News – United They Stand
Middle East
It seems intimidation won’t do as well this time, Syria and Iran saying they will present a common front to face challenges by the US. The most dangerous potential is that groups like this will band together against us.
“The Iraq conflict, while not a cause of extremism, has become a cause for extremists,” says Porter Goss, repeating the very same thing that many have already been warning about. The Iraq war didn’t start the fire, but it has been fuel. As well, Iraq makes a perfect training ground for weeding out the weak amongst the international terror groups. It’s a live exercise for them with US forces on unfamiliar territory. The survivors of this conflict, in my opinion, are likely to be the new leaders of groups like alQueda. Why aren’t we being made safer? Because we’re trying to do it the ‘easy’ way, I think. Rather than focusing on alliances, diplomacy and their means of indirect confrontation, we’re trying top pull straight through, which doesn’t work against loose terrorist orgs.
Israel’s Attorney General Menachem Mazuz has closed the case on Ariel Sharon’s campaign funding scandal, saying there isn’t enough evidence to charge him, though his son has been indicted on criminal charges including fraud, breach of trust and perjury. He could face seven years in prison if convicted.
Israel’s parliament approves legislation that will provide compensation for settlers moved out in the Gaza evacuation plan.
Europe
Spanish police have arrested two members of the armed Basque separatist group ETA in Valencia, seizing explosives in the deal.
North America
House lawmakers are saying no to the farm subsidy cuts.
The supplemental that Bush put forward is likely to face bumps as it’s picked over to deal with the little additions that have been highlighted that have naught to do with funding the Iraq/Afghanistan action. I hope they weed it all out and put it in the normal budget where it belongs. That’ll give us some more realistic budget numbers(though I think the whole supplemental should be in there).
Theresa Schiavo’s parents, Robert and Mary Schindler, will be campaigning for public protest and political pressure as their options dwindle on attempting to keep their daughter alive. Personally, I think they need to let her die with what dignity she has left after all of this BS.
General
Do you think that bloggers should have the same protections as the media? I think they can have the same protections, so long as they also bear the responsibilities as well.
A non-invasive blood test can now be used to detect the gene for the fatal disease beta-thalassemia in a growing fetus rather than invasive amniocentesis.
Cosmetic surgery for pets? Some people have too much money to burn.
Amusements
Mark Fiore: Torture
Junior high students suspended after being caught holding Fight Club. Obviously broke the first two rules of Fight Club
Today’s “toll-free road conditions phone number directing people to phone-sex line” story brought to you by British Columbia
If you’re not reading Turkey’s Yeni Safak, how else can you find out that Israeli troops are in Iraq, the U.S. used chemical weapons in Fallujah, and “U.S. forces have been harvesting the innards of dead Iraqis for sale on the U.S. ‘organ market’
New Hampshire has the highest rate of pot smoking in the U.S. A good clue is that the New Hampshire state bird is a pizza
Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this shepp
Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop some new names for the Fleet Center. Feel free to use ones from Tuesday’s caption thread. Good ones may appear on CNN Friday morning
Fark Photoshop Challenge: Theme: Decorate other places around the world with orange curtains
Farm subsidies are evil. Sometimes I wish our famrs would burn down and we’d be forced to buy Canadian beef.
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