News – Israel Egging Them On (1/2)
Is it just me, or does it seem like the Israeli leadership wants to encourage Palestine?
Israel/Palestine
Adding to the problem, Israel announced expansion plans for 600 more homes in their settlements. The Israeli government continues to press upon me how much they want to anger and goad on the Palestinians. They want to fight, so let them.
Arab nations are accusing the UN nuclear watchdog of ignoring Israel’s suspected cache of nuclear weapons, while putting pressure on other nations to remove their stockpiles. Seems fair is fair to me. If you’re going to disarm the Middle East, Israel should be included in that.
Iraq
Wendnesday marked a spate of attacks that have left three more US soldiers dead. The US continues to try and get help, even though officials continue to act as if they don’t need it. Their latest resolution tasks the UN duties, but keeps all of the power in US hands. I don’t know if Bush and his boys are stupid or just stubborn. Playing give a millimeter won’t cut it. That much is obvious.
Rumors of Saddam seen five days ago at Kirkuk. Have their been any Saddam sightings in your hometown? 😉
The new school year is starting in Iraq and the school experience will be changed for the kids. No doubt they’ll be left with many questions.
Iran
Talks have started today between Iran and the IAEA over their nuke program. This is the month of truth, so to speak.
Korea
North Korea boasts about rod processing. More tactics, but what are you going to expect if not that?
Afghanistan
The Pakistani military has killed 12 and captured 10 suspected alQuieda and Taliban fighters near the Afghan border today. The fighting may still be going on. Four more suspected Taliban were killed in Afghanistan when helicopters fired on their car.
Indonesia
Ali Gufron, fourth of those convicted for the Bali Bombing and third sentenced to death, has been sentenced to death by firing squad. He’ll be appealing.
US
Rush Limbaugh has quit his job as an ESPN football commentator after his remarks about Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb sparked a wave of criticism. Limbaugh said before Sunday’s matchup between the Eagles and the Buffalo Bills that the media wanted McNabb to succeed because he is black.. He says his remarks were aimed at the media, not racially motivated. Personally, I think this is more evidence that Rush is, as Al Franken noted, a big, fat idiot. Not that his girth has anything to do with it. 😉
The Times has noted about a section of the request for $87 billion, which states that $600 million is going to more WMD searching. In other words, they’re wasting another $600 million of our tax money on a futile, now pointless search. Meanwhile Blair is urging Britons for patience, since the US report on WMD isn’t the final word. I’m wondering how long until the majority of the world just forgets to care so they can stop making like they’re going to find something conclusive. We might as well drop the whole issue at this point.
Mrs. Bush is still out doing the gentle diplomacy thing. It’s a little sad that Bush’s wife knows more about real diplomacy and dealing with people than he does. But I suppose you don’t send a man to do a woman’s job. At least, not when It comes to the Bush clan. :p
“Washington is a town where there’s all kinds of allegations. You’ve heard much of the allegations. And if people have got solid information, please come forward with it. And that would be people inside the information who are the so-called anonymous sources, or people outside the information—outside the administration.”—George W. Bush : Chicago, Sept. 30, 2003
The US is having trouble destroying all of its own chemical weapons. The 2012 deadline set by the Chemical Weapons Convention may well be missed. Missing the deadline could have a negative symbolic effect, as the world is, as usual, watching us. Delay encourages others to hold on to what they have, namely Russia with its massive stockpiles.
A federal court will be deciding of the ‘ghost ships’, packed full of nasty things, will remain in port or be sent off to Britain to be dismantled cleanly. Concerns are that moving the ships to the UK could cause an environmental catastrophe.
Prison Rape Elimination Act is aimed at ferreting out the reasons and offering solutions to the problem of assault and rape in prison. But will more studies help when we reasonably know the problem? And will the government have the will to enact real solutions to a problem that has become mainstream and accepted as inevitable by the populace?
A deep look into leans in Slate’s Fray. Big, interesting read.
The Gaffes of Bob Graham: This one focuses on Bob’s strange habit of keeping notebooks used to note down his actions during the day. Neurotic or just a harmless habit?
Winning Modern Wars is General Wesley Clarks new book. The first half is as drab as the title, but once it gets going, it gets more interesting, another resource for deciding if you want to vote for him or not. Starts at about page 90 by the article. 😉