News – Iraqi Election Q&A
Middle East
Still not entirely clear on the Iraqi election? The Guardian has you covered with this Q&A.
Wendell Steavenson and Ghaith Abdul-Ahad, two reporters in Iraq, continue their conversation on the pending Iraqi elections as election week rolls on.
Within an agreement forged with Israeli to brass, Palestinian security forces will be fully deployed within 24 hours. Very heartening and the international news agrees.
A pair of bombs blow outside a police station in a town near Kirkuk. Three Iraqi police were killed, seven wounded. Other bombs hit various election related targets. An attack on a US patrol kills one soldier and wounds two.
It seems IED continue to baffle the Pentagon. No doubt the lack of uniformity in payload, appearance and placing make them hard to adapt to.
Investigators grill Kofi Annan about the oil for food program.
The way Blair says it, sounds like more control will be turned over to the Iraqi government that eventually manifests. Hopefully they’ll be ready to handle it.
Europe
Four Brits released from Guantanimo face more questioning by British authorities, the questioning called a bogus process by their lawyers.
Asia
The Oxfam charity says some of the more inexperienced aid agencies are hampering more than helping in the effort to distribute aid to tsunami victims.
Taiwan challenges the US to speak out with greater voice against anti-secession laws aimed at it by China. They think quiet diplomacy isn’t working. With Bush’s last speech, I would expect them to challenge us on taking a stand. After all, we stand by them if they fight for liberty, right? Right?
North America
Bush will offer details on his personal account change for Social Security in next week’s State of the Union speech. Hopefully he will, I’m tired of getting the philosophic rhetoric handed to me time and time again. Enough philosophy, we need to get on to the accounting.
Bush’s administration puts a green light on drilling for oil on federal lands in the Otero Mesa in Mew Mexico, despite pleas from the state’s governor and environmentalists to protect the desert grasslands from energy exploitation. “I am very disappointed by the Bush administration’s failure to respect New Mexico’s position on oil and gas leasing in this precious, sensitive and world-renowned area,” said New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson.
Our projected deficit sits at $427 billion according to the White House. That’s a lot of green in the red.
The government looks into wireless systems as a way to speed border crossings, much like how they’ve been used for tollbooths in the US. Not a bad idea if implemented properly.
Some neocons are going green for geopolitical reasons, finally giving them and the environmentalists a little common ground. Just a little bit.
General
The number of AIDS patients in poor countries who get life extending drugs has jumped upward significantly, but as with all big problems, more remains to be done.
A study shows that airliner ant-missile systems are too spendy. They’re not really necessary either, since it’s unlikely that attacks of that nature will start popping up regularly. We have time to try and reduce the cost so the airline companies can handle the expense.
Can a tiny little accessory cut down in the radiation from hands free cell phone headsets?
Today’s Papers has musings over what the latest $80 billion will go for in Iraq and Afghanistan, a backup on the part of the Shiite coalition in demanding a timetable or US withdrawal, how utility shortages are effecting the Iraq elections and more in the one page news.
Amusements
Man wins $2,500 in damages after police kick him in the jimmy just two days after man shot himself in the berries. Then gets arrested while leaving courtroom
Virginia lawmaker proposes bill banning lowrider pants. If your underwear is showing, you know where you’re going
Dumb: Driving with a suspended license. Dumber: Driving a vehicle with expired tags. Dumbass: Claiming you’re the 6′ 3″ Swedish owner of the vehicle when you’re black, 6′ 7″ and speak fluent English
If you’re going to discuss your arrest for murder and your trial strategy with your accomplice, try not to do it in the back of the bugged patrol car
Volkswagen “outraged” by hoax VW ad depicting a suicide bomber. Also outraged at all the free publicity (with link to ad)
The Hello Kitty Ferrari: Just the thing for the young parent with way more money than sense
Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this Farker in a porthole
Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this TFette’s brother’s big catch
Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this TFer’s co-worker hanging out<P