News – Taiwan disorder

Taiwan

Incumbent Chen Shui-bian is declared the winner of the disputed presidential election. Protestors for his opponent reacted violently to the news. China’s official mouthpiece has quickly hopped up to point at the disorder as an example for Hong Kong, “Democracy is promising as a theory, but in reality it is something entirely different,” the official China Daily said in a commentary written by Xiao Ping. “If it is fostered in a radical way that is more than the local community can handle, the inevitable outcome is the disruption of the original social order while a new one is not yet established, resulting in the paralysis of governance and social chaos.”

Iraq

Bush also makes what some consider tasteless jokes about Iraqi WMD. Considering how serious an issue it is, I’m surprised that Bush would risk something as risky as making a comedic shot at his own failing. Jokes can be a dangerous weapon, but are just as likely to blow up in your face if not delivered properly. What I saw of them got a smirk from me, but didn’t enamor me to the president.

Israel/Palestine

The US vetoes a US resolution to condemn the killing of Sheikh Ahmed Yassin. Palestinians accuse the US of giving Israel a license to kill by this act. Israel has had an un spoken license to kill for a long time from the US government; this is just a renewal of it.

A breakdown of top militants, those most likely to fall into Israel’s sights next.

Palestinian intellectuals and politicians call for restraint, not revenge. Even Arafat, for once falling in line with a positive message. Though I don’t know that there is any hope for him regardless.

Pakistan

Pakistani soldiers continue to hunt alQueda as a take is released purported to be from Ayman al-Zawahri, calling for the overthrow of the Pakistani government. I guess he wasn’t close to capture. So much for the speculation. Then again, you never know with these tapes.

Spain

German police search an apartment in Darmstadt, formerly used by one of the arrested suspects in the Madrid train bombing.

US

Condi will meet with the 9/11 commission, but in private, not public. “In order for President Bush and future presidents to continue to receive the best and most candid possible advice from their White House staff on counterterrorism and other national security issues, it is important that these advisers not be compelled to testify publicly before congressional bodies such as the commission,” White House counsel Alberto Gonzalez said. I don’t see how her testifying will suddenly impair her ability to give advice. Must be too arcane for me. She speaks publicly well enough without compromising herself.

Now we have the ‘Unborn Victims’ law passed, to further muddy the waters over abortion.

What can you say about the swiftness and ferocity of the Bush Administration response to Clarke’s testimony? You could assume it hints that the story he told is at least close to the truth. That and/or that the administration believes the people will buy it. Or perhaps the preemption doctrine is being applied to their campaign?

Big think got in the way of perceiving the coming of 9/11?

Slate reads Richard Clarke’s book so you don’t have to. Get a bevy of tidbits culled from the pages here, perhaps to augment your own reading if you do read it.

General

The Olympic Flame begins it’s journey.

Researchers surmise that there may be life on Mars that we carried there.

Day to Day: Ad report card for the new Brawny man.

Explainer details how unbuilt architects make it. Primary is that they get paid even if their designs aren’t built. Pretty sweet. Click to learn more.

Today’s Papers has Bedouins dealing with the Japanese Army, rebuke against militants for the use of teenagers as bombers, low morale in Iraq and more in the one page news.

Amusements

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop unlikely NASCAR sponsors

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Theme: Other blockbuster Bible stories that Hollywood will produce after the success of the Jesus flick. Link goes to crazy Moe

Mark Fiore: White House Philosophers

Woman Tracks Down Obscene Phone Caller – A woman fed up with obscene phone calls tracked down the offender and cornered him as he made yet another call from a public phone booth, police said.

Note: I’ll tamper with the Poser animation tonight. I think I saved it in MPG4 format. I’ll try one that’s more mainstream.