Relief organizations are instructed by Indonesia that foreign aid workers must have army escorts in
tsunami-stricken Aceh province. Aid workers point out that this will hamper aid delivery and blur the
lines between the military and humanitarian efforts. This does not seem to be a concern for Indonesia who has been fighting a rebel uprising in this province for years prior to the disaster. And it is clear that Indonesia is only half-heartedly interested in helping the devistated area. Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla
has given international troops until March 26 to leave Aceh
province whether the job is done or not. I wonder how long NGOs will stick around when the shooting starts? Powerline has a first-hand account of operations in Summatra from the USS Abraham Lincoln and the Diplomad answers their critics. Captain Ed notes that al Qaeda has their priorities screwed up.
NATO is shipping to Iraq of thousands of AK-47 assault rifles,
dozens of Soviet-designed tanks and other weapons as part of an effort to help train and equip the Iraqi military. Election workers in Iraq display the type of courage that gives us hope for the future there. The Belmont Club discusses the facts surrounding decisions about occupation troop strength here and here.
It appears the election for the leader of the Palestinian Authority held last Sunday generated little interest among the Israeli public.
The United States is strongly objecting to the sale of advanced Russian surface-to-surface missiles to Syria. The U.S. is threatening sanctions against Russian exporters. Russia denies there is any such deal.
Britain faces a major headache in deciding what to do with four detainees held as terrorism suspects at the US Naval base at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba and due to be released soon. Although they were not wanted in Britain before the war in Afghanistan, they are certainly a potential risk now. With Europe stepping up their crackdown on Islamic extremism I'm sure that Britain doesn't want to take any chances no matter what the press there thinks.
The European Parliament has endorsed the European Union's first constitution but the document still has to be approved by the 25 member states.
Iran has issued a warning to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that it will not let its nuclear inspector to spy on a suspect military site.
The United Nation's guy in Sudan, Jan Pronk, says the conflict in Darfur could escalate despite the signing of the peace deal between Khartoum and the SPLA. Canada says it can help.
President Bush proposed a $1.5 billion plan to raise educational standards for high school students who are increasingly falling behind their counterparts in other countries.
The Supreme Court restores to judges much of the discretion that Congress took away 21
years ago when it put sentencing guidelines in place and told judges to
follow them. What does it mean?
Two guys are arrested after telling lawyer jokes
A lawsuit claims there is rampant union corruption in New Jersey. Tony Soprano is unavailable for comment.
A woman wins sexiest plumber crown.
Arkansas finally nabbed of the elusive nude jogger. In fact, they tasered him.
The Melbourne Florida City Council has banned thongs. Bastards.
A German brothel is donating 5 euros to tsunami victims for every customer who visits.
