News – Inevitable. Ignoble. Unenviable.

Iraq

A video on an Islamic militant website shows the beheading of an American hostage. Te man is identified as Nick Berg, a U.S. contractor whose body was found on a highway overpass in Baghdad on Saturday. Not much more I care to say about it.

Amnesty International makes quite a statement, saying that British solders killed Iraqi civilians, including an eight-year-old girl, when they posed no apparent threat.

While the abuse issue is likely to eventually descend in it’s profile amongst US society, the US image among the people of the Middle East could bear another long lasting scar.

Full text of the ICRC report on treatment Iraqi prisoners(PDF), leaked by the Wall Street Journal.

A lawyer representing Pfc. Lynndie England says she is being made a ‘poseter child’ for the Bush administration’s flawed Iraq war policies. Personally, I think she and the brass need to be properly tried. It’s somewhat annoying that, as it stands, only the grunts are getting charged. I’m hoping it isn’t only those few who will see proper correction, but those who allowed or encouraged the activity. One interesting thing to use is if the president’s statements on the pictures violate her right to a fair trial.

Relatives of twelve families of Iraqi prisoners, allegedly killed by UK troops, won rights to challenge the UK government on the lack of independent inquiries into their deaths. Responding to a Red Cross report, the UK’s defense secretary admits British soldiers broke their laws by using hoods on captives.

Hundreds of Iraqis protest in Najaf against Moqtada al-Sadr, calling for him to pull his militants out of the city. Meanwhile Sadr’s militia is ordered into new offensives. No rest for anyone over there.

A bomb in a crowded Kirkuk market kills three and wounds 22.

Lawyers who will represent Saddam say that they can’t get access to their client. Mohammad Rashdan, one of twenty who are on the legal team appointed by Saddam’s wife to represent him, says that legal action may be taken if they’re not allowed to see him.

A 21 vehicle civilian supply convoy was hit on it’s way to Baghdad from Jordan. Several of the vehicles were destroyed and some people are unaccounted for.

Israel/Palestine

Palestinian militants blow up six Israeli solders riding in an explosives packed troop carrier during a Gaza raid. This ambush was done while Israeli tanks, backed by helicopter gunships, stormed a neighborhood in Gaza City, killing six Palestinians, including three gunmen, and wounding 100. Israel responded by a missile strike on another portion of the city, which militants say missed their people, but medics note killed an 18 year old bystander and wounded five.

Quite a day, eh?

Sergeant Idier Wahid Taysir’s trial opened yesterday. He’s the Israeli solder charged with killing a British student in Gaza, one Tom Hurndall.

US

Apparently, some of Bush’s conservative supporters are peevish that Iraq is taking up so much of the administration’s focus. Tough shit, boys. Invading, then rebuilding a country is BIG work. And I think, on the overall long term, a focus on Iraq and getting it stable again is a bit more important than letting a few issues at home wait for a couple more years. After all, we are talking about 25 million people whose future hang in the balance because of us. Next time any prez wants to ‘liberate’ another country, we’d do well to remember the times we’re having now.

The senate is grilling the military today on the prisoner abuse issues. Among those who will be questioned is Maj. Gen. Antonio Taguba, the one who wrote the now infamous report.

Bush says we owe Rummy a debt of gratitude. Personally, I think I’ll decide for myself who I owe a debt of gratitude to. And at the moment no current politico, no matter what party they’re on, is on that list. Especially not Rummy.

Kerry says Bush isn’t trying to cut healthcare costs and tells opponents to lay off his wife. I’ll tell Krry the same that I told Cheney. Telling folk to back off is right out. If she wants to get political and start talking, she’s gotta be willing to get it back. That’s the consequence of speaking. People invariably talk back.

Ralph Nader missed the requirements to be placed on the Texas ballot for prez. In response, he sues Texas, saying the Texas’ ballot access law is unconstitutional because it sets stricter standards for independent candidates than it does for third-party challengers.

Looking at those still disturbed by their time in Iraq, even after returning home, we might see reasons why some soldiers have lashed out inappropriately in Iraq.

Seems the EPA’s means of testing gas mileage are shot.

Americans are turning to the net to find the lowest gas prices. If you’re feeling the pinch at the pump, you should too.

The Payday loanbusiness is booming. This is not a good thing, considering that it implies an increase in the low wage sector of jobs. More and more people living paycheck to paycheck isn’t a good sign to me.

General

International Papers look at the death of the Chechnya president and the Iraqi prisoner abuse scandal.

Explainer tells you how to pronounce Abu Ghraib.

Today’s Papers has the arab world none to swayed by Bush’s support of Rummy, reopening the case of Emmett Till and more general hashing of the day’s newspapers.

Amusements

Online Church Offers Heavenly Website – Please click here to be saved. :p

Fox news anchorman parks like an ass, staggers out of pizza shop, drives off after police tell him not to

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this scientist and his magical wood granules

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop Pootie Poot strolling the red carpet

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this appropriately named freighter carrying genetically modified beans that is the target of a Greenpeace protest

PS: Sorry about the late news, work attacked earlier than usual.