News – Israel’s Silence Costs Lives

Middle East

Still working from guesswork, the UN’s mine disposal agency thinks that 40% of the cluster munitions released into Lebanon are unexploded, making for up to a million little surprises hiding in the country. 14 have already died because of them. They’ve requested grid references for bomb strikes from Israel, to help them track down the munitions, they’re not received them. Thus the clean up is slowed, allowing more time for innocents to find Israel’s last gift to Lebanon.

Israel’s military orders the release of Palestinian deputy prime minister Nasser al-Shaer. So what has Israel gained by arresting all of these Palestinian politicians? More hate and no security. As par for the actions of Israel’s government.

For a third time, Saddam is thrown out of court by the new judge. One wonders how long this can go on.

Another note on Brits beating Iraqis. Lots of such incidents have been revealed and looked at in the past few months. I easily believe them, because while there are plenty of great people in the military, there are also plenty of lunatics. A job where you get to dominate and kill people sucks them in or awakens that side of them eventually. To deny it is to be a fool. We need to weed out those undesirables, to minimize the damage they can do.

Saudi Arabia denies secret contact with Israel. Of course, that was expected, wasn’t it? The last thing they want is for others to think they’re secretly plotting with the Zionists. Regardless of if they are or aren’t. They probably are.

Asia/Pacific

North Korea blames US financial sanctions for the deadlock in multilateral talks on its nuclear program. Which is true enough in a sense. When sides squabble rather than talk, situations don’t get resolved.

Europe

Romania and Bulgaria are being added to the EU, though with a strict monitoring program, to observe their ongoing reforms, in place.

Americas

In response to the leak of part of a terrorism report, Bush declassifies a bit more of the report in response. Likely just the parts that will nullify what was already leaked. Democrats want the whole report released. Personally, I err toward this. Of course, I expect Bush has or will say that that would be a security risk. The same with anything that might punch holes in his talking points.

Meanwhile, a Democrat proposal for a secret session of the House of Representatives to give lawmakers the chance to discuss the report was voted down. Gotta love when your side controls the government, eh? You can shut down something so damaging as a secret discussion meeting. Wouldn’t want to give the opposition a chance to convert your peons with convincing arguments or anything.

And, of course, Rice hits back at Clinton. Never mind that I no longer put faith in word one that exists her mouth.

More hate on Rummy. Despite all else, they keep coming out of the woodwork, these retired officers. Too bad none of them have the balls to speak out while in the military. That would mean a lot more. Of course, it would also end their careers, likely, because the military hates criticism and dissent and punishes any from within who would think differently. One of the prime reasons I’ll never be within their ranks.

Big Tobacco faces a lawsuit saying they misled the public by portraying their ‘light’ or low tar cigs as less harmful than regular ones. As much as I hate smoking and those who pimp it, who wouldn’t know breaking in smoke laced air is bad for you? Even with less tar, you’re still intentionally filling your lungs with smoke, laced with an addictive substance.

FOIA is used to open up four classified NSA publications. So take a gander at what the spies read at work.

Always with the toys, Slate gives you the George Allan Insult Generator.In honor of the new master of the verbal screw up, though Bush will get the lifetime achievement award.

Reading the NIE, while it has one pro for Bush, seems the rest of it goes just as the NYT said it did. And the pro for Bush is the obvious restated. Withdrawal from Iraq now = bad. Anyone with half a brain knows that much.

General

Doctors are going to perform the first instance of zero-G human surgery. This one is using a plane that flies parabolic arcs to create 20 sec intervals of weightlessness.

The Blogs check rumors that George Allen has used the N-word, the TSA lifting the liquid ban on planes(somewhat) and say by to the Boondocks.

A dolphin with a prosthetic flipper? It could happen.

Today’s Papers has a front-page review of the war on the airwaves, with a roundup of the nasty political ads dominating television this fall, more on the NIE, kids and their racy tshirts and more in the one page news.

Amusements

Not news: Man flies from Australia for a wedding. News: Gets arrested after getting drunk the night before the wedding for pounding on doors at 3:00 a.m. and getting a gun pointed at his head. Fark: Arrested again for masturbating while in lockup

“When police arrived, they found Tim Smith running naked through a nearby pasture, chasing horses and pulling their tails”

Tired sci-fi clichés that must be retired

U.S. tourist arrested with two pounds of cocaine concealed in her beehive hairdo. Authorities still on the lookout for Kate Pierson and Fred Schneider

Idiots carjack lady waiting on tow truck

Investigative reporter famous for catching people masturbating at library is confronted by “Daily Show” correspondent. Guess who is not amused?

Comcast blocks access to Google, Gmail. This is what no Net Neutrality looks like

Guy writes “[TSA Director] Kip Hawley is an idiot” on his regulation quart bag for toiletry screening; hilarity ensues – I so should do this when I arrive for a flight 2-3 hours early. 😉

Having solved all its other problems, New York City now considering making trans fats in food illegal

Man sits in apartment all day drinking Listerine before trying to stab homeless man with kitchen knife. When cops show, man frantically goes for what? Right, more Listerine — its a helluva drug (w/mugshot goodness)

Convicted drunk driver cut off his electronic monitoring bracelet and put it on his dog so he could go drinking

Most awesome houseboat you’ll see today

Not quite sure what to get that annoying coworker for theHolidays?

Trailer trash male doll to be launched in the US. Contains phrases such as “Fifteen of them beers and yer still ugly.”

Cool: Philadelphia bans smoking. Not cool: They don’t tell anyone the details, and instead bar owners are just doing whatever the newspapers say. All hail our new media overlords

Two elderly men spice up retirement by waging war on each other, beating one another senseless, bashing the crap out of each other’s cars and daring one another to cut across the damn lawn (with pic of mayhem)

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop the coolest photo of pollen you’ll see today

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this proud knight

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Now that Fark is currency, photoshop some bills and coins