Posts Tagged “Iraq”
- President-elect Barack Obama will make his first-ever visit to the White House today when he meets privately with President Bush for the traditional first visit between America’s leader and his predecessor. Security will be particularly tight for the visit, as unconfirmed reports suggest Bush may try to escape and leave Obama in charge…
  One of the things the pair will certainly discuss is the nation’s economic woes, which today includes news of electronics giant Circuit City’s bankruptcy filing and the report of a record aid package to AIG–who already had received $80 million in federal loans. Obama may use the opportunity to press for an additional stimulus package, which Bush may agree to–just as long as it doesn’t mess with Cheney’s golden parachute package…- The newly-revised US-Iraq security pact no longer contains language that authorizes a request for US troops to stay beyond 2011, as well as additionally instituting a ban on cross-border attacks from their soil. My only question–how long will it take for another revision, begging us to stay until 2011…
- Markets in Asia soared in response to the news that China has implemented its own ambitious stiumulus package, boosting government spending on roads and other infrastructure, tax incentives for exporters, more aid for farmers and the poor, as well as greater investments in health and education, environmental protection and high technology. Premier Wen JiabaoW said that their actions, "are not only the needs of the development of ourselves, but also our biggest contribution to the world"–in other words, "maybe you won’t notice us taking Taiwan back"…
- A new study suggests that some headphones, like the earbuds so popular with iPod and other music player users, can interfere with heart pacemakers or implanted defibrulators if placed very close to them–like in a shirt pocket. Researchers caution that the danger is only from the powerful magnetic substance inside the headphones–a Nano in your pocket doesn’t mean you’re really glad to see the Maker…
 The latest update on the census of life under the sea, being compiled by over 2,000 scientists from 82 nations, has included a number of exciting discoveries–both of new varieties of sea life, as well as previously-unknown enviromments for some species. The photo is of a variety of male sea spider that is very possibly a newly discovered creature–and one that has absolutely no chance of landing on your face in the middle of the night…
Tags: AIG, Barack Obama, China, Circuit City, Financial meltdown, health care, Iraq, President Bush, White House
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- Hurricane Ike took its toll on Cuba, causing over a million people to evacuate and avoid damaging winds that knocked down buildings as well as utility poles. Despite weakening from a Category 3 to 1 Tuesday, forecasters expect it to gain intensity as it enters the Gulf and heads for the US southeast–just call it another gift from Fidel Castro…
- In a speech Tuesday, President Bush will announce plans to pull out another 8,000 troops from Iraq by February–a far fewer number and over a longer time interval than expected, which reportedly reflects a desire by the administration and military to not jeopardize recent security gains. Have you noticed a direct relationship between Iraq’s security and our insecurity?
- Secretary Of State Condoleeza Rice says that the nation needs more black diplomats to reflect America’s ethnic makeup. I’m guessing she’s just really desperate to learn how to dance to Low…
- The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the research arm of the auto insurance industry, is recommending that states raise the age for getting a driver’s license to 17 or 18, noting that auto accidents are the leading cause of deaths among teenagers. Not only are teens complaining, but many of their parents too–I mean, the nerve of anyone suggesting I can’t just turn over my 2-ton SUV death machine to a totally inexperienced and thrill-seeking offspring so I won’t have to miss another episode of Dancing With The Stars…(to view/download the IIHS report in PDF format, click here…)
- A group from a small Alabama town is working to encourage Jews to move there, offering a $50,000 incentive–money they wouldn’t have to repay if they got involved in the local temple and stayed at least 5 years. It’s an ambitious plan, and defintiely an upgrade over previous efforts–tickets to the local production of Fiddler On The Roof…
- MSNBC will replace Keith Olbermann
 and Chris Matthews  as co-anchors of political night coverage with veteran NBC political reporter David Gregory, in light of concerns that the two cable network talk show hosts and their opinions were better suited in commentator roles. Not such a surprise, really–these two have all the impartiality of Pat Robertson at an interfaith celebration…
Tags: Chris Matthews, Condoleeza Rice, Cuba, David Gregory, Fidel Castro, Hurricane Ike, Iraq, Keith Olbermann, MSNBC, President Bush
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- Michelle Obama told the Democratic National Convention in Denver Monday night that "I love this country", and that she
  and presidential nominee Barack Obama share America’s basic values and beliefs in a dream of a better future. She did not admit, as some wild claims have suggested, that she is the love child of Bill Clinton and Oprah Winfrey…
- What’s left of Tropical Storm Fay continued to rain down from Georgia to Louisiana, which for some is a welcome relief from months of drought conditions, while Florida residents begin to mop up the over 30 inches of rain that fell along the central Atlantic coast. Are we sure NASA hasn’t come up with a giant sponge that could collect it from one place and squeeze it out somewhere else?
