News – Israel Still Doesn’t Get It

Middle East

A suicide bombing in Israel on Friday, responded to with scorn by Abbas. Israel blames Islamic Jihad elements in Syria for the bombing and has again threatened an end to diplomacy “until the Palestinians carry out a determined campaign to destroy the terrorist groups and their infrastructure.” And if this isn’t done, “Israel will have to increase its military activities that are meant to protect the citizens of Israel.” In other words, more of the same for the next five years. I’d make the comment that Israel seems to have no fortitude for diplomacy left, in which the Palestinian Authority is expected to have a perfect record mere weeks after throwing off the impediment of Arafat, while trying to reform their security structure. With Israel prepared to throw all diplomacy to the wind in a moment, they aren’t helping in the situation, where they should be getting in closer with the Palestinians and working out a combined security plan, which would allow them to effect progress together rather than having Israel dictate terms, enhancing the image of the oppressor that some put on them. It’s the goal of the terrorist groups to end diplomacy, it’s ironic how easily Israel falls into their trap to continue the cycle of violence. No, I don’t believe Israel gets it yet and the above is precisely why. If they don’t get out of their combative, confrontational stance, the chance that things will get better is diminished significantly. And in my opinion, they have less room to complain about it, after they’ve helped to foster it.

Syria hands over Sabawi Ibrahim al-Hassan al-Tikriti, Saddam’s half-brother and former head of the Iraqi secret police.

A ban in Beirut hasn’t stopped thousands of anti-Syria protestors from showing they want Syria out of Lebanon. Banks, schools and businesses closed in answer to a call for a general strike to coincide with the debate on Rafik al-Hariri’s killing.

A bomber his a market in Iraq, killing 105 and wounding 130 in Hila, south of Baghdad.

In opposition to US wishes, Iran and Russia have signed a nuclear fuel supply deal.

The Dubai-based Arab television station Al Arabiya said on Sunday its staff had received death threats from Syrian security bodies over an interview with U.N. chief Kofi Annan in which he urged Syria to withdraw from Lebanon by April.

Asia

As the US seeks to get in tighter with Indonesia, Condi Rice recommends that the US military resume training Indonesia’s military.

Europe

Saajid Badat, a Briton, has admitted to conspiring with Richard Reid(the “shoebomber”) to blow up an airplane.

Vladimir Putin’s Electoral College delusions.

North America

The Bush administration is planning to beam US backed Alhurra Arab language TV to Europe, in its info offensive against Islamic extremism. I wonder how effective this US backed station is and if any effectiveness matches the costs.

CIA officers are increasingly worried they might see prosecution or punishment over their conduct during interrogations. A clear reason why the government should take a firm, clear stand on what they are and aren’t willing to make legal. This concern from the CIA is another weakness in our intelligence structure. Uncertainty breeds hesitation.

The Texas based Talon News, a conservative news site that has been attached to a recent controversy involving Jeff Gannon, is closing down to “reevaluate operations”.

Researchers at the Boston Retrovirus Conference report on new progress in AIDS traetments, adding hope to compating the latest strain of treatment resistant AIDS. Fortunately, we’re learning more and more about how the virus works, each tidbit of data another step toward breaking its power.

General

The US kicks off the two-week review session of progress since the landmark global conference on women in 1995 with protests against abortion and “sexual rights.”

Stanford engineer and surgeon Charles Taylor and his compatriots have amassed medical data including MRIs and CT scans, and combined them with algorithms the team has worked out to predict blood flow, the flexibility of veins and arteries, among other parameters with the goal of developng a simple software tool that allows surgeons to practice each individual operation before touching scalpel to skin. In other words, a surgery can be practiced beforehand, reducing the trial and error nature of each forray into a new patient.

We also havea new program, dubbed MyMD, which allows doctors to make house calls from anywhere with given Apple iBooks with iSight cameras.

The WHO is trying to convince wealthy western nations of the danger of pandemic with bird flu, urging them to greater participation in quelling the possibility now. I’ve always seen disease as the biggest danger to humankind, a cold killer that cannot be reasoned with and has no ideology to combat. Kills more people than terrorism, hands down.

Today’s Papaers has Halle Berry owning up toher well earned Razzie for Catwoman, The US perhaps reversing to join Europe in enticing Iran, Oscars crap and other stuff in the one page news.

Amusements

Dallas man pays City of Buffalo’s late web registration fee so he could pay his garbage fee online

Pet skunk bites man’s penis; man will “forever be known as the guy with a skunk on his junk” (with pic)

Two men charged with obscenity after appearing naked at movie award ceremony and flashing everybody their Oscars

Reinforcing the Lazy American stereotype, safari promoters importing animals to the U.S. so that less-adventurous safari hunters can enjoy the experience of shooting exotic animals

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this state-of-the-art egg checker

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop what our Founding Fathers might be up to today.

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop theme: Unorthodox situations for Peeps