News – Optimized National Security?

North America

Looks like we have the FBI and CIA have reached an accord on coordinating on intelligence matters. Personally, I won’t hold my breath, but it is nice to see some progress being made.. hopefully it will lead to the two organizations becoming the lean, mean, intelligence crunching machine they should be when it comes to national security. Heck, we might start actually learning something about the terrorists rather than making a lot of assumptive accusations.

Between comments of the president and Defense Sec, there seems to be a minor disconnect on whether Guantanimo could be shut down. According to the prez, it’s not out of the question, where as Rummy says he’s heard of no such considerations. Likely it’s just a minor miscommunication or lack of communication. I think it quite likely that Guantanimo might be closed, with the people captured returned to their countries of origin for ‘detention’ and interrogation, moving the trouble involved out of US hands and opening the scope for interrogation inside of countries where moral concerns aren’t so high. Wouldn’t surprise me.

Cheney says the people at Guantanimo are ‘bad people’. Which is amusing considering how many have been released. They must not be all that bad in the case. Personally, I wouldn’t have as much of an issue with Guantanimo if I thought they were processing detainees in a fair way, but by and large I don’t think they are. They’re not weeding out the ‘bad people’ from the unlucky people who don’t really belong there

A report from a congressional panel criticizes the UN for poor management, low staff morale and lack of accountability and professional ethics. Unlike other criticisms, however, this one comes with suggestions on reform which include adopting corporate-style oversight bodies and staff standards, as well as creating a rapid reaction capability to prevent genocide, mass killings and sustained human rights violations before they occur. All interesting ideas to explore.

Cheney slams Dean for being over the top. The old saying holds, takes one to know one.

Republicans are starting to urge Bush to reevaluate his Iraq policy. I suppose stay the course only convinces for so long until the passengers start looking around for a path to the goal that’s less troublesome.

McDonalds is expanding tests on a nationwide dollar-a-day video rental service. This is actually a pretty good idea if it pans out. If people get the videos, they have to bring them back, increasing the likelihood they’ll pick up something while they’re there.

Middle East

A rare string of bomb attacks in Iran kill 9 and wound 70 ahead of the coming elections.

Saddam’s lawyers want him to be tried in a neutral country, preferably Sweden. Obviously, they’re concerned about him not getting a fair trial there. Which isn’t, I would say, a fear that is without grounds.

Syria says US accusations that it hasn’t pulled it’s intelligence agents out is like their unfounded accusations of Iraq having weapons of mass destruction. I would agree in that it’s highly unlikely that the US has solid intelligence that Syria hasn’t pulled out it’s intelligence agents, just like they didn’t have solid intelligence on Iraq’s WMD. Whether or not Syria has pulled out it’s agents is a question better answered by fact rather than assumption. The Bush administration could do without another upset like over WMD.

Seems the nationalist surge in Lebanon is slowing and the sectarianism is rising. An unfortunate thing that’ll likely complicate the country recovering from it’s change of hands.

French journalist Florence Aubenas returns to France after months in captivity in Iraq, while France denies it paid a ransom for her release.

Four men found guilty of criminal acts were put to death for murder in Gaza by the Palestinian Authority. Matters such as this should be watched carefully.

A high ranking member of Hizbullah urges the UK to deny US and Israeli pressure to keep the group outlawed.

The US finally does something tough with Israel, imposing sanctions over Israel’s sale of drones to China. They’ve apparently been in place for three months already.

Basra has shifted from liberal toward conservative Islam since the fall of Saddam. It should be expected, how that Iraq’s Muslims are allowed to fully embrace their religious convictions, many of which holding conservative values. As much as freedom of religion is a boon it’s also a bane. As with all good tolerant ideals.

Angry Hindu youths beat three American missionaries and tried to kidnap one of them as they held a bible study class, a rare attack in Bombay. Christians are often accused of “forcibly” converting poor and uneducated low-caste Hindus by bribing them with money and gifts, a charge missionaries deny.

Asia

South Korea’s President Roh Moo-hyun says that North Korea can expect flexibility when comes back to the 6 party talks.

A UN human rights envoy says that China should stop repatriating North Koreans that flee their country and grant them refugee status.

General

The newest substance used to fight pollution? Sheep Urine.

Explainer looks at how good hurricane forcasts are and muses if win-loss records mean a thing in boxing.

Today’s Papers has women protesting in Tehran, a mixed picture still on Iraqi forces, the use of immigration offences being used by the US government to go after anyone it things might be connected with terrorists and more in the one page news.

Amusements

Neighborhood watch group has people pose as hookers, and then present a flier to every customer informing them that they have just been videotaped and will be appearing on the 11 o’clock news

Lactivists target Starbucks for a ‘nurse-in.’ No word if the moms are grande or vente

Film students dressed in sharp suits, brandishing fake guns, forget to inform police that they are recording a film. Hilarity ensues

You may wish to review dispatching procedures if residents make a dozen reports of a fire, fight it themselves, and then have to drive to the firehouse to get a response

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop theme: The Quaker guy gets a job in corporate America

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop crappy bootleg DVD covers. Link goes to inspiration

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this off-season vineyard