News – Minor Responsibilities

Middle East

Iraq’s Prime Minister Nuri al- Maliki says his forces will take over security for the southern province of Muthanna next month. Mind you, I’ve never heard(as far as I can recall) this province as a hotbed for insurgent activity. A minor achievement if anything. When Iraqi forces have control over Faluja, Baghdad or some hot province, I’ll be impressed.

The hunt is on for two US soldiers taken captive by Iraq militants. US forces also mass for another crackdown in Ramadi, the largest in months.

In their latest attack, Taliban fighters kill 30 and take ten Afghani hostages in two separate ambushes in Helmand province.

There is an agreement for the EU to send cash to Palestine, bypassing the Hamas government, to help stave off humanitarian crisis for now.

North America

Senate Democrats plan to put up a resolution requesting a timetable for withdrawal from Iraq. While some polls show a slight favor toward such a move, this at least is something I disagree with. It is a matter of simple strategy that you not illustrate your future movements to the enemy. However, the status quo can’t remain forever. What we really need are lasting, significant results. As much progress as has been made, the fundamental problems in Iraq remain, namely the insurgency that could well destroy those things that have been built thus far. Simple numbers ensure they’ll never take over Iraq entirely, but every month they linger, they wear away at our forces and our prestige, simply by existing and surviving despite the considerable US presence in the country.

Rose Gentle, whose 19-year-old son Gordon was killed in Basra a month after completing his training, calls the fat inducement offered to troops who recruit friends into the military ‘blood money’. I call it another sign of how hard up the military is to find recruits. The more they have to spend to maintain recruitment numbers, the worse it is.

Meanwhile Bush’s missile shield remains an unreliable money sinkhole. I mean, come on.. billions and billions spent and testing is suspended over ‘quality control issues’?

The US Episcopal Church chooses Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori as their first female leader. Yup. Can you hear the controversy a comin?

General

The Blogs look at Iraq’s amnesty program for militants, a Home Drug Depot story and wasted Katrina relief monies.

Explainer looks into polling numbers.

Happy Tenth Anniversary to Slate.

Today’s Papers has a leaked cable from, apparently, U.S. Ambassador Khalilzad to Secretary Rice detailing the embassy’s Iraqi staff’s concerns that conditions in Baghdad have “visibly deteriorated,” dispatches from Mogadishu that shows some of the triumphant Islamic leaders as moderate and others as not, a remarkable drop in the number rapes over the past roughly decade and more in the one page news.

Amusements

Peanut-butter-smeared car leads to nine-person brawl on front lawn

School district embarrassed to find out that the published high school yearbook shows photos of students drinking and using illegal drugs. Oops

Back in 2003, Iran sent a letter offering nuclear cooperation, to recognizing Israel and stop funding terrorism to the US; the Bush administration decided to ignore it

Soccer fans in Bangladesh attack power station after repeated blackouts hit during televised World Cup games

Cape Canaveral to offer roller-coaster Zero-G Weightless Flights aboard modified 727 for tourists. Price only $3750, roughly same as two days spent at Disney World

Oil exec’s defense for high gas prices: “Man, this is nothing. Look what we’re charging the Europeans”

Army called up to fight horde of invaders marching into Australia. Battle expected to resemble climax of “Lord of the Rings,” except with toads instead of orcs

$1.7 million dollar penis extension falls flat

Britney Spears believes that she’s ready to publish a magazine about herself. Parenting tips will be on page 60 between ads for NASCAR and Marlboro

Deer follows woman into home and attacks her. No, this didn’t happen in a Gary Larson comic, it happened in Ohio

Britain’s leading fertility doctor says teenage girls who get pregnant “behind the bike shed” are just obeying nature’s law. Hilarity is now reproducing

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this Outlaw Dog

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this little man falling through a window

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop theme: Separated at birth