News – Kidnappings and Diplomacy in Iraq

Iraq

Today is the first anniversary of Saddam’s fall. It isn’t a happy one, as the travails in Iraq continue. A ceasefire in Falluja. A temporary truce and talks? With the enemy? Bush couldn’t have approved this. I thought we killed terrorists, not talked to them. At the very least, Kut seems back under control.

The PM of Japan, Junichiro Koizumi, is in a bind as three of the civilian workers sent over there have been captured by a previously unknown militant group. The group gave three days for Japan to pull its troops out of Iraq or they will be killed, accompanying that threat with emotive imagery in broadcasts shown on Arab and Western stations. Koizumi has said he isn’t considering pulling troops out, but he only has two more days to do something about it. Sadr has denied involvement with this kidnapping.

Despite the brief five hour capture of seven South Korean missionaries yesterday there are no plans to call off the deployment of South Korean troops to Iraq

Cheney will say for Asian allies to stay the course in Iraq. You know what would really help his little message? Including a plan to recover those captured civilians. If the US really wants to garner some loyalty, that would be the best way to do it.

Trouble erupts in Baquba

Seems the smaller clusters of foreign troops are a weakness, not expecting to be drawn into heavy combat. Of course, it was often said that we held control so I can see where they were duped by the relative calm(baring the sporadic attacks).

Will the Iraq war teach the US the limits of raw military power? Will resistance continue to spread?

The Midle East press seems to lay blame for the insurgency right at our feet. I can’t say the accusation is entirely unfounded. We made big promises and haven’t kept up our end of the bargain.

What if the war hadn’t happened?: That question is posed to several eminent commentators such as Richard Dawkins, Anthony Cordesman , Saphia al-Suheil(a prominent Iraqi political and women’s activist, and a leading figure in the large Beni Tamim Shia clan) and Mahmoud Othman.

US

As expected, Condi reinforced the argument of no ‘silver bullet’ that would have staved off 9/11. As most predicted, she was a smooth, cool customer. I caught portions of her testimony. There’s an August 6th presidential briefing that everyone wants declassified. The title of it was.. “Bin Laden Determined to Attack Inside the United States.” Interesting name, don’t you think? Fred Kaplan believes Condi’s testimony does say one thing. She’s a bad national security advisor. He makes some good points. Here’s a lexicon to add to the understanding of her testimony.

Clinton had a closed door session with the 9/11 panel yesterday as well. Personally, I’d like to see him come out into the open too. Let’s get all of these people out speaking their piece so the American people can get a full grasp of it all.

Americans can expect high gas prices this summer. All I have to say is this. You’ve got legs, people. Walk to the store. It’s only 15 minutes. Don’t’ cruse the mall parking lot looking for a space ten feet closer. Park in the first available spot and hoof it over. There are lots of ways you can cut your gas consumption a little to save you some green. Some of it(you know, the walking) can also beef up your health a little too. Not mush else you can do until Bush gets this stuff back in order. If he does.

There is finally a site calling for Roy Moore for Prez. Though a petition linked off of it has less than 400 votes to it. Wanna know why you should vote for Moore? Visit the site.

General

Attention Mac Users(Hello, anyone out there?)! Looks like Apple’s slow rising star has caught some attention. There’s a new bit of malware out there, a Trojan that masquerades as an MP3 file. It seems it might just be a test for attacking Max OSX, but be careful nonetheless. When played through iTunes, it plays normally. When you double click it, it will activate the code and still play normally. Very cunning.

Tired of the smut, course language and gratuitous violence out there? Seems there might be a solution in a DVD player that can be programmed to skip all that. Despite some furor over it, it will be coming out soon. Personally, I’ll keep my sex, violence and swearing. I’m tough, I can take it. 😉

Today’s Papers notes opinion that the uprising isn’t widespread.. yet, more on the mess in Iraq and wide coverage of Condi’s testimony.

Amusmeents

Burglar found taking shower in woman’s home. Did not get away clean

Toaster from hell burns Satan’s face into bread

Ronald McDonald shows up unexpectedly at two Chicago-area McDonald’s restaurants. Managers get suspicious when The Ronald displays more than a passing interest in cash registers

<A HREF=”http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article?file=/news/archive/2004/04/07/national1952EDT0758.DTL&type=printable”>Scalia bars press from covering speech about the power of the Constitution, orders tapes erased

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop these loiterers

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Create a weather forecast icon that warns of impending doom

Neurotically Yours: Fat-kins Diet</