British authorities. It’s sad when you have more respect for another country than your own, but(despite their own failings), I’ve started to have a measure more respect for the British government than I have for my own. Tony Blair is far from spotless, but the set of they have over there is looking to beat ours on a few levels. That Britain is looking to expand the UNs credibility, rather than defame it and ignore it like the US administration only adds to that.

Today’s Papers has some interesting tidbits. US authorities in Iraq are going to announce all AK-47’s and larger weapons will be confiscated. They don’t expect the people to hand them over, really, but hope the announcement will lead to them keeping the guns off the street. US authorities think they have evidence that the Saudi bombers operated out of Iran, but opinion on the veracity of the data is divided. Another interesting bit is that after an Israeli raid of a Gaza Strip neighborhood, Palestinians came out to protest local militants. An interesting twist. And there is more. Read up folks, it’s the news distilled.

This article I don’t really agree with, though there are some thoughtful bits that I find interesting. It talks of if the war really boosted alQueda and muses several recent and past events. At the core, the writer oversimplified a complex situation. Those who are against war aren’t necessarily against it because its not worth fighting or they don’t’ want to offend the enemy. Personally, I’m against it because I believe there are better ways. Longer, harder ones, no doubt, but better.

A rather grim outlook on the fate of American Idol winners. Personally, I don’t know. I haven’t given any of Kelly Clarkson’s songs a listen. That show turns me off(unlike Star Search which I find more ‘real’) and I don’t watch it or bother to get all fan-like and waste money on those who find their 15 minutes through it.

Have you ever wondered about the difference between a Virus and a Worm? Explainer has the explanation for you.

In a heartening bit of news, Republicans and Democrats in congress are calling for an investigation into the huge deals given to Bechtel Corp and Haliburton to deal with rebuilding Iraq.

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