News – No Turks in Iraq! (1/2)

Or so maintaines the Iraqi Council. And I agree with them.

Iraq

The Iraqi council is sticking to its guns on resisting Turkish troops being allowed into Iraq. The king of Jordan has backed this up, adding that no border country should be involved as all have agendas. Surely.

A mediator in Iraq has suggested that the CPA needs to move quickly before rising Islamic extremism pushes the country into civil war. I don’t now how likely, but I wouldn’t dismiss such a possibility. If it happens, things could get uglier real fast.

Bush touts new Iraqi dinars as a sign of progress. Of all the things I’d hope he would tout, Saddam free dinars aren’t one of them. If it is a step, in my opinion it’s a small one.

Trumped by the continuation of the general guerrilla war that picks off US troops and nearby Iraqis. The question remains, despite US finger pointing, who all is really involved in these attacks and what are their motives? It could be alQueda. It could be Saddam Loyalists. But it could also be other Iraqis, annoyed with the US. More likely, all three are involved.

Nobel-prize winning economist Joseph Stiglitz has added to those shaking their heads at the US’ plans to privatize Iraq. He says they ‘risk social stability and Russia-style asset stripping’.

The rise of crime in Baghdad has been the hardest on women, a natural target for various despicable crimes. I’d suggest this is a side effect of the desperation of some Iraqis who can’t get work and money to feed their families. When people have no money to live, they do what they must.

Israel/Palestine

In a three day incursion, declared by Israel to be a hunt for arms smuggling tunnels, three militants and five civilians have been killed and an estimated one thousand(Guardian has more details) left homeless in Rafah. Their forces pulled back on Sunday, but tanks remain at the fringes of the refugee camp. Workers are attempting to return services to the camp, but say the Israel is blocking their attempts to fix the infrastructure. A spokesman for Israel has said that three tunnels for smuggling arms form Egypt were destroyed(all built under houses) and five structures used to hide tunnels or fire at troops were demolished. He admitted other buildings might have been damaged in the fracas.

I’d levy my own personal opinion on this, but you likely know it already. I’m just glad no one was nearby while I read the two articles on this.

The new Palestinian Prime Minister, Ahmed Qurie, has hinted that he will be quitting after a new cabinet is formed. Though officials close to him say that’s not yet a certainty. It is unfortunate that Arafat can’t seem to give it up when it comes to his power.

Just to add a dash more insanity, US and Israwl have been quietly in cahoots to stick US-supplied Harpoon cruise missiles(nuclear) into Israel’s small fleet of Dolphin class subs. Now we know for certain that Israel is nuclear capable and can strike any of its neighbors from the sea. Doesn’t it just give you a warm, glowing feeling? No? Well, it might soon.

Musing the rising number of female Palestinian Suicide Bombers.

South America

A reported 20 dead when government forces were sent to quell a protest in Bolivia. Protests against President Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada have been growing increasingly violent over the past month.

US

Rummy’s 9 billion dollar slush fund.

Kerry says Bush and Cheney should apologize over lying about Iraq. He must know that won’t be happening, considering Bush’s constant pushes to try and regain justification

Environmentalists are displeased with the thinness of conservation measures in the energy bill that’s slowly rolling through congress, including a lack of incentives for car makers to raise the fuel efficiency of cars.

Idiot paranoia between US and French officials remains. Time for these children to grow up and play nice.

A look at the last democratic debate. With some amusing awards at the end.

An interesting debunking of some common opinions on the Religious Right.

Has the low-rise pants fad gone too far? I think the most amusing part of this is referring to the fad as America’s new crack epidemic. 😉 Though there are very real issues as it is possible for low rise jeans to cause meralgia paresthetica.