News – Yassin Killed (1/2)

Israel/Palestine

Sheikh Ahmed Yassin was killed by Israeli forces outside of a mosque today. Struck(directly some say) by the first missile from an Israeli helicopter. Seven others were killed and fifteen wounded(Seventeen, the Guardian says), including two of Yassin’s sons. Personally, I’m not worried about him dead as much as hrte reaction that will come after this. It could be lighter than expected, but it could be very, very bad. Killing off a leader who is considered by others to be spiritual(dosen’t matter wirth a damn what you or I think), can lead to unrelienting violence. Things could get very ugly in the aftermath of this.

The US is denying it had anything to do with Yassin’s death. Which depends. What that a US missile that hit him? From a US given helicopter? Considering how much we support Israel monetarily and militarily, it would be easy for some to look at it and consider it enough to be counted as support. Personally, I wouldn’t go so far but I do think we support Israel too much and too easily.

Among the various voices for and against, including many defensive voices among Israel’s leadership, there’s an interesting voice of dissent. Interior Minister Avraham Poraz noted he wasn’t a ‘ticking time bomb’ and more or less echoed the concerns I have. That this could lead to terrible retaliation. Already there are demonstrators in the streets.

The five Israeli boys who refuse to serve in the IDF were found guilty of “a very grave crime which constitutes a manifest and concrete danger to our existence and our survival” January 4th. They’ll serve a year in prison and have not backed down from their stance in the slightest.

Apologies abound when gunmen meant to be shooting Israelis shoot a young Arab man. For what they’re worth.

Iraq

A US soldier and Iraqi interpreter killed bya roadside bomb in Iraq.

Fred Nerac, an ITN cameraman, and his translator Hussein Osman have not been seen since a shooting incident between coalition forces and Iraqis close to Basra a year ago today. Fresh evidence suggests they were killed by US forces. Read and consider.

Afghanistan

Over 100 are reported dead after fighting which erupted in the wake of civil aviation minister Mirwais Sadiq’s assassination. This occurred in Herat It is noted that Mirwais Sadiq was the son of Ismail Khan and the fighting begun between forces loyal to Kahn and those of the central government in Kabul. It seems the internal strain hasn’t eased in Afghanistan.

There is significant evidence that the Northern Alliance, US allies in the 2001 hit on Afghanistan, massacred prisoners of war.

Pakistan

Well, I’ve learned several times over the weekend(thank you C-Span) that Pakistan only thinks that there is a high value target amongst the militants they have cornered. They thought so because of the level of resistance and there may not be anyone of important note present at all. A truce had been reached to negotiate, but there has been a raid on the Pakistani camp despite it.

Richard Clarke has accused the Bush administration of ignoring the threat of terrorists for months before 9/11. He also has a book coming out today, challenging Bush on his performance against the thereat of terrorism.

Amusingly, the Bush Cheney campaign has had an issue with campaign jackets being sold online. They were made in Myanmar, formerly known as Burma. They’re imports have been banned by the US. It’s said to be a mistake, but some groups are still upset that campaign staff didn’t pay enough attention to catch this.

So if anyone bought a jacket, you might want to check the tag. 😉

Meanwhile Bush hits Kerry.

With their new spart bombs, the Pentagon wants to refine how it selects targets. Good, maybe we’ll have less accidents.