News – Middle East Escalation (1/2)

Just when you though it couldn’t get worse? Or maybe you did. Either way, it got worse this weekend.

Israel/Palestine

If you hadn’t heard already, Israel did a raid into Syria after a suicide attack that killed 20 Israelis, Arab and Jew on the even of Yom Kippur. They claim that they were striking an Islamic Jihad training camp. Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the terror attack, but says they have no bases in Syria. The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine said the camp was one of its deserted bases and that the only casualties were two slightly wounded guards.

The Bush Administration has urged both sides to refrain from increasing tensions, but Syria is going to the UN(as Israel should be to maintain a pristine image) and the rhetoric coming from the Israeli leadership is starting to sound like a parroting of Bush’s justifications for preemptive war. You know, attacking terrorists wherever they are and borders not meaning a thing and describing Iran, Syria and the Gaza strip as an ‘axis of terror’. The mess continues with Syria trying to get a resolution condemning Israel’s attack, asking the US not to veto it.

Syria is calling on the US to condemn Israel’s attack in its territory, but we can safely assume that won’t be happening.

Iraq

The New York Times, citing administration officials, has it that the White House is looking for an oversight shakeup on efforts to suppress unrest in Iraq and Afghanistan. I suppose they’re getting tired of being poked to death by rebels.

Rioting in Brasa, Hilla and Baghdad by former solders collecting payments. US officials say that Saddam supporters started it by spreading the false rumor that there wasn’t enough money.

Interviews with members of the US formed Iraq Council show them as concerned with their limited influence over US policies on Iraq. Another of many blows to the US administration in Iraq.

Iran

Iran will be giving the IAEA a list of the parts it has imported for uranium enrichment, but can’t say exactly where they came from as they were bought through intermediaries.

Korea

After the note of Saddam’s trickery over chemical weapons, it behooves us to muse of North Korea is pulling the same trick with their announcements over the progress of their nuclear ambitions. Are they bluffing or are they telling the truth about matters?

Afghanistan

The NATO international force in Afghanistan will be moving beyond Kabul for the first time. But it is limited and temporary.

Afghan women are still facing the abuses that were perpetrated under the Taliban in many areas of the country, says Amnesty International. And neither western governments or the new Afghanistan administration are doing much to promote change.

US forces came under attacks in four provinces ahead of the anniversary of US intervention in the country. The attacks resulted in no US casualties and only one militant killed.

The US is far from getting an agreement from the UN. I can sort of empathize when I read the sentiment of not wanting to risk further staff lives over a marginalized role in Iraq. Why should more UN staff be put into danger to do US given busy work?

Lotfi Raissi, an Algerian pilot falsely accused of being part of the 9/11 attacks, has won himself damages and an apology for the false accusations.

The Gaffes of Dennis Kucinich: Various quotes of his that are unconventional from a professional standpoint, which led to a quote that Kucinich’s at risk of becoming the ‘Moonbeam Congressman’. But does it bear any relevance to how he would do as a president?

Roy Horn, of Siegfried and Roy, was mauled by a tiger during a show this weekend. He remains in the hospital in critical condition, but has recovered his awareness and doctors are feeling positive about his recovery chances. It’s amazing they have gone thirty years without such an incident. Though I do wonder if he’ll be able to do the show again, should he recover enough physically in time.

The CIA agent who had her identity leaked is fearful for her life, as is her husband. If she’s a deep in as is suggested, I would be too. Also, a note of what law the leakers broke.

Michael Moore has questions for Bush in an extraction from his new book, Dude, Where’s My Country?

Lara Tabac, a medical anthropologist for the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, recounts an amusing interview and the difficulty of one on one interviews. Then notes a current project on the effect of domestic violence on condom use.

Bush boosters are looking to spin numbers in a new way. But when it comes down to it, their new way isn’t necessarily a better indicator. See why here.