News – Musharraf’s Backbone?

Middle East

Do you think Bush will continue to send Predator drones into Pakistan to attack suspected alQueda figures, despite the potential for political backlash? I think so, even if innocents are killed. One wonders how long Musharraf will let this go on before it becomes too much a challenge to his rule over Pakistan. One wonders how long he can let it go on.

The EU is preparing to continue aid to Palestine, but makes it known they want to see Hamas continuing to seek peace with Israel. Of course, what happens if funding dries up, because Hamas refuses to change? With no money, Palestine will flounder and fall back into darkness anyway, one way or another. It’s in the best interests of everyone involved in Europe and the US see to it that Hamas makes a positive change, yet none seem ready to step forward and make a real effort beyond hands off threats and the like. Any fool knows that groups like this don’t tend to roll over to demands given to them. Matters like this require a careful touch and artful words along with a few light taps to guide someone in the right direction.

Various letters opining on the situation in Palestine and future prospects.

As ever, Israel’s government is quick to shut down any possibility of peace, while the people remain divided on the issue in a more even split. One wonders, if Hamas did renounce terror fully and strike the destruction of Israel from its charter, if Israel’s government would back up on their own lack of desire to deal with Hamas. Because peace remains a two way street. If Israel wants nothing to do with it, what will the US do? Beg and plead?

A nine your old child gets too close to the border fence between Israel and Palestine and, in the words of Israel’s military, “was behaving in a suspicious manner reminiscent of a terrorist”(whatever the hell that means), and thus is shot and killed. This being the second child killed last week by Israel. Another, a thirteen year-old boy, shot in the back while he and two friends were walking along a road reserved for Jewish settlers. Why was he shot? Because apparently his friends and he planned to throw rocks at Israeli cars, an act defined as terrorism. And for that, another young life is snuffed, another bit of fuel thrown on the angry fires of a people.

The deadly derailment of a train in Pakistan is tentatively being considered sabotage after evidence of track tampering is found.

Perhaps Iran is seeing the light. They’ll be making a proposal soon, one part of which seems to be accepting Russia doing the enriching of uranium, though there seem to be amendments which are as of yet unspecified.

ABC News anchor Bob Woodruff and camera operator Doug Vogt are in stable condition after the Iraqi Army convoy they were traveling in was ambushed. Another reminder of the dangers that reporters face in the field.

Saddam’s trial remains a comedy, as the judge has Saddam removed after an outburst and his defense team walks out. This trial is so disjointed and fraught with delay and turnover, who can consider it a real trial anymore? I certainly don’t. All these years and they couldn’t even be properly prepared for this trial.. what a farce.

Fred Kaplan asks his readers for ideas on how to deal with Iran. He gets some interesting responses, though no perfect plans.

Africa

Kenya’s government gets another knock as a report reveals government funds being used to buy luxury cars for government ministers.

North America

I hear that Bush’s upcoming State of the Union will be low on details and high on themes. Sounds like more opium for the masses, hoping to calm the upset people have so they’re vote in more Republicans. Use of such a speech for political purposes is pretty low.

Republicans prod Bush to release records of White House contacts with convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Come on, Bush. If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to be afraid of, right? Where is the promised transparency? Personally, I think every senator and other government worker of note should join in the opening up of information. I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again.. we need a governmental house cleaning.

About 50k US troops are forced to continue service to the US military despite the end of their voluntary duty. Stop-loss is yet another reason I’ll not touch the US military.

Retirement benefits are slowly starting to evaporate for workers. The latest greatest in wage reduction for employees.

General

The Blogs look at Kerry’s Alito filibuster, Oprah’s smack-down of James Frey and Mozart’s birthday.

Explainer notes where zoo animals go when they die.

Today’s Papers has the criminal trial for Enron executives Kenneth Lay and Jeffrey Skilling starting Monday, FEMA ignoring offers of aid from various federal agencies in the hours after Hurricane Katrina hit, the rising rate of military promotions and more in the one page news.

Amusements

Lindsey Lohan gets tattoo reminding her to breathe during asthma attack. No word yet on whereabouts of John G

Having done such a bang-up job of running industries here on Earth, Russia to embark on strip-mining the Moon

A romantic taste test of the new Jones Soda Valentine pack

Couple so terrorized by terrier that they had to rent hotel rooms to sleep together (with pic of Yorkie-whipped trio)

British school forbids students from raising their hands in class to fight “victimization”

Man makes six-to-15 year mistake after passing out drunk in vehicle, next to school, while carrying two ounces of packaged cocaine

Australian state plans to ban students wearing denim because the fabric is linked to “having a good time” (racy pic)

Russian professor claims he is on verge of inventing real-life version of Harry Potter’s invisibility cloak. Next inventions include metal stretcher, unlimited buckets of A.I.R, metric screwdrivers

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this knight in shining armour

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this high diver

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop something good in theory, bad in execution