News – Iraqi Elections. Will the Pull it Off?

Middle East

Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari says the Iraqi interim government isn’t underestimating the security situation and that elections can be hold on January 30th. Hopefully they’re right, because being wrong could be quite fatal. Despite the US offensive in Falluja, militants in Iraq continue to strike and strike again and for the voices of optimism, there remain voices of uncertainty and concern.

For all the reports of deaths and battles, there is little insight into the battles and the people themselves. Made harder to show by the danger involved and the open desire of the military to blunt reporting of th war.

The eighteen guardsmen, who refused to run transport due to concerns about the safety of their equipment, will be disciplined, but not face court-martial. Another five will face “non-judicial” punishment under Article 15(This one?) of the U.S. military justice code.

New photos are being probed, which show US Navy SEALS abusing Iraqi prisoners are early as May 2003. The photos include showing personnel sitting on hooded and handcuffed detainees, and photos of what appear to be bloodied prisoners, one with a gun to his head.

Egypt and Israel swap prisoners, a convicted Israeli spy from Egypt and six Egyptians who illegally crossed the border with the aim of capturing an Israeli tank from Israel.

Bush and Musharraf come out of their meeting stressing middle east peace, and denied that Pakistan is pulling out of the hunt for Bin Laden.

Seems Britain has won US agreement to have an international peace conference in London early next year. Pity that Britain can’t hold them without US support and has to go beg for it. Planned for late January to early February, it’s likely to be held soon after the Palestinian elections. Hopefully Israel will send a proper delegation to show their openness to peace.

Iranian students vent their frustration at President Mohammad Khatami, upset that he hasn’t brought promised reforms that they’ve backed him on.

Gunmen threaten to crash Karzai’s inauguration. Cheney and Rummy will be there, though considering the likely high level of security, I doubt they’ll snag any high profile targets if they do attack.

Gunmen storm a U.S. consulate in Jeddah, killing four Saudi guards and taking hostage 18 local staff(though there was comment that they might just have gotten trapped in the building). It appears the incident is still ongoing as of this article’s posting.

Israel’s new plans for reads, including underground roads for Palestinians, have been smacked with the apartheid label again. It seems they think enclosing Palestinians into disconnected enclaves won’t be so bad if they link them up with underground roads. Not that the roads will make things any faster for some Palestinians. Details within the article.

Eastern Europe

After an ETA threat of seven bombs, five have been noted in different parts of Spain today(Guardian updates to seven). They’ve been noted in Leon, Alicante, Valladolid, Malaga, Santillana del Mar, Avila and in Ciudad Real. Only two or three people are reported wounded.

Central America

Cuba has become a pharmaceutical powerhouse.

North America

Tommy Thompson, Health and Human Services Secretary, left his post warning that the US food supply was vulnerable to terrorism. Bush plays this down by defining the context, saying Thompson “was commenting on the fact that we’re a large country, with all kinds of avenues where somebody can inflict harm.”

Will Bernard Kerik’s local experience be what is needed at the DHS? Slate’s fray has a tussle over the man’s qualifications.

Sen. Harry Reid of Nevada says Bush needs to crank up the pressure to get the intelligence bill passed and believes Congress should not adjourn for the year until it passes.

The national average is still slipping downward slowly. Now lingering about $1.93 a gallon. With crude oil prices dropping, the gas average should keep drooping as well, thankfully.

General

Could computer users be adjusting to spyware, no longer as concerned about the invasion of privacy they entail? That bodes ill for those of us who do care.

The potential risks of emissions from cell phones and towers devoted to cell phone networks still hasn’t been properly tested, leaving the question of their safety unanswered.

Interactive computer games are being target at toddlers, with the educational label slapped on. Are they all they say they are? That question remains one of divided answers. Sounds like time for another study.

Today’s Papers has the predatory housing lone problem, advocacy groups who pose as media sources to promote their agendas, an exclusive interview with current Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma and more in the one page news.

Amusements

Hunter stops to take a leak, accidentally shoots himself in the ass

It takes a special kind of imbecile to be busted for speeding nine times in three weeks — by the exact same traffic camera

Woman begs firefighters to please extinguish the fire of passion inside her

School bus driver fired for talking to students about stem-cell research. “Her job is to scowl and scream at the kids, not be intelligent,” according to a school rep

When cruising for prostitutes, it’s best not to take the company vehicle. Especially if it’s an ambulance

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop cute Japanese chicks who have taken their love for Metal Gear too far

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Theme: What’s next for Tom Brokaw?

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Theme: Bigfoot joins society