The death toll from the tsunamis generated by a giant earthquake in the Indian Ocean has reached a staggering 44,000. Japan Has pledged money and sent three Navy ships to the area to aid in relief efforts. In addition to pledging money and P-3 Orian survellience aircraft, five or six C-130 aircraft full of relief materials has been dispatched. The UN has also begun relief operations but they will have to be watched closely. China sends 50 million yuan, and humanitarian aid, Russia loads cargo planes full of supplies and Europe mobilizes to help as well. Arab countries remain silent... Michelle of A Small Victory is posting a list of organizations to which you can donate money to help support relief operations.
The Arab League sees no hope for a Palestinian state in the near future while Osama advocates boycotting elections in Iraq claiming the constitution setting up the new government is blasphemous to Muslims and only "infidels" would vote. And only indfidels would help disaster victims (watch out Red Cresent, you're on Osama's shit list now). Well, if they can't stop the elections with violence, I suppose convincing people that political freedom is a sin is the next best thing. Dispite the fact that a major Sunni party is refusing to participate in the elections, the US is working to assure Sunni representation in a post-election government regardless.
More soldiers than Americans support the effort in Iraq, a Military Times poll finds. Gee, I wonder why that is? Could it be that what Americans hear from the media is vastly different from what soldiers see? The disparity can be clearly seen when you look at what the soldiers saw recently in Mosul as opposed to what you have heard. And how many of these stories have you heard reported on the nightly news? The folks at the Diplomad defend Secretary Rumsfeld, which is something else you won't see the Axis of Bias doing often.
The folks in Holland no longer like their anything goes/anyone comes immigration policy.
China warns Japan against issuing a visa to the Dhali Llama for a planned visit in April.
Your complete guide to ASCII art featuring...cows.
"Hangman's noose awaits octo-granny's feared tentacles." Say what?
An inmate jailed on drug charges sent his
long locks to the salon, an official collection site for a nonprofit
that makes wigs for financially disadvantaged children suffering from
hair loss because of illness.
How to bathe a cat.
Dying man awakes from a coma when he hears his boss yell "Get your ass back to work". Talk about tough love.