News – Israeli Internal Strife?

Israel/Palestine

Israeli settlers in Gaza seem prepared to dig in their heels. So what will happen if the IDF rolls in with US aid and tries to move them out? Will they use the force necessary to forcibly shift them out of Gaza? Or will this be like the last times, where dismantling settlements was largely ineffective and only halfheartedly attempted? If the settlers are moved, what might their ire at Sharon manifest into? So many questions on what might come. Not all the answers are comforting. And most of the sentiment about the move is still negative.

Could it be at all possible to have an Israeli civil war? Ok, not plausible, but come on.. possible?

A prominent Israeli MP says that Israel’s intelligence organizations knew Saddam didn’t have the stockpiles, but neglected to inform the US. Of course, why would they when a US attack would so readily eliminate one of Israel’s enemies? Another MP noted that Israel had told the Americans it believed the weapons existed but had not seen them.

Israeli opposition leader Shimon Peres has pledge to support Sharon in his pullback plan. Basically, to help him survive any revolt in his own party. The plot thickens.

Iraq

Seems one of the suicide bombers that struck the two Kurdish political headquarters might have been caught on tape. The identity of this person will help lead to what group perpetrated this attack. The death toll stands at 101 now with over 260 wounded. Kurdish deputy prime minister Sami Abdurahman and Shawqat Sheikh Yazdin, minister for parliamentary affairs are among the dead.

Arafat’s security advisor says the US has blackmailed the Palestinian Authority in its hunt for the killers of three Americans on the Gaza Strip last October. By not allowing American officials to go to Gaza, making it more difficult to assist aid programs for the Palestinians. I’m skeptical.

Iran

A compromise may be reached soon in Iran’s little political upheaval. Looks like most of the previously banned reformists will be able to run, which is about the best resolution we could realistically hope for. This seems in part brought about by the intervention of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali-Khamenei.

US

Colon Powell says that “absence of a stockpile changes the political calculus” in regard to the Iraq War. Despite his backpedal to keep touting how good the war was for everyone, this shows a potential for internal dissent in the Bush Administration.

The White House is defending Bush’s military record. By and large they point at his honorable discharge and say case closed. I’m still curious what was going on with the time he wasn’t present for duty. If it isn’t so bad as to bring about a dishonorable discharge, why can’t they tell us what happened?

Bush’s budget has a lot of cuts too. 128 programs being removed. It is said that many of them are either redundant or out of date. I wouldn’t know precisely as I don’t keep up on a full listing of all the various programs the government finds. CAPSS 2 will be getting a $15 million one up though. And the military budget is huge. Yet how many more stealth planes do we need? 75 isn’t enough? Why more ships for a navy that isn’t stretched as much as our ground forces are? Why billions for more helicopters(which did poorly in Iraq) when millions can be spent on drones to provide safe recon? Why so much money on a failed missile defense system that will be deployed even if it doesn’t work? We could save billions in defense by being just a little smarter about what we buy.

Oregon voters deny a $800 million tax increase. The state is in a tight spot with dipping tax revenues and a high rate of unemployment, without money, they’ll have to do some cutting.

Pennsylvania Republican Rep. James Greenwood wants info that the pharmaceutical companies have on antidepressants and kids. DO they raise the suicide risk for kids? We want to know.

The Pentagon’s lifelog project is, for now, dead. Of course, logging everything a person does in their life is less than welcome by privacy advocates. No explanation was given to the sudden drop by DARPA.

Ashcroft says militants attack Muslim nations more readily. Mind you, those attacks are centered around areas where foreign tourists are or are somehow symbolic. Not to condone their attacks at all, but they aren’t necessarily attacking indiscriminately. Of course, explosives(as we all know) are less discriminate then bullets.

Lieberman bows out of the democratic presidential race.

SCO gets a cold reception at Harvard.

General

Microsoft has weathered MyDoom’s attack. I guess they’ll have to try harder.

Explainer clues you in to how new elements are named.

Today’s Papers has the US hoping the UN will help with Iraq elections, grumbles about Powell’s words, Ricin info and details of the incident at the senate buildings. And more!

Amusements

Some kids think its cool to go out in the cold sans winter garb.

Texas Pharmacist refuses morning after pill to rape victim with valid prescription. Considered it a violation of morals. What he forgot is that, as a pharmacist his only job is to fill valid prescriptions. Not decide who can and can’t have them on the basis of morals.

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop some guy driving through an assload of snow