News – Iraq Issues

Middle East

The discovery of 18 bodies in an abandoned minibus in a Sunni district of Baghdad, all blindfolded and strangled, suggests sectarian violence continues in Iraq. Five more are added from other discoveries. Also, a Shiite interior minister, hated by many Sunnis who accuse him of condoning death squads, escapes an assassination attempt.

The US ambassador to Iraq breaks down and admits we stepped in it big time. Good to know someone else is looking at the developing reality of the situation. Rummy, however, says that sectarian violence has been exaggerated by the media. Not many ways to exaggerate 23 executed men. There’s no war in the streets, but the simmering, stealthy violence that goes on now could be worse. Rather, Rummy blames this on Iran, sending elements of its Revolutionary Guard into Iraq to stir up trouble. All I have to say to that is.. where is the evidence? Even if that’s true, it speaks poorly for attempts to secure Iraq’s borders and keep peace within the country. So, right or wrong, we’re screwing up over there. If we and the Iraqi security forces can’t deal with a few Iranian agitators, how will either deal with the terrorists in Iraq?

Islamic Jihad makes threats against Israeli leaders after a series of Israeli air strikes kill members of the group(along with three bystanders). Interestingly, while Hamas has spoken out against the airstrike(along with Abbas), they’ve done nothing else, made no other inflammatory statement and no vow of vengeance. Keep that in mind.

Ismail Haniyeh, the Hamas PM of Palestine, accuses the west of hypocrisy in threatening to slash aid to Palestine unless Hamas bows to their demands, while not holding the Israelis to the same standards. He’s pretty much echoed the same criticism that is often set against the US. The disparity of how they treat Israel and Palestine. Israel is allowed to get away with near murder with nothing so much as a slap on the wrist, if that, while Palestine gets dumped on. Not that I say we should be easy on Palestine.. hardly. But we shouldn’t go soft on Israel, it exposes our obvious bias.

Asia

A look at the deal struck with India and why it shows weakness in Bush’s dealings with the country. Plain and simply, Bush caved when he didn’t need to in this deal with India. India got what they wanted, even though they needed this more than we did. I guess Bush isn’t so strong after all. And now Iran has a means to argue against our attempts to get them disarmed.

By contrast, India’s holy city of Varanasi shuts down in protest against a bomb blast in a Hindu temple and railway station, which killed 15. But there was no apparent sectarian backlash.

Europe

Condi Rice and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov slip up and argue in public, revealing the expected rift developing in US and Russian relations.

North America

Bush makes his tenth trip to New Orleans today, amid fresh scrutiny in his administration’s failings over actions taken with regard to the disaster.

Senate republicans agree to expand oversight of Bush’s secret spying program, but reject democratic pressure for a broad inquiry into it.

As predicted, pro-choice groups strike back in response to South Dakota’s draconian abortion law.

The CIA says they would have to spend nine months of digging to get the info that Lewis Libby wants from them as part of his defense against perjury charges. And that, they say, would hamper their ability to keep the president informed on matters of national security.

A study warns that the price of apartments is rising, sure to challenge those currently living in them to keep up with rising rent.

General

Kofi Annan’s plans to reform the UN will likely meet much resistance. I wonder if he can count on the US to back him up, considering how much they want to reform the UN.

The Blogs look at the possible resurrection of ‘Ma Bell’, the Oscars and the former Taliban spokesman who now studies at Yale. Also, the Supreme Court’s decision forcing colleges to allow military recruiters on campus, South Dakota’s new abortion ban and mourning baseball great Kirby Puckett.

The arguments against auto-flush toilets.

Today’s Papers has the rising cost of US presence in Iraq, Russia openly standing against the US and EU in warning Iran on nukes, small teams of US special ops at ‘more than a dozen’ US embassies watching for terrorists and more in the one page news.

Amusements

Fake cop with fake badge tries to pull over real cops with real badges. Hilarity ensues

Illinois cops enjoy drinking and partying. In uniform. With underage girls. On camera

Woman suing restaurant after being pressured to dance on top of piano then promptly falling off and injuring herself

California hybrid owners taking on coveted title of “Most Hated Drivers” in the state because they’re so damn slow. Hummer drivers demand recount

Miller CEO says declining sales of their crappy beer due to the consumer “looking for more diversity and style.” His solution: Repackaging and marketing of the same crappy beer

The world’s greatest business plan unveiled in Britain today. Booze and anonymous sex-toy purchases

Citizens of Newfane, Vermont, pass resolution calling for Bush’s impeachment by 121-29 vote, but at same meeting, can’t decide whether to fix town’s 100-year-old sidewalks

It’s like MySpace, except you didn’t make the page. The girls you cheated on did

Cape Coral man plants used-condom garden along road in protest of large amount of “public copulation” that happens nightly outside his window. Authorities say they’d like to help but say he’s probably screwed

The American Medical Association has taken the position that young, nubile, round, warm, cuddly and bouncy women should not go whoring over Spring Break

Woman goes bonkers after seeing notes on her Walgreens prescription saying she’s “psycho” and “crazy.”

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Theme: Photoshop Bode Miller’s next career path

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this strange, angular rock formation

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Hillary Clinton says Karl Rove obsesses about her. Photoshop what that might look like