News – Nature’s Devastation Parallel

Nature waits for no one and wields her power without regard for those who cling to her surface. Perhaps her quakes and shakes are her own terrorism against those who pollute and neglect her. Will we refuse negotiation or reconciliation with her as well. Strange thought that. Just another of my odd musings.

Rescuers in Algeria are still seeking survivors of Wednesday’s earthquake. The death toll stands over 1,100, with 7,000 injured. Some who survived accuse builders of creating unsafe buildings in a region prone to quakes.

The US has dissolved Iraq’s army as well as the defense and information ministries and military and security courts. This, of course, to remove what is left of Saddam’s old power structure, with promises to make a new Iraq army in the future. We shall see. The UN resolution in its revised form was better, giving the UN some say on Iraq and inroads for the future, but it remains vague. I’ve no doubt that the UN will have a rough time getting deeply involved.

Baghdad’s National Museum is working on checking what they managed to save against saved inventories. It’s a slow process without phones, power, computers or even tables and chairs enough to help the work along.

Can Bremer do what Garner couldn’t? Thus far, he’s made some good steps, as well as mistakes. We’ll have to watch him and his crew closely. I’m giving him, for now, the benefit of the doubt, letting his actions and results speak for him.

Shell, Bechtel and Flour have dark records when it comes to their actions in Africa. Now they’re coming to Iraq. It makes one wonder what sort of misadventures and strife these folk might cause there.

The Bush Administration is rushing again. This time, they’re rushing their missile defense plans, deploying before they have a solid architecture build up.

There is a potential deal in the works to get Israel on board with the peace road map. Though the US says no changes will be made to the road map, I remain skeptical on if the US has the guts to put real pressure on Israel, rather than caving to their wishes.

Bush and Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi met to talk on North Korea and other issues. They continue to purport peaceful means of resolution. I hope they manage to find one and implement it. But I, again, remain skeptical.

General Tommy Franks will be stepping down and retiring soon. Make what you will of it. I’m not sure just what to read into it, if anything. But I’ll be keeping an eye and ear out.

Today’s Papers covers the peace road map, tax cuts being passed, the lifting of sanctions on Iraq and the Algeria quake as well as other tidbits. Still no details on just how willing Sharon will be to embrace the peace plan or if the US will go back on its promise and make revisions, no matter how they term them to make them seem like something besides revisions.

Hong Kong scientists have a likely theory that SARS originated from Civet Cats. They’re often caught and eaten by southern Chinese and carry a lot of virus’ in their bodies without being effected. Other scientists have suggested that SARS has fallen to Earth with the rest of the 2,200 pounds of bacterial material that falls to Earth each day. Meanwhile the WHO has lifted its travel warnings from Hong Kong and Southern China, though Taiwan remains worrisome.

Ever wonder how much of the food we eat is genetically modified? Explainer has some insights for you.

This link from a NeoCon site is interesting. While there are elements of it that I disagree with, while looking into the nature of terrorism and seeking to classify it I think it has come upon an interesting possibility. That the spread of terrorism is like that of a heroic fantasy. That terrorist acts are counterproductive by and large don’t matter. That it is as likely to change minds against you as for you don’t matter. In the end its something of a self serving, self promoting fantasy. Feeling you are part of something greater than yourself. Perhaps a shattering of that image will help to quell the attacks made? Though how to shatter it I would hardly begin to guess.

A final thought. An interesting speech on the seduction of war. I urge all to read it. If you agree or not, it is something to think upon, for all of us.

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