News – Turks in Northern Iraq?

Could be..

But we’ll have to hope not.

Iraq

The US administration in Iraq and the Iraqi Council are negotiating over the prospect of allowing Turkish troops into Iraq for peacekeeping reasons. The council is concerned about having troops from any neighboring nation in Iraq. Justified in the case of Turkish troops considering the bad blood between them and the Kurds. Just where Turkish troops might be deployed seems to be undecided.

A push for the cell phone network in Iraq to be based on US standards was dismissed as the three regional companies hired on for it plan to use the European standard. Which makes sense for the area the country is in. About time the US authority in Iraq did something I could agree with.

Another analysis of the WMD from David Kay. It remains unconvincing.

Israel/Palestine/Syria?

Syria delivers an ultimatum over further strikes in their country, but Israel leadership brushes it off. If Israel decides to do another strike in Syrian territory, we’ll see if it is a bluff or not. Meanwhile the Israeli military has been given clearance to call up reservists if need be.

Arafat’s health is failing, it seems. Yet another reason why Israel is better off not ousting him, when time may well do that for them sooner than later.

Bush ahs signaled approval for a bill imposing sanctions on Syria. It will begin passage through the legislature today. Yet another reason its better than Israel not push borders, since there are other ways of putting pressure on Syria.

In a quasi-irony, Saudia Arabia has lambasted Israel about a series of terror attacks. Pot, meet kettle.

Iran

Iran’s President Mohammad Khatam says Iran is ready to prove its nuclear stuff is for peaceful purposes only. I surely hope that’s true because I’m getting a bit weary of Iran’s flip flops all over the place.

Afghanistan

The US has released Muttawakil, the most senior Taliban member in custody after he was party to setting up talks between the US and the Taliban. Mind you, this is a little strange for the Bush administration. Last I heard, we don’t make deals with terrorists and we certainly don’t talk to them, short of telling them to give up. Or am I mistaken?

Pakistan

Pakistani forces are cracking down on a tribe suspected of harboring alQueda. They’ve been arresting suspects and the like as well.

US

Arnold is the governor. Now its see if he can do something with it.

After half a year, Bush still has to fight to defend his war. Personally, I’m waiting to see some stats on how well Iraq is doing. Every time he has a speech about it, he never gives any scale of improvement in Iraq. He just says its better, without qualifying that term. Nor does he give much of a insight into his plans. Thus we are left to wonder if Iraq reconstruction has a plan and if anything substantial is being done. Those are the two perceptions he has to dispel to win over the people. Otherwise, he’s just blowing hot air.

It has been announced that three senior aids have been cleared of being the source of the CIA agent leak. In an out of character display of realism, Bush says that they don’t know if they’ll find out who did it. Maybe its just me, but I read that as we won’t be finding out who did it, because if Bush really wanted to know who did it and bring them to justice, he’d be all over it like his little war on terrorism. That’s the type of person he is.

The do-not-call list has been given clearance to go live while its constitutionality is decided by an appeals court. Don’t get too comfy yet, it could still be hit with setbacks again.

Trouble in the Clark campaign as his campaign manager quits after being asked to take on a smaller role.

The wife of U.S. Republican Sen. Judd Gregg of New Hampshire was abducted Teusday, made to withdraw money from a bank and released unharmed. Fortunate thing for her.

According to a congressional investigation, the Pentagon has been selling surplus lab equipment online. Equipment that could be used to make biological weapons. Without checking who buys the gear. I would like to present this weeks Darwin Award to those geniuses at the Pentagon. Good work safeguarding our security, guys.

The Gaffes of Al Sharpton: Comments construed as anti-Semitism. Taken in context, they aren’t quite as clear in that way. Irregardless, has Sharpton grown from his more brash times? That, I’d think, is the most important question.

The Pros and Cons of Wesley Clarks’ earnestness.

General

Was Madalyn Murray’s husband no more than an FBI informant</A.. Seems a fantastic claim to me, but some books are known for their fantasies.

Berlin has all digital TV. Why not the US?

Day to Day: Nepotism in the US Government and The Supreme Court’s Case List.

Today’s Papers has Arnie’s win, the question of if Rummy was briefed on the Iraq management shakeup, a possible shelving of the US’ latest resolution for the UN and more.

Amusements

Mother Nature’s a bitch

Where the morons stay

Didn’t know cars ha that ype of alignment