News – We’re an American Nation. Period.

US

The Anti-Defamation League asks Texas Republicans to can the ‘Christian Nation’ term often used when referring to the US. I agree, stop trying to associate the hole country with your religion. It annoys those of us who don’t ascribe to it. I don’t call the US the Godless Nation for the reason that I have enough sense to know it’s both false and rude to others to use. If only we all had such common sense and common courtesy. Our platform is an acknowledgment that most of our nation’s founding fathers had a deep faith in God,” says Tina Benkiser, the chairwoman of the Texas Republican Party. They were all men too, so Ren says. Shall we call this a man’s nation for that reason? I think she would find offense at that, the same kind of offense some hold at it being called a Christian nation.

The Bush administration, wanting to avoid a defeat on their resolution to get immunity from international prosecution, has changed the language of the resolution to have this be the last year this privilege gets extended. Interesting. What will the US do after this year passes? If this resolution is accepted, that means they can’t ask for renewal of the resolution anymore. Ever. Seems a little short sighted to me(not that I care for this resolution in any case).

Kerry drops into the senate to vote on a measure that’s part of his issues and receives republican scorn for being absent from the Senate. But there isn’t much he can say for it. He hasn’t been there and has missed a lot of votes. To drop in for a specific one, largely for campaign reasons, is rather nasty, wouldn’t you say?

The inclusion of a Tobacco buyout is the main factor keeping a new corporate spending bill from being passed. In other legislative news, a $147 billion defense bill passes, with the normal grumbling and rumbling as sneaky additions are slid into must pass bills to avoid being given the proper scrutiny they should be afforded.

Lynne Stewart, a New York defense attorney is going on trial for aiding terrorism. What she did was aid a client, Sheik Omar Abdel-Rahman, smuggle out a violent message.

Bush’s web campaign is good, even critics say, but in that arena, Dean still rules.

Perchlorate has been found in the milk of California milk cows. This is a chemical associated with thyroid damage, thus raises concern. There is no demand for Californians to stop drinking milk or withold it form their children, but tougher standards on Perchlorate are advocated for.

Iraq

The inevitable has happened, a clear death threat against interim Prime Minister Allawi.

The Kim Sun-il who was held by militants in Iraq has been beheaded. The company that employed him, Cana General Trading, has decided to pull it’s workers out of Iraq. Kim worked for them as a translator.

Saddam writes his family in a heavily censored letter. Perhaps his first contact to the outside world for a good long time.

Israel/Palestine

Egyptian Intelligence chief Omar Suleiman is looking for assurances from Arafat that he’ll actually do something toward reforming Palestinian forces, as well as urging Israel to cease Gaza raids(if Egyptian forces are there, the last thing we need is an Israel strike to accidentally take some of them out) and let in international forces. He’s making a good, even rounds. Hopefully it’ll be worth something.

The Israeli army is grilling a group of former conscripts on a photo exhibit that they say shows abuse of Palestinians by Israeli soldiers.

Iran

The eight British troops being held by Iran are soon to be released. The sudden turn around is interesting. It could signal a serious split within the Iranian government.

Afghanistan

A Guardian investigation finds that US troops routinely tortured and humiliated Afghan detainees as part of their normal interrogation process. Of course, belief in this goes only so far as one’s trust in the Guardian.

Korea

Bush has finally decided to offer North Korea incentives for stopping it’s nuclear ways. You know, what many call appeasement. Not me, however. I call it diplomacy and negotiation. Aid would start up as soon as lil Kim makes a commitment to stop with the nuclear stuff and the agreement includes a provisional guarantee Bush won’t seek to invade North Korea.

General

A fifty year update on a study that’s been going since 1954 notes that smoking takes ten yers off life. Quitting by thirty virtually eliminates the threat of this reduction and quiting by fifty halves it. Half of those who fail to quit smoking will die as a result of the habit and a quarter of those who smoke die at middle age. Or so the update says.

Initial reviews on Clinton’s book say it’s boring. I find most biography’s boring. Thus we can thank Slate for reading it for us so we don’t have to. Though if you really want to, I suppose you can.

Today’s Papers has the updated State Department terrorism report that notes twice as many killed in terrorism as was previously reported, a note of women who have had hysterectomies still getting Pap tests thy don’t need, more on detainee abuses and other topics covered it he one page news.

Amusements

$100,000 offered to newlyweds J. Lo and Marc Anthony if they can stay married for 18 months

Woman develops phobia of toilets after falling off one. Not scared of lawyers, however

<A HREF="http://www.webindia123.com/news/showdetails.asp?id=41326&cat=World”>Schoolboy not allowed to take exam because he was wearing wrong color pants

Fark Phothoshop Challenge: Photoshop Burger King paper crown in unlikely places.

Fark Phothoshop Challenge: Photoshop this Greek soccer player celebrating a goal