In the runup to the election, it appears the focus of security is turning more and more towards Syria where money, planning and logistics vital to the insurgency originate. Not only is Allawi calling the Syrians out but the US diplomatic core is putting on pressure as well. Additionally, the US is increasing military presence in Mosul, the southernmost stop in the Syrian pipeline since Fallujah was taken out, by 5,000 additional troops. Iraqis want and expect elections to occur at the end of the month and the US and Iraqi governments are determined to deliver it with as little interference as possible. The enemy is determined as well and getting increasingly desperate which means they are getting more violent. But interdicting the Syrian pipeline will take a lot of steam out of their efforts. And there is no doubt that the success or failure of the elections in Iraq will directly impact the upcoming elections in Iran; for good or for ill.
In other election news, Mohamed Osman al-Mirghani, leader of the Sudanese opposition National Democratic Alliance with whom the Sudan government recently signed a peace agreement ending 40 years of civil war says the peace deal includes the promise of Democracy. The Big Trunk analyzes Dennis Ross' optimism with respect to elections in Palestine. And the Chicago Tribune takes to the front lines of the Middle East debate....located at Columbia University. (the story is also here)
The Aussies take the helm in rebuilding Thailand, while India's inclusion as a core member of the Bush Administration's Coalition of Aid allows them to show what they're made of. Meanwhile, the UN is running around taking credit for the work that others are doing, to show everyone that, you know, they're relevent. More than $2 billion dollars have now been donated to relief efforts not counting military aid and private donations making this one of the largest donations to disater relief ever in the history of the world.
Fresh signs that Europe is ready to deal with Bush. "Paradoxically, the very thing that neoconservatives detest most about European diplomacy — that Machiavellian willingness to cut deals with anyone — is now working in Bush's favor." One of the factors in this is Europe's belated recognition of the problem of Islamic extremism within their own borders.
Chief Justice William Renquist warns Conservatives against trying to remove "activist judges" because of unpopular decisions as it would endanger an independent judiciary.
The official Martial Arts teacher of the Cool Blue Blog talks about the value of being armed...with a big stick.
The BBC list 100 things we learned in 2004. #1. Street brawlers sometimes arm themselves with potato peelers. A good stick would help with that.
Hooters is a Red restaurant
Technical details of the rocket-powered Port-A-Potty.
Scientists build a nanoscale jigsaw puzzle using RNA.
Drug smugglers have their heads handed to them.
Traditional knowledge saves Thai villiage: "The elders told us that if the water recedes fast it will reappear in the same quantity in which it disappeared." It's good to listen to your Elders; and 10 year old girls that paid attention in school.
