News – Israel’s Plan B?

Israel/Palestine

Ariel Sharon’s government may be imposing a unilateral ‘peace plan’, in yet another potential twist to the already snaking road of history that has surrounded Israel’s contentious founding. It sounds like peace b y force, which most of us should recognize as a fallacy in this case, just as security by force has left Israel in this struggle for the last three years with a continuous body count. The US has, of course, noted that this won’t fly, but we’ll see if the Bush administration has the balls to do anything about it.

Iraq

One US soldier was killed, another wounded when troops guarding a petrol station were fired upon. This incident occurred in northern Iraq. I’ve heard one theory noted that terrorists are being squeezed north like toothpaste in a tube. I’m not so optimistic as that, it wouldn’t be hard to shift operations south as US focus goes north.

The US has decided that only those helping it with Iraq can bid on the contracts to come up. For security reasons, which I see as their bullshit reason. Do they think French workers or German workers that might be contracted would try to sabotage things? That’s a heavy insult. Paul Wolfowitz is being oddly honest in the real motives of this, saying he hopes excluded companies will put pressure on their home governments to get on the boat with regard to Iraq.

An Iraqi tribunal is to be formed to try Saddam loyalists. Good luck finding impartial people is all I have to say. :p Of course, the move is hoped to gain more confidence from Iraqis. If this will somewhat make up for the inability to find Saddam remains the question.

In the looters’ market, a DVD singing the praises of the so-called resistance is selling like the hot bread of Bab al-Agha. – Another tidbit from within by Slaem Pax.

Kofi Annan has decided that the UN will stay light in Iraq until security improves. Until then, they’ll operate from Cyprus.

The Case of the Misunderstood memo

Iran

The thumbs up has been given to sign international protocols that will subject it to tough snap inspections. I don’t know about you, but I’ll hope this is a good sign with regard to Iran.

Afghanistan

Another US attack has resulted in the deaths of children. Six this time, in the wake of another air/ground attack on a compound said to have been used by a terrorist commander as an arms dump. Heavy machine guns were fired form the building during the attack, but stopped after the building was struck from the air.

US

Seniours could be getting discount cards for their drugs as early as April-May of next year, rather than June.

After recalling their 2003 catalog, Abacrombie & Fitch, known for their racy catalogs, has decided they will discontinue them. Family values groups breathe a collective sigh of relief. Personally, I’ve never seen one, but from what I’ve heard, sounds a bit too much like softcore porn and not enough like a company catalog. Then again, I’m one for functional catalogs. 😉

A US army chaplen accused of misconduct at Guantanimo Bay has had his case put on hold. The military failed to provide defense lawyers with access to key evidence in the case, so they have until Jan 19 to do their security mojo on it.

Despite Al Gore’s heavy backing of Dean, Dean’s opponents say the election isn’t over yet.

An interesting little tidbit about how much the US military is starting to rely on private firms. Their role and numbers are growing within the military. Good thing? Bad thing? Good question.

This is bound to be a hard winter. Flu vaccine supplies are petering out and it’s hit early.

A round up of Tuesday’s Democratic debate. It had some interesting revelations in it.

General

Day to Day: Gore’s Endorsement of Dean

Dispatches from Ivory Coast: The Human Face of Anti-Immigrant Prejudice

Today’s Papers has the death of retired senator Paul Simon, Haliburton charging $2.64 per gallon to import oil from Kuwait to Iraq(twice what it costs Iraq’s state oil company and a Pentagon agency to do it), worry over the coming troop rotations and more!

Amusements

More fun with unfortunate naming

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop newspaper headlines for Election Day 2004

College University 7

A public interest group invents a new word for the holidays: Killographic.