As one of the world's biggest humanitarian relief efforts came to life, warships, helicopters, search aircraft, transport planes and refrigerated containers were dispatched from around the globe to help an estimated five million people affected by the Asian tsunamis. President Bush vows to lead a Coalition of Aid. The Diplomad, currently stationed in one of the affected countries notices that the UN is currently engaged in Brownian Motion as opposed to actual useful activity. Blogs, in contrast, are on the forefront of the recovery effort. And while some in the newsrooms prefer to think of ways to Blame Bushtm, some even by claiming that Global Warming is the root cause of earthquakes. JT leads todays Opinion Journal with "Top Scientists Warn: Sea Gods Angry" which makes about as much sense. In a world where everything, of necessity must be politicized, we hear less about some things than we do about others. So for instance, it is very difficult to find stories that show Israel in a good light and the fact that they are always there when a disaster strikes is, um, underreported . And have you heard that Sri Lanka is refusing aid from Israel? Now how could a country so devastated refuse aid from anyone? My guess is that the IDF will prove in the end more useful than the UN. And they likely won't steal from people or rape anyone. Or, if someone did, they'd be held accountable....
Islamic extremists set off bombs and battled with police in the Riyadh, leaving nine militants and one bystander dead as the insurgents signaled they will keep up attacks. Meanwhile, the President uses OBL's own words to underline the incompatible goals of the two sides in the War against Islamo-fascists. The Command Post has a special analysis of the OBL tapes. But the Islamists are so desperate to prevent political and economic freedom, they are even beginning to attack American posts headon, with the expected results: Good for us, bad for them.
Military ties between India and China grow.
French legal authorities opened a preliminary criminal probe into lawmaker Didier Julia and his two aides, who failed a private mission to gain the two French reporters' (who weren't ransomed) release in Iraq.
An Arkansas circuit judge on Wednesday threw out the state's ban against foster parenthood by gay couples or by households that include a gay adult.
States balk at defense budget cuts.
Former US Attorney under Lyndon Johnson General Ramsey Clark joins Saddams legal defense team. " Mr Clark told reporters in the Jordanian capital that his principle concern was protecting the rights of Saddam.... Mr Clark also said the US itself must be tried for the November assault on Fallujah, destruction of houses, torture in prisons and its role in the deaths of thousands of Iraqis in the war." Will Mr Clark defend the US as well? Just askin'
Navy Seals sue the Associated Press.
Blackfive says the US has learned the real lesson of the Vietnam War.
Fred King, a fugitive from justice, was found by cops hiding inside a sofa. Does that make him a Sofa King?
The Tao of Kate Bosworth. "Great Danes are just, like, so great, aren't they? They're just, like, big dogs! I know! Yeah, yeah, Great Danes are great. Oh, my God, they just so are."
In Tennessee, people wash their cars after getting them dirty.
An "ongoing feud" over a woman results in jousting with cars, only without the traditional pointy sticks.
