News – Political Uncertainty

Iraq

Kurdish Leader Jalal Talabani gives ‘cautious welcome’ to the UN resolution on Iraq. He sounds like he doesn’t want to support it, but also doesn’t want to be painted as bad for not at least acknowledging it as a good thing. Even if it doesn’t address the concerns of his people fully. Mainstream political parties also welcome the resolution.

Iraqi police skirmish with militants in Najaf. At this time it’s unclear of the terms of the ceasefire made between US forces and Sadr’s militia was violated, as it’s not clear who was involved in the conflict. Two were killed in the fighting, including one Iraqi Police officer.

A new crack appears in newly minted global unity over Iraq. After the unanimous resolution is passed, the US and France are at odds over if NATO has a role in Iraq. Bush says yeah, Chirac says he doesn’t think so. As well, Chirac and many Arab leaders were openly skeptical in regard to Bush’s greater plan for democratizing the Middle East.

Human Rights Watch becomes the latest to prod Bush, accusing his administration of creating a climate for abuse when it ‘cast the rules aside’ on interrogation techniques.

The Italian hostages are back home now, though as they’re greeted with joy, so too are they greeted with suspicions that their mission in Iraq might have been illegal.

Radio Dijla is Iraq’s first talk radio station. They’re fighting crime, saving lives, and treating the emotional traumas of lovesick teenagers, fielding only a fraction of the up to 18,000 who call in each day.

Kurd Sellout Watch: Day 464: The potential issue the Kurds have with the passed UN resolution only now makes the papers, after it’s too late to do anything about it.

Israel/Palestine

For Sharon, promptness could be deadly. It’s being floated that the pullout for settlers could start as early as two months from now. Settlers and their allies, of course, are up in arms, threatening to bring Sharon down.

Afghanistan

Eleven Chinese workers were killed by gunmen who broke into their compound in Kunduz. The Taliban denies responsibility for the attack.

Pakistan

A Pakistani army commander Lieutenant-General Ahsan Saleem Hayat narrowly escapes an assassination attempt today, though nine others were killed in the attack on his convoy.

The Pakistani military continues to battle in the tribal regions near Afghanistan, reporting 20 fighters killed. Some sources say 15 security personnel were also killed, but the military declines to confirm the number. All that has been said is ‘some’ soldiers have been killed along with three civilians.

Korea

China doubts that North Korea has a uranium program, which the US has asserted they do.

US

The House Appropriations Energy and Water subcommittee denies the Bush Administration $36 million to study nuclear weapons.Hoever, the issue is hardly dead. But even a small victory is good in this.

The New York Police say there is no truth to an email in circulation that notes a terror attack planned on the NYC subway system June 11th.

Reagan, Reagan,

More pollage on the stance of Kerry and Bush. Kerry boosters shouldn’t get too excited. It’s still far too early to declare a winner.

Another look at the end of the Cold War. Was Reagan involved in ending it? Yup. Was he alone in that? Nope. Read on for the details of Ron and Mikhail’s Excellent Adventure(can you tell I like the title?).

General

Nintendo’s next generation console, according to the company’s president, is going to go a different way than pushing to the heights of dazzling graphics. He isn’t saying what the new track will be, obviously to stave off competitors attempts to match it, but it sounds interesting. Considering that graphics are a subjective matter usually, I think it’s safe to slide into a new path.. hopefully one that focuses on gameplay and other oft neglected factors.

Considering that when graphics get -too- realistic, their appeal appears to backslide, there could be serious basis for not following the wizzy keen graphics route too much farther.

Apple touts new liquid cooled G5s. And once again, progress progresses past what I bought only months ago. 😉 Oh well, dual 1.8 will hold me a while. :p The liquid cooled units are at the highest end, dual 2.5 Ghz machines. I’m not surprised Apple decided to delve into the tech used by overclockers. I just hope it’s reliable as that’s yet another part that could fail, upping the machine’s complexity.

Today’s Papers have the White House pulling it’s support for laws that require local phone companies to lease their lines to competitors at reduced rates, a departing general who says a year of training Iraqi forces has flopped, Gitmo interrogators getting access to prisoners medical files(against the Geneva Conventions apparently as well as unadvised by a psychiatrist at the same facility) and more in the one page news.

Amusements

Drunk dentist passes out on top of patient while extracting her tooth

Motorist fined for killing elderly pedestrian but faces jail for hitting tree

<A HREf="http://go.fark.com/cgi/fark/go.pl?IDLink=988764&location=http://customwire.ap.org/dynamic/stories/G/GERMANY_FLYING_TOILET%3fSITE=OHFRE%26SECTION=HOME%26TEMPLATE=DEFAULT”>Flying toilet causes auto accident

Mark Fiore: President Reaganesque

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Let’s do lunch with Ted Nugent. Photoshop The Nuge after he’s killed something huge.

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop these pilots goofing off

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Forget cars — rice out a household appliance instead