News – Low Support for Sharon’s Plan

Israel/Palestine

Sharon’s getting desperate, he’s starting to wield US relations in his fight to keep support for his Gaza pullout plan. With approval of the plan currently at 44% with 40% against, he’s not looking too good with such a slim margin for victory. I wonder what Bush thinks of Sharon more or less speaking for him. Would the US finally get tough with Israel if this plan doesn’t pan out? Or is Sharon blowing smoke?

Islamic countries want the UN to have a central role in Middle East issues such as Palestine and Iraq.

Mordechai Vanunu has made note his stay in prison was hardly easy and at times cruel. If the note of 11 years in solitary confinement are true, I can believe it. Considering the added perspective on the crowd gathered to protest him as he was released(who threw eggs, made throat slitting gestures, chanted the word death and chased his car), I don’t know that he’ll have an easy time in Israel. This sort of insane carrying on doesn’t really enamor me to the people of Israel either.

Iraq

Poland forces will stay in Iraq until the Iraqis hold general elections. This is currently planned for January of next year. What happens If that date passes without elections or other such possibilities remains to be seen. In any case, Spain’s moves are weighing heavily on many of the US’ allies.

The door is open for more cash being siphoned into the Iraq effort

Bush says US intelligence is good, but not perfect. I knew that already. What I want to know is what is being done about it? Tenet says five years to build the right group to infiltrate our current foes. Do we have that kind of time?

Current count of the toll bombings in Basra and nearby Zubayr stand at 68 dead, including 17 children and 240 injured. Tony Blair has no intent of sending more British troops, who are the ones largely in charge of Basra.

Saudi Arabia

Yesterday the city of Riyadh was struck by a car bomb that killed and wounded many, though precise figures are conflicted between medics and government officials in the country.

Australia

Faheem Lodhi, an Australian citizen was arrested in Sydney and charged with preparing for a terrorist act and recruiting for a terrorist organization today. The papers show him charged with seven counts including “preparing a terrorist act” in May 2002 against an unidentified “major infrastructure facility” and seeking prices for chemicals under a false name. He could face a life sentence in prison.

US

Michael Jackson was indicted yesterday, so says the buzz, by a California Grand Jury investigating charges of child molestation against him.

A peek at Kerry’s now open war record shows he was highly praised(Kerry “exhibited all of the traits desired of an officer in a combat environment”) and is unofficially accredited 20 enemy kills. I wonder if Bush ahs ever killed a man.

Meanwhile Bush and Keery trade broadsides with new campaign ads. Imagine what real good we could do with the money these two waste in their little insult games.

Americans are on edge over job security. Considering the tenuous nature eof our economic growth, the possibility for disaster at home or overseas to batter it and the difficulty the currently unemployed have getting work, I’m not surprised. I’m sure those that do have a job are hot on wanting to make sure they keep it. Personally, I feel pretty secure. But my workplace situation is a bit different

Tornados kill eight in Illinois..

A bipartisan drug import bill is unveiled by the senate. It allows persons to buy ninety day supplies of drugs from qualified Canadian pharmacies. Commercial buyers would be limited to Canada at first, but be allowed to expend to other industrialized nations a year later.

On Sunday the National Mall and it’s surroundings in DC will be the site of a protest march on abortion rights. The organizers expect hundreds of thousands from 1,400 organizations over 53 countries. That would be impressive. It would also take up a lot of space, so don’t plan on an easy weekend on the traffic front.

The California Assembly is musing a ‘Return to Sender’ bill that would require disposable CDs and DVDs that many companies(like AOL and Disney) send out to have a postage paid envelope sent with them so that unused items can be returned for recycling. I think it’s a damn good idea. They can recycle the envelope and the disc. 😉

Diebold was warned that use of uncertified vote-counting software was illegal in California. Despite said warnings by legal counsel, they continue to try and use their POS machines.

How will calories be measured for McDonalds new Go Active! Adult Happy Meal?

Slate reads Bob Wordward’s Plan of Attack so you don’t have to. Do you think that he missed his own point in this book? Perhaps he’s deliberately playing dumb. And what’s with the Simpson’s quote fest between these two article writers?

General

Our world is full of games and sites that promote hate. But instead of bemoaning them, groups should look to games that promote positive values. There are only a few sure things in life and one of them is that you’ll never end and abolish hate. It festers in every human being, me you and everyone you know. Better to try and set the focus toward what is good because what is bad won’t go away.

Scientists find a theoretical maximum at which data can be written to disk. It’s still many times faster than our current fastest read and write technologies. By about a thousand times.

Today’s Papers has two contractors on Iraq’s energy grid suspending work, Spain pulling out faster than estimated, further Falluja trials and more in the one page news.

Amusements

Scottish aristocrat steals car, plays dodgem with it. Car overheats, blows up. Says he: “I was framed”

Asshat police arrest man for driving 10 MPH over speed limit at 2 AM with his wife about to have a baby

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