News – Reversing Iraq Counterproductively

Iraq

Six senior officers in connection with the abuse at Abu Ghraib prison have been reprimanded. Six soldiers are under criminal investigation and an administrative investigation of the abuse has been ordered by Lieutenant General Ricardo Sanchez. The reprimands are private, thus who was corrected and their rans remain unsaid. A seventh received a lesser letter of admonishment in connection with the incident. Personally, I don’t think the leaders should be let off with nothing more than a written reprimand(even if it is the most severe form of written correction, whatever the hell that counts for). We should see some demotions at least for this sort of bull. Especially for anyone who knew this was going on, but said nothing. The people in charge are where the buck stops and if no one sought to try and stop this, they need to burn in the figurative sense. Not only for the general principal of not letting such abuses go unpunished, but to try and salvage some of the respectability points lost in regard to the common man and woman in Iraq and the rest of the region. Especially with locals saying that tales of torture in the prison aren’t uncommon.

Handing out such sticky tasks as interrogation to private contractors is a mistake by our military. Incidents like this are an illustration of the dangers in allowing such people to tend to tasks that brush up close against the Geneva Convention.

Staff Sergeant Ivan “Chip” Frederick kept a journal since January 19th of matters within the prison. By his own written record, he tried to dissent and express himself, but it came to naught. If that much is true, he can be afforded some amnesty in my opinion. Not full, but some.

Meanwhile British military police are investigating images that portray British soldiers torturing Iraqis. There are suspicions that the photos could be forgeries as part of an elaborate setup. The photos in question are here. They are said to be a bit too pristine for images taken by a pocket digital camera. As well, a rifle in frame in one image is of a model not issued to British troops and so on.

The Iraqi general being put in charge of Falluja security has been shifted to Mohammed Latif, He’s a general with a history of standing up to Saddam. The previous one, Jasim Mohamed Saleh(he does look a little like Saddam), a former general of Saddam’s Republican Guard, was obviously not to the people’s likening so he was shuffled out for Latif. Seems that Saleh also refused to give up some fighters in Falluja. Can’t have that.

The Bush administration is under fire from US lawmakers as they say only a fraction of the $18.4 billion set aside for reconstruction has been put to use for reconstruction. Not only that, but they say some of it is being diverted toward matters of security and administration costs.

In a spot of good news Thomas Hamill, the US civilian contractor held hostage in Iraq, escaped. He’s now on his way to Germany, to a military hospital to be checked out. Glad to have at least one more hostage out of harms way. As it is told, he saw a US patrol passing near where he was held, so he broke out and ran a half mile to catch up with them. I’m surprised his captors were so negligent.

Four more US soldiers were killed in two separate attacks over the weekend. Three British solders were wounded in a clash with Sadr’s Mehdi Army

In the contention between the Army and the marines, both lose. All boasts aside, neither is well suited to the work in Falluja.

Israel/Palestine

As predicted, Likud voted down Sharon’s plan for a withdrawal from Gaza. However that embarrassing little setback won’t stop him. I think he’s daft if he thinks that the settlers will go along with this. The only question is, how far are the settlers willing to go to retain a grip on Gaza? If he pushes thorough with the plan and sets the IDF against the settlers, things could get nasty.

Two Palestinian gunmen shot dead a pregnant mother and her four daughters. No doubt events such as this will only steel settler resolve to not give in to terrorism, as many are so inclined to characterize.

An interesting glance into some Israeli mindsets. Between the impossibility of forging a real Palestinian government and the way out level of some ideologies in Israel, one might surmise that peace will never come between them.

Pakistan

The US military urges Pakistan to get physical in the tribal regions near the Afghan border. Seems the US is getting a little leery of their great ally against terrorism after several tribal militants were given amnesty. Of course, who is the US to tell Pakistan how to handle it’s own country? As much as our leaders bitch about taking no lip from other nations about their nation’s security, it’s amusing to see them trying to prod another nation into doing what they want.

Saudi Arabia

A recent shooting spree at a petrochemical complex in Saudi Arabia has the oil market edgy. The mere thought of a deft stroke or two destabilizing the oil market has those involved in fits already with their overactive imaginations.

US

Paul Bremer has recanted on his prior criticisms that Bush was slow on the uptake when it comes to terror. “My statement in February 2001 reflected my frustration that in the nine months following the recommendations of the National Commission on Terrorism, none had been implemented by the Clinton administration nor by the newly elected Bush administration,” he said in a statement. In other words, you’re an impatient, reactionary man Bremer? Personally, the criticisms remain in my mind. Bush is slow, until(like with most US presidents), something comes to kick him in the ass and get him mobile on certain issues.

Warren Buffett, second most wealthy guy in the world, is joining onto Kerry’s campaign as an economic advisor. Considering his mad investing skills, I’d wager that’s not a bad idea practically. That he’s been in opposition to Bush’s tax policies is likely a bonus.

U.S. Supreme Court Justice David Souter was assaulted by several men while jogging Saturday. He’s been released form the hospital and says he’s fine. Curious. I wonder if they had an agenda.

A Howard Dean talkshow? Bwahahahaha! *Ahem* Seriously, he can go for it if he wants. Remains to be seen if such a venue would be anything more than a brief showing. Most talkshows launched by such figures as Dean come and go so fast, you barely even hear of them.

Sami Al-Hussayen is being prosecuted for aiding terrorists. What he did was create sites for various Islamic organizations which, as charged by the prosecution, could eventually access sites with ties to radical organizations.

Pardon me, but what sort of bullshit is this? Did he make direct links to these radical sites(which would still be stupid on some levels, but would be easier to take seriously) or indirectly? How many links? Two? Five? Ten? Considering the nature of the Internet, it’s VERY easy to link to ‘improper’ sites through the cascading interconnection of sites and links. What if I wanted to link to a site run by Hamas for reference purposes(You know me and my links, I’ll link to anyone)? Would that make me a criminal? I’ve never supported them, nor any other such organization. We’re getting into sticky territory here again.

General

New means by which to seek signs of breast cancer could make the mammogram obsolete. The X-Ray method of a mammogram is not as effective on dense breast tissue, which could hamper attempts at early detection of cancer. New procedures could use electromagnetic waves to do a better job.

Taito made a mint off Space Invaders back in the day. Can they bring the concept back in the present day, updated and renamed Space Raiders? Gamespot(My first game review site) hated it.

Today’s Papers notes that Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Abdullah places the blame for terrorist attacks in his country at the feet of Zionists, a look inside Falluja, more on Sharon and the like in the one page news.

Amusements

Couple spend over $150,000 to turn themselves into a real life Ken and Barbie, over 89 operations between them

Drunk driver causes spectacular crash, shows gratitude to rescuers by masticating cop, bitchslapping EMT

Man breaks into girlfriend’s apartment, proceeds to spray down walls with ketchup and BBQ sauce

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop the consequences of an instantaneous switch to the metric system in the U.S.

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Theme: Middle-Earth in America

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Theme: Google (or Google searches), 15 years in the future

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop people doing unfulfilling jobs. Difficulty: Try not to offend farkers by accidentally using their jobs