News – Kirkuk Issues

Middle East

The UN is concerned about the human rights situation in Kirkuk. Said of the native Arabs and Turks, “They face increasing threats, intimidations and detentions, often in KRG (Kurdish regional government) facilities run by Kurdish intelligence and security forces. Such violations may well be the prelude of a looming crisis in Kirkuk in the coming months.” As much as I feel for the Kurds(I had much concern for them early during the Iraq conflict and aftermath), this just shows they’re likely not ready for their own autonomy. Given it, I don’t doubt they’d seek to make Kirkuk their own little state and push out anyone who isn’t Kurdish.

Lt Gen Dan Halutz, head of Israel’s military, resigns over his handling of the Lebanon conflict not too long ago. Of course, he was less to blame specifically than the mindset with most Israeli leaders(and US leaders for that matter) who think military action is the answer to the majority of the world’s problems.

Bush defends his decision to put more troops into Iraq, saying the violence there has to be quelled. True enough that much, but will another 20k US troops be the magical solution to that? I doubt it. If anything is needed, it’s more Iraqi troops that are loyal to the government and not this or that armed militant group. There won’t be any quick fixes for this. The time for quelling the issue quickly passed years ago.

Looks like the Iraqi government went ahead and executed Barzan Ibrahim and Awad Hamed al-Bandar despite urgings that they wait a bit. Doesn’t really matter. I’ve already lost the majority of my confidence in the current Iraqi government. It’s too much a Shia dominated organization in my opinion. In a way that’s dangerous for cultural unity.

Could the solution to Afghanistan’s poppy production issues be to make it legit? Seriously, it’s been done before, could be that we can do it there.

With the rising poverty in Gaza, people are forced to do what they can to survive. When you have a choice between doing things illegal or letting those you care about starve, what choice would you make? Personally, I’m glad I don’t have to face down such a choice.

Africa

Several unnamed African countries offer troops to help out Somalia. The only one to openly offer help has been Uganda and Nigeria seems in a hurry to get troops out of Somalia.

Asia/Pacific

With many pregnant women coming from mainland China to give birth, for residency rights and to dodge China’s one child policy, Hong Kong looks to place limits to reduce the strain on their medical facilities.

Europe

Hindus in Europe band together to face a German proposed ban on the Swastika across the EU. They say the symbol had been one of peace for thousands of years before the Nazis sullied it. I can see if they banned specific recreations of Nazi paraphernalia, but to ban a symbol that has existed longer than the political group that hijacked it? There is no right in that.

Americas

Looks like Obama is going to be in the running for 2008. Should be an interesting season, if expensive.

General

Studies suggest that abused children have a greater chance of physical illness later in life. The emotional and physical strain of such abuses would lead one to assume such things are possible.

Explainer notes how long you can store a frozen embryo.

The Blogs look at the latest botched hanging in Iraq, the rise in unmarried women and excerpts from O.J. Simpson’s “confessional.”

Today’s Papers has eight Arab countries warning against foreign interference in Iraq(without mentioning Iran by name), note that at least half a dozen members of Congress have spouses who are registered lobbyists and most lawmakers aren’t really interesting in ending the practice, an Interior Department investigation revealing a top official was told almost three years ago of a legal slip-up that allowed drilling companies to get around paying billions of dollars in taxes for oil and gas they pumped from public waters and more in the one page news.

Amusements

Police follow a trail of meat chunks and BBQ sauce for four miles to recover $1,500 worth of stolen meat

Today’s topless woman in stolen vehicle brought to you from Haywood County, NC

How to tell real breasts from fake: A survival guide for living in southern California

Not news: Woman gives birth to a boy conceived via IVF. News: The embryo came from a flooded hospital in New Orleans. Fark: The baby was named “Noah”

Keifer Sutherland takes his Jack Bauer prototype action figure out drinking. Hilarity ensues

Fox execs say Paula Abdul was slurring her words and appeared drunk in an interview due to “technical difficulties.” Must be because technically it’s difficult to give an interview when you’re hammered

Man tries to steal ring from jewelry store by swallowing it. Police put him in cell for three days so time, and other things, can pass

Amsterdam to erect statue honoring prostitutes: “A self-assured woman with her hands on her hips, looking skyward.” Statues of kittens tremble in fear

Labradoodle helps owner escape from house fire, but owner can’t escape admitting he owns something called a labradoodle

Police cordon off a busy roadway and mount a rescue operation to save a baby kitten. And to think, submitter just made all their hard work pointless with one flick of his wrist

Fark Photoshop Challenge: <A HREF="http://forums.fark.com/cgi/fark/comments.pl?IDLink=2537953″>Photoshop this startled creature

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this Russian bus stop

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this cuddly marsupial