News – The Names in Iraq

Iraq

Ghazi Yawaris the new, appointed interim president of Iraq. And he calls for full sovereignty. Iyad Allawi will hold a prime minister post and Hoshiyar Zebari will be the new foreign minister. Apparently, the Iraqi Governing Council has already dissolved itself. Various papers muse the appointment of Iyad Allawi.

The Army is investigating reports of assaults on and theft from Iraqis by US soldiers.

A car bomb blows through the HQ of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan political party in Baghdad. Some accounts say 25 dead, while Lieutenant Colonel Robert Campbell, a US officer at the scene, says only three were killed. I’m sure it’s annoying that this comes only minutes after the new government for the country is announced.

Time Magazine says it has internal Pentagon emails that link Cheney’s office to assistance given to Halliburton in securing big oil contracts.

Israel/Palestine

A public opinion poll and support from Egypt give Sharon a boost over his disengagement plan. Finance Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continues to spearhead resistance against the plan.

Meanwhile the cycle continues in Gaza. Homes are destroyed and the young are swayed through propaganda and Israel’s own actions to continue the cycle themselves. Unending. Wasteful.

Afghanistan

Haji Ajab Shah, a senior police official in Jalalabad, was killed by explosives set to his office chair. Either their security blows or it was an inside job.

Saudi Arabia

The country seeks to tighten security around Western folk after a shooting and kidnapping spree ends in 22 civilian deaths, three of the four militants involved escaping in the chaos of the resolution.

Pakistan

Pakistani Shiites clashed with police during funerals today for 19 killed in a suicide bombing on a mosque in Karachi. Some expressed a lack of confidence in authorities for failing to protect their mosques.

Iran

IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei says there is no direct evidence that Iran’s nuke program was for military purposes.

US

As evidence surfaces of a concerted effort by the president’s chief lawyer to try to insulate abuses from domestic prosecution, it be comes clear we need a special counsel appointed to investigate matters.

Bush observes memorial day without too much politicking. Kerry says nuclear terrorism is the gravest threat to the US, giving a plan to secure atomic materials around the world. Kerry does some honoring for the war dead too.

Silvio Berlusconi, PM of Italy, lets us know, in reference to Bush that, “He’s a normal man, absolutely open to everyone’s feelings. He’s a family man, a husband, a father of two children who he loves very much. He’s someone absolutely like us,” Personally, I fail to see what that matters. Personally, I’ve never denied that, but he’s a normal man with the most important job in the world. There should be no slack considering the deep responsibility. Slack isn’t cut for screw ups in any other job, I don’t see why that should change for Bush or any other president, including Kerry if he manages it. He knew the truth of the job before he ran for it. You just have to look back at history. Presidents always have the potential to be reamed by public opinion as much as lauded.

Who might be Kerry’s running mate? One of the big questions with regard to his candidacy.

General

Has this gas price crisis come at a good time for alternative fuels? This has to be something of a wakeup call for everyone. A little global panic and prices for gas can double, bringing pain for the consumer and small business owner alike. It’s about time to look at biodesel, ethanol and other alternatives that can be produced cleanly here.

A smart bullet that would allow you to detect explosives at long range. Interesting idea.

Today’s Papers has Iraqi docs the focus of kidnappings and beatings over the last two months, fighting in Najaf again, alQueda taking the responsibility for the mess in Saudi and more.

Amusements

Homemade political spots are appearing all over. Share in the vitriol and the humor.

Pizza man shoots and kills potential robber, fired by Pizza Hut for carrying a concealed weapon

Family of four get cochlear implants together. Some in local deaf community disagree with their decision — say they should embrace their deafness as a cultural identity

Man loses truck, dog, freedom. Country music likely to ensue

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Theme: Unlikely Bible-based movies

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Theme: Unlikely McDonald’s Happy Meal toy promotions

Fark Photoshop Challenge: <A HREF="http://forums.fark.com/cgi/fark/comments.pl?IDLink=971795″>Photoshop this farker who got her hand stuck in a cannon