News – The First Veto

North America

Bush uses his first veto ever on legislation to expand government funding of embryonic stem cell research. Amusingly, he decides to sign the veto off camera before his little PR event, then he surrounds himself with the cute kiddies. Typical. Whether or not it backfires come election day.. well, we’ll see.

The House votes to keep the altered pledge of allegiance, rather than using the true version as it was originally crafted. Personally, I think we should use the original. Then again, since I don’t say the pledge much at all, in the end it matters little to me. Pledges and oaths don’t make patriotism. Anyone can parrot words.

A bill is unveiled to bolster drug safety, providing for a fine for drug makers who don’t complete post-approval studies or who violate safety monitoring plans for recently approved medicines. Sounds good.

The Senate approves a bill to protect US troops from abusive or misleading life insurance sales.

Northeastern US folks should be ready for a storm, Tropical Storm Beryl is closing on in the coast.

In case anyone was wondering, they’re still intent on eventually building that stupid ‘Freedom Tower’ in place of the WTC buildings in New York. I maintain that I’m in favor of a more modest use of the land for good office space and a small, poignant memorial. Get it done, move on, which is the example we need to set for the rest of the US.

Syed Haris Ahmed, 21, born in Pakistan and a student at Georgia Tech and Ehsanul Islam Sadequee have been indicted on charges of plotting “violent jihad” and undergoing paramilitary training in northwest Georgia to prepare themselves for terrorist acts.

Middle East

The UN expresses concern for all the killing going on in Iraq. And the seeming lack of will on the part of the government to do anything to stop it. I mean, what have they done? Any initiatives? Any successful crackdowns? Anything at all? The UN estimates 100 civilians dying each day from this. I’d say that’s enough to encourage some manner of strong action to halt the killing.

NATO reminds us that Afghanistan isn’t out of the woods yet, either and we still have the violence between Israel, Hamas and Hiz. And yet the US government does so little after helping to prompt much of this disorder(as far as Iraq and Afghanistan go). I think it’s time for more aggressive diplomacy and work in these regions. Half measures and bullshit haven’t done enough in the last few years.

Israeli jets strike and destroy the hillside village of Srifa. Their bombs destroyed 15 houses, killed at least 17 people and wounded 30. This was as people were attempting to flee ahead of the attack. Obviously, many didn’t make it. Apparently, Hizbullah fired some rockets from the village. Because of that, Israel came and destroyed it. Likely they killed no terrorists and did nothing at all to hamper or harm their operations. Likely the reason they came to use the village was to provoke just this reaction, further inflaming the people. So what has Israel gained? Nothing. The people won’t rise up against Hiz because of this. They’ll rise up against Israel, because Israel is the one killing them.

Nor will Israel gain in the long run, as their aim to militarily defeat Hiz will come to naught in the long run. As I’ve said before, militarily breaking an organization built upon ideals can only succeed through genocide. But even that is unlikely to work, ignoring the moral horror such an option evokes.

Some who flee from the violence in Lebanon are fleeing their country for the second time.

Of course, the big question of the moment is.. what happens next? Unless someone responsible steps up to defuse the situation, nothing pretty is the most likely answer. As much as Hiz needs a kick in the ass, Israel is going the wrong way. Mark my words.

Is time on Hiz’s side? Reports are they have stacks and stacks of rockets, enough to keep up attacks for months. If they have the 13k rockets that some say they do and they fire 100 a day then they can keep it up for months. Israeli Gen. Alon Friedman claims that Israel has destroyed 10k Hiz rockets since they started the attack on Lebanon. Unlikely.

Don’t blame Bush for the conflict in Lebanon? I suppose, though his lack of success when it comes to diplomacy certainly didn’t help avoid this blow up.

So how did Iran and Syria become buddy buddy?

General

Explainer explores airborne propaganda distribution.

The Blogs look at a recent op-ed by George Will, news that the U.S. and Britain are giving Israel a week to finish off Hezbollah and the grim new stats on the postwar Iraqi death toll.

Today’s Papers has Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki condemning “Israeli aggression,” Israel trying to depopulate southern Lebanon, Islamic militias are moving on the transitional Somali government’s only stronghold and more in the one page news.

Amusements

Just a word about something they may not have covered in driver’s ed: you cannot safely switch places with a passenger while you’re driving down the highway just because you’ve set the cruise control

Dollar stores targeted by robbers who apparantly have a taste for cheap-ass crap

How can you explain to your cellmate Bubba that your robbery was foiled by a 13-year-old tying you up with jump rope?

God takes time off from his busy schedule to mark alligator with letters G-O-D (with pic)

Today’s “guy masturbating in the Arby’s drive-thru again” story brought to you by Decatur and the makers of Arby’s secret sauce

Man claiming to be agent of non-existent agency leaves gun at border crossing, arrested when he asked for it back

Man calls in to “Opie and Anthony” saying he is going to kill a tree live on air. Man uses gun. Tree laughs it off, police don’t

Taking a cue from Tom Cruise, Saudi Arabia allows “temporary marriages” where there’s little commitment beyond sex. No word on if the Catholic Church plans to release similar doctrine on “technical virginity”

Drunk man falls 30 metres while trying to relieve himself, is still holding his beer when rescued. If you think he might be Australian — good on ya, mate

Girl raised by a pack of dogs is now 23, still wants steak (with pic)

Trail of bras and panties leads police to underwear thief. Newspaper report notes dryly that there was a “brief” chase

Congress takes time out of their busy schedule banning gay marriages and flag burning to transfer ownership of ugly-ass cross on a San Diego hill to the Department of Defense

Scotter driving Italian breaks national record by losing 144 points off his license in 15mins

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this dork and his wheel of death

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop these Transformers movie extras

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Rudy Giuliani is thinking of running for president. Help him decide by photoshopping potential campaign posters