News – Poor Tactics

General

The International Association of Chiefs of Police has issued new guidelines, marking it ok to shoot suspected suicide bombers in the head. Now, if I were a canny terrorist, I’d set up a switch that would set the bomb off on the termination of life, thereby nullifying any effectiveness in this new tactic, while leaving the stigma placed on it by the recent mistaken shooting of a Brazilian man who was suspected of being a bomber, but wasn’t. It’s becoming more and more clear to me that we can’t be effective at interdicting them in progress. The more effort put into it, the more it shows how easily such countermeasures, though well meaning, can be circumvented. The true fight should be in stopping such operations before they start, which doesn’t include attacking countries that have little to do with the real enemy. Hopefully Iraq will be the last instance of this poor tactic.

The sad truth is that terrorists don’t need tech or powerful materials to make deadly explosives. As tech has matured, the use of common items for dangerous and deadly activities has become easier. So it will ever be as technology moves forward. By the same, tech allows us freer access to information, including that which is not normally seen in war. A true snapshot of what goes on. Things that are normally suppressed.

Christian video games. Worth taking a look at, though they don’t seem very appealing to me.

Today’s papers has the administration scrapping the “Global War on Terror” in favor of the “Global Struggle Against Violent Extremism”(though Bush still calls it War on Terror in a recent speech), that Roberts “opposed new provisions in the Voting Rights Act” Snuppy, the world’s first cloned dog and more in the one page news.

Middle East

The planned march by rightist Israelis is canceled after police block their path. Small groups of protestors did manage to slip through the roadblocks and over 200 people were arrested.

Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal says he’s frustrated with US politicians refusing to accept that Saudi Arabia is doing all it can to combat Islamic militancy. I refuse to accept it as well. I know Saudi can do more, but they won’t because they don’t want to rock the boat too much. But that’s expected because they don’t have much reason to stick their necks way out for the US. In fact, they make more cash of the oil when the US is in crisis. Why do every single thing you can to end a crisis in that case? Better to do just enough to keep in the good graces. That’s how a tactical mind thinks.

Surprising how few are upset that the US was kept in the dark when the UK aided in Israel going nuclear. Especially in today’s day and age.

Asia

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh notes that closer ties with the US won’t push them away from China. Some are under the opinion that courting India with added privileges not granted to others is a step in wooing India into an anti-China alliance.

Africa

The Sudanese capital Khartoum is described as much calmer than it was the previous evening, with the death toll of recent sitting around 130.

North America

The state of road rage and other such bits of social discord show how wild some of us are becoming. I’d opine the social health of America could use a good looking into.

Newsweek’s Meth Madness.

Does mercury in vaccines cause autism?

Amusements

Mark Fiore: Eminent Domination

Police officer decides to clear shotgun by aiming it at ground and firing. Partner is dismayed to discover that shotgun pellets bounce right back up off concrete

Martha Stewart violates probation, has house arrest extended, and that’s not a good thing

Simulated sex with a plastic dog, topless jacuzzi diving, howling like an animal on all fours and loud fake orgasms: the new nymphomaniac on Big Brother 6. Naturally, the Sun is there (34FF pics not safe for work)

Marshmallow gun pulled from state fair. Teen can’t afford $5000 insurance to sell “guns”

NY woman pleads guilty to posing as Saudi princess, racking up $950,000 Amex bill. Claims credit company should have known she was mentally incompetent, also blames her predicament on sexual harassment, 9/11

Car wash feels the heat after advert claims they “give the best handjob in town”

German man embezzles money out of his company by repeatedly calling partner’s phone sex line from work and splitting profits with her. I hope he likes prison fantasies

D.A. issues injunction against street gang because, if there is one thing gangs fear, it’s litigation

Fark Photoshop Challenge: August is “National Golf Month.” Photoshop some ways to make golf more exciting

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this osprey building its nest

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop these penguins</A