Worst Timing Ever for Bush & Co.

While the British plane-bombing suspects allegedly were planning their attacks, the Bush administration was seeking to quietly divert funds for developing new technologies that could have scanned for liquid explosives.

Posted on Aug 12, 2006 READ MORE  | 28 READS

U.S. Ambassador: Iran Inciting Iraq Attacks

“Iran is pressing Shiite militias here to step up attacks against the American-led forces in retaliation for the Israeli assault on Lebanon, the American ambassador to Iraq said Friday,” according to the N.Y. Times.
It remains to be seen whether the peace deal between Israel and Hezbollah will blunt Iran’s alleged fomentation of violence.

Posted on Aug 12, 2006 READ MORE  | 45 READS

Breakthrough! Hezbollah Sets Conditions for Agreement

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah (above) said his Islamic militant group (and political party) will abide by the U.N. cease-fire resolution but will continue fighting as long as Israeli troops remain in south Lebanon.
With the U.S., the U.N., Israel’s Olmert, Lebanon’s parliament and now Hezbollah’s leader all on board, all the pieces of the peace puzzle seem to be in place.

Posted on Aug 12, 2006 READ MORE  | 59 READS

Israel Nearly Triples Troops Ahead of Cease-Fire

Rather than ramping down in advance of the just-agreed-upon U.N. peace deal, Israel and Hezbollah have instead continued slaughtering each other.

Posted on Aug 12, 2006 READ MORE  | 17 READS

U.N. and Israel OK Peace Deal; Lebanon in Favor

The U.N. Security Council adopted a resolution that calls for an end to the war between Israel and Hezbollah and authorizes 15,000 U.N. peacekeepers to help Lebanese troops take control of south Lebanon as Israel withdraws. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert endorsed the deal, and the Lebanese cabinet looks set to do so as well.

Posted on Aug 11, 2006 READ MORE  | 20 READS

Today’s Blog Is Brought to You by the Number…

That’s the number of Arabic linguists who have been discharged from the Army for being gay. Fifty-five. (We missed this fact when we blogged about the latest dismissal—interview here—but it’s so shocking we felt we had to bring it up now.)
If the military were serious about winning Iraqis’ hearts and minds, it would find a way to keep most of these linguists in the service.

Posted on Aug 11, 2006 READ MORE  | 121 READS

Immigrants Don’t Hurt U.S. Jobs, Says Study

In what could be tantamount to dropping a neutron bomb on xenophobes like Lou Dobbs, a study by the Pew Hispanic Center found that high levels of immigration in the past 15 years do not appear to have hurt employment opportunities for American workers. But some economists question the study’s technique.

Posted on Aug 11, 2006 READ MORE  | 389 READS

Mixing Explosive Liquids in a Crowd

Like, we don’t know, but ... it may be a bad idea to combine potentially explosive liquids in trash bins near big crowds. (h/t: Boing Boing)

Heat Wave Kills 140 Californians

About 140 Californians died last month from a severe heat wave, the most casualties since 1955, when air conditioning became widespread.  Officials were left scrambling to explain the inordinately high number of deaths, unusual for a place where people are used to the summer heat.

Posted on Aug 11, 2006 READ MORE  | 74 READS

U.S. Warns India of Terror Threats

The U.S. Embassy has told India that it has information suggesting that terror attacks might occur in the political and economic capitals—Delhi and Mumbai.  The Indian government has yet to receive any specific information.  The warning comes only a month after more than 180 people were killed when a series of bombs exploded on a commuter train in Mumbai. 

Posted on Aug 11, 2006 READ MORE  | 27 READS

While Feds Stall, Locals Tackle Big Issues

In the face of stagnant federal policy, more and more localities have adopted their own measures to address the environment, stem-cell research and immigration.  Impatient for action from deadlocked Washington, cities and states have increasingly crafted their own policies regarding the major issues of the day, even reaching out to foreign leaders.

Posted on Aug 11, 2006 READ MORE  | 31 READS

Israel Presses U.S. for Delivery of Antipersonnel Rockets

America is likely to send Israel a shipment of antipersonnel rockets whose broad and indiscriminate blast characteristics could inflict civilian casualties. The State Dept. is trying to delay delivery.

Posted on Aug 11, 2006 READ MORE  | 54 READS

Bush Staffer on Terror Plots: ‘This Is Going to Play Big’

In the wake of the foiled terrorist plots to explode passenger jets in midair, a White House official told an AFP reporter on Thursday, “Weeks before September 11th, this is going to play big” as a political opportunity for the GOP. The AFP reporter was merciless in his reporting, noting that Bush & Co. have been tarring Democrats as soft on terrorism the past few days—knowing full well that news of the terror plot could break at any moment.

Posted on Aug 11, 2006 READ MORE  | 70 READS

Unleash Your Inner Bully

Rockstar Games, the company that created the ultra-violent, ultra-popular Grand Theft Auto titles, brings you Bully, in which the central character either punishes or sticks up for the little guys in school. Some are worried it’s a “Columbine simulator,” but those fears appear to be unfounded.

Posted on Aug 10, 2006 READ MORE  | 320 READS

Confederacy of Dunces

OK, deep breath time….
30% of Americans cannot say in what year the Sept. 11 attacks took place, according to a Washington Post poll. Thirty. Percent.

Posted on Aug 10, 2006 READ MORE  | 133 READS