- Iraqi prime minister Nouri al-Maliki insisted Monday that all foreign soldiers must leave the country by a specific date in 2011, and that there would be no legal immunity for American troops. After being briefed on the situation, Vice President Cheney was reportedly muttering something about "regime change" and "where’s my rifle?"…
- An Alabama initiative proposal to effectively prohibit gay couples from adopting was cleared by state officials to appear on the state’s November general election ballot. The initiative would require only married couples to adopt, and the state currently prohibits gay couples to wed–it’s that kind of shrewd thinking that has kept values in The Heart Of Dixie just as they have been for years…
 A Las Vegas judge has refused to delay the start of the trial of O.J. Simpson and a co-defendant on charges of armed robbery and kidnapping. The Juice actually had nothing to do with the delay request–he’s anxious to get started and really hoping he can drive the same level of insane media interest in whether he could possibly be as stupid as it appears that he is…- An Air Force researcher has found that a series of mishaps involving robotic warplanes are occuring because of operator error, due to the drones being controlled by increasingly inexperienced crews. I understand this problem can be quickly remedied, providing enough PS3 and XBox 360 consoles can be acquired quickly enough…
Tags: Air Force, Alabama, Barack Obama, Democratic National Convention, Flor, Florida, gay marriage, Iraq, Louisiana, Michelle Obama, OJ Simpson, Tropical Storm Fay
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- A new federal "self-deportation" program has so far failed to convince any of a group of wanted illegal immigrants to turn themselves in exchange for time to settle their affairs to, in the words of the program, "plan your return home". What a surprise–it’s as if they already think of the US as home…
- The TSA announced that laptop owners will now be able to keep their computers inside their bags at airport security, provided they are "checkpoint friendly"–meaning it has a laptop-only compartment that can lie flat and have no metal snaps, zippers, or buckles and no pockets. That way, they can X-ray right through the bag and fry your hard drive…
 In an attempt by John McCain’s campaign to counter claims from Barack Obama that McCain and Bush are one in the same, McCain is airing a new TV ad that suggests the presumptive Republican nominee is "the original maverick". Actually, wasn’t that James Garner?- Federal officials have filed new charges against John "Junior" Gotti, son of the notorious "Teflon Don", despite three mistrials in two years and Gotti’s insistence that he is long retired from the "family" business. That’s because they know that rotten apples just don’t fall far from the tree, they’re gross and slimy…
- Congress’ budget watchdog agency has found that, largely due to the stratospheric price of oil, Iraq will end the year with a $79 billion budget surplus, which makes curious America’s $48 billion investment in rebuilding their country. Since they’re getting both our tax dollars and our gas dollars, how about them just giving back all our soldiers and we’ll call it square…
 The US Department Of Energy told Congress that the cost to dispose of our country’s nuclear waste will be over $96 billion–$38 billion greater than its 2001 estimate–and will require a major expansion of the department’s planned Nevada waste dump. Jeez–why can’t they learn to recycle like the rest of us?
Tags: Barack Obama, GAO, illegal immigrants, Iraq, John McCain, nuclear energy, TSA
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- As expected, Congress has overridden President Bush’s veto of legislation that protected doctors from a 10.6% cut in Medicare fees. When you’re up for re-election, "Medicare" and "cuts" are never in the same sentence…
- Over 100,000 pilgrims from around the world have arrived in Sydney in anticipation of a Mass by Pope Benedict XVI to open the World Youth Day festival. This is a good time for organizers to check their wafer supplies…
- The Massachusetts Senate has voted to repeal an old law that had been prohibiting out-of-state residents from getting same-sex marriages. Maybe this is how you boost tourism during high gas prices…
- Barack Obama and John McCain highlighted their differences on the war in Iraq in speeches on Tuesday, with Obama calling it a costly distraction while McCain insisted it is a conflict that American must win. They agree that more troops are needed in Afghanistan–just not who should give the order…
- Another E. coli outbreak traced to recalled beef in Michigan and Ohio has now spread to New York, Kentucky and Indiana. While more sanitary procedures in meat production are needed, I’m thinking some folks ought to get over their love of red in red meat…
- The practice of using private firefighting companies by insurers to protect expensive homes from California forest fires is on the rise, and officials worry that they may interfere with legitimate firefighting, or their concern for just their own wealthy customers may leave others without protection. You don’t really want somebody looking at a printout before deciding if they plan to save your life…
Tags: Afghanistan, Australia, Barack Obama, Congress, E. coli, forest fires, gay marriage, Iraq, John McCain, Massachusetts, Medicare, Pope Benedict XVI
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