News – Strike One for the Patriot Act

US

A portion of the Patriot Act has been branded as unconstitutional. The portion in question bars providing “expert advice and assistance” to foreign terrorist groups. It was labeled as too vague.

It’s been revealed that the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge, Tennessee has been cheating on anti-terrorism drills for, perhaps, the last twenty years. Heads had better roll because this is total BS.

The US government is open. That means I have to be at work or use leave. So I’m at work. Damn. But almost no one else is here too. So low likelihood of assigned work. That’s good. 🙂

Halliburton seeks to counter allegations of corruption and cronyism with an ad campaign. Good luck on that, you’ll need it.

The US Congressional Budget Office has some bad news for Bush. The debts going to be even more nasty for next year’s budget. Over two trillion.

Iraq

Sabri Khamis, a friendly face of the law in Baghdad for 33 years was gunned down in a drive by shooting. Those who knew him mourn a man who served his country well.

Looking at David Kay’s art of camouflage. He hadn’t said anything new after his resignation, he just said it without obfuscation meant to cover the fact that he’d found nothing for the first report.

Japans first deployment of troops in decades has lead to a small war within the rest of the region’s conflict. One between Japanese press and military leaders who have been handing out some heavy restrictions on what can and can’t be said.

Cheney visits the Pope on his ‘Give the Iraq War a Chance’ tour. He presented the pope with a crystal dove. The irony of such a gift and its many metaphors is eating its way through my gut as we speak.

The Iraqi who gave Britain’s M16 the 45 minute tip on Saddam’s WMD says it’s untrue. As if it wasn’t yet obvious that Saddam was no imminent threat.

Human Rights Watch decides the war wasn’t justified as a humanitarian venture. Why? “Such interventions should be reserved for stopping an imminent or ongoing slaughter. They shouldn’t be used belatedly to address atrocities that were ignored in the past.”, says Kenneth Roth, executive director of the organization.

Israel/Palestine

Families of militant attack victims are against any release of the over 7k Palestinian prisoners currently being held, believing it will encourage terrorist groups to take more hostages. It likely will, but in situations like this a country has to make a few choices. Either you deal, leave your guys in their hands or you try and get them back by force, which could lead to their deaths.

Have a look at what is being said about the prisoner exchange.

Hamas has published pictures of Reem Riyashi, the first female Palestinian suicide bomber. This despite widespread criticism of such a move amongst Palestinians. There are also allegations from Israeli press that she was coerced by Hamas into her actions to atone for other disgraces in her life.

Afghanistan

Canadian peace keeper and afghan civilian were killed by a suicide attack in Kabul. The attacker threw himself in front of a car of Canadian soldiers. Three other soldiers were injured.

General

A new big time email worm called MyDoom(as well as Novarg or Shimgapi) is making rounds. Apparently it comes through with spam and can allow unauthorized use of computers. Standard procedures, such as never running programs in email you didn’t explicitly ask for apply to avoid this little bugger. Some say it could be the next big one so get ready just in case.

Experts think spam will be dead by 2006. That’d be nice, but I’m not holding my breath.

Google Bomb link removed as I couldn’t get it to work at all, even though I used the URL from Wired(where I got the link int he first place) nor could I find the article on SF Gate’s site. I’m annoyed.

Today’s Papers has the 9/11 commission noting multiple chances the US government had to stop the attacks that started all of this. And a bunch more. The government on ‘shrooms? Would explain some things.

Amusements

Newgrounds: How it will end

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Burger King just fired their lead creative ad agency. Step in and create the next ad campaign for them

Adventures of a Ford Focus in a Nebraska snowstorm

PS: The reason I posted about my diary philosophy has nada to do with any of my regular readers and noters. Just thought I’d let you all know, so now one had any false worries.