News – Last Chance at Peace or No Chance?

So who do we believe when it’s revealed that there might have been a last ditch effort by Saddam to stave off invasion? Was it a real effort or as it merely an unfounded rumor?

Iraq

Word is that the US was offered a peace deal by Saddam to stave off the invasion. Obviously it wasn’t taken up.

Hage said to avert war, Habbush offered “disarmament” to be validated by U.S. agents and to turn over a top al Qaeda operative who was in custody in Iraq, according to ABC.

Hmmmm.. if that’s true, why wasn’t the offer taken? The rebuttal:

“During the run up to the war there were a wide variety of people sending signals that some Iraqis might have interest in negotiation. These signals came from a broad range of foreign intelligence services, other governments, third parties, charlatans, and independent actors,” a U.S. official said.

“Every lead that was at all possible and some that weren’t plausible were followed up. In the end we are aware of no one in a position to make any deal anywhere near acceptable to the U.S. government who offered such a deal,” the official said.

What do you think? Another report on it.

An RPG ambush kills one US soldier and wounds two.

Looks like no more talks with Turkey on troops for Iraq. And there was a great sigh of relief.

Some general experts talk about their thoughts on what is next for Iraq.

Israel/Palestine

International Papers looks at Lebanon and Palestinian refugees as well as Israel’s PR problem.

Saudi Arabia

At least one militant has blown himself up in Mecca. Another may have, but authorities aren’t certain yet.

US

Bush’s signed ‘Partial Birth’ abortion ban has been partially blocked. Set within an hour of it being signed, the judge who did so takes exception that it doesn’t provide well for the procedure in the event of a mother’s live being at risk if the procedure isn’t performed.

Bush will be making another peace in the Middle East speech soon. Much ado about nothing if you ask me, he can talk all he wants but words from him aren’t what’s going to make peace or promote it in any real sense.

A UN panel is aiming to smack down the US’ two year attempt to get a wide ban going on human cloning of any kind. Including stem cell research. You know, I think we’re going to be real sorry if we ban stem cell study here and other countries start making medical breakthroughs instead of us.

Why pretend Ronald Regan was any more alert than he really was? Everyone knew he was having mental issues, even his allies.

General

Be careful if you’re upgrading to OSX 10.3(Panther). There’s a glitch that could be quite annoying and there is uncertainty as to if it has been fixed yet or not.

Microsoft has put out a bounty on the writers of two Windows virus’. Will it draw whistleblowers or simply be more bragging rights for the writers?

Today’s Papers has notes of the inaccuracy of calling them ‘Partial Birth’ abortions, the contested possible last attempts by Saddam to get peace, Iraqi guerrillas getting better Intel on the US than the other way around and more.

Amusements

Bush’s Happy Meal

White House War Hero

>:/theintriguingmovietitl – Amusing flash which proudly makes no sense.

Gradnpa: Rooftop Pop