News – Validated Fears?

Iraq

US forces say they’ve uncovered a plot by an alQaida linked militant to foster a civil war in Iraq. It would be a realization of my worst fears if the letter they describe is legit. It does note a grudging respect for the US military, though. Things are coming to a head.

Rend Rahim Francke, Iraq’s new ambassador to the US, has said what I’ve been saying long ago. Give the jobs over there to local firms, not American companies. That’ll provide an influx of jobs and help security by softening unrest and giving the people things to do to feel productive.

A car bomb kills fifty at a police station south of Baghdad. Police officials cite 300 as the number of Iraqi police killed by militants thus far. Another bombing happened at the home of Amer Suleiman, a local tribal chief and head of the US-appointed authority in the troubled town of Ramadi. The suicide bomber only killed four bodyguards.

A promising political candidate for Iraq held back by doubts. What is miss Siham Hattab to do?

Israel/Palestine

Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades killed Tahseen Abu Arkub, 50, of Ramallah in the West Bank. Apparently because he was a collaborator who helped Israel kill and detain Palestinians. Or so they claim.

Korea

North Korea declares the Pakistani admission of selling nuke secrets to North Korea a lie. Not only that, but a lie perpetrated to justify invasion of North Korea. Personally I don’t see how the admission changes anything in N Koreas situation. At least, not in making them any more invade worthy than before.

Haiti

Rebels have seized 11 towns in the strongest bid against President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. The 5,000 strong, poorly armed police force that the government has is inadequate to resist the revolt.

Libya

Blair is going to visit Muammar Gaddafi soon. Another step of rewarding Libya for giving up the weapons and such.

France

The French law to ban religious emblems from school will extend to some other issues that have manifested in their schools. Teachers have complained in recent years of growing problems with Muslim pupils who interrupt history classes to deny the Nazis slaughtered Jews; boycott classes on human reproduction, saying they are immodest; or refuse to attend physical education. This law is, apparently, looking to put a stop to all that. But does it go too far.

US

An article that goes over the Bush AWOL quandary. Would this tidbit exonerate him? And if it does, why hasn’t be been more open with these sort of things. Talking about this sort of stuff during his interview would have been far more effective than just touting the honorable discharge.

The Tim Russert Interview with Bush was quite telling. The strange expansion of his preemptive war doctrine and he seems to not note that David Kay’s report said nothing of a current capacity to make weapons. Is Bush playing semantics or is he just ignorant of what is really going on inside his own administration? One has to wonder, considering he only gets his info from advisors. Considering his spate of open lying, either is plausible.

The presence of Laurence Silberman on the commission investigating pre-war intelligence on Iraq has raised some eyebrows. What other infamous sorts might be slid onto this commission.

General

Doomjuice, described by some as another variant on MyDoom, emerged to target Microsoft’s site. Results are mixed. Security experts say the site was slower and parts were intermittently unavailable. But it remains up. SCO’s site is still down a week after their thrashing.

The virus’ got you worried? Don’t have the funds for extravagant protections? No problem. Even cheapskates can keep themselves protected. Sluggish cash flow is no excuse.

Leave it to science to teach kids that race is only skin deep. Now, if only more schools would hold such beneficial experiments.

Today’s Papers has heating up of the Plame case with statements taken from Rove, McClellan and aides of Cheney. Dean’s determined, even if he loses Wisconsin and other daily tidbits.

Amusements

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Schick says four is better. Photoshop other examples where four is better.

Fark Photoshop Challenge: How to win friends and influence people.

Newgrounds: Strawberry’s Valentine

Newgrounds: Fantastic Realm Chapter 1

France’s biggest canned veggie maker pays out to a customer who gets a dead mouse in her can.

Tim Johnston, 11, can balance 11 teaspoons on his face. That would be a new world record