Politics

At least three senior United Nations officials are suspected of taking multimillion-dollar bribes from the Saddam Hussein regime. Oil for food scam?

Iraqis enjoy new freedom of expression on Web journals. At least they have that.

Old news by now but, Mice created without fathers.

Church group slams Bush on Clean Air Act.

Two trains carrying flammable materials have exploded in a North Korean train station, leaving a large number of casualties.

Arg! More than 70% of people would reveal their computer password in exchange for a bar of chocolate, a survey has found.

Good job, boys

Arab ally snubs Bush amid ‘unprecedented hatred’ for US. The Arab world sees us as giving a free pass to Israel, now the world looks at Iraq and sees a similar situation.

The Pentagon deleted from a public transcript a statement Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld made to author Bob Woodward suggesting that the administration gave Saudi Arabia a two-month heads-up that President Bush had decided to invade Iraq.

Iraq’s chances of seeing democracy succeed, according to the memo’s author?a U.S. government official detailed to the CPA, who wrote this summation of observations he’d made in the field for a senior CPA director?have been severely imperiled by a year’s worth of serious errors on the part of the Pentagon and the CPA, the U.S.-led multinational agency administering Iraq. Far from facilitating democracy and security, the memo’s author fears, U.S. efforts have created an environment rife with corruption and sectarianism likely to result in civil war.

The pentagon needs at least another 5 billion for the next 5 months in Iraq. However, bush won’t submit a new budget until after elections. Good one.

More about President Bush in July of 2002 diverting $700 million into Iraq invasion planning without informing Congress. (Thats a no-no)

“Why shouldn’t we ask all of our citizens to bear some responsibility and pay some price?” Hagel said, arguing that restoring compulsory military service would force “our citizens to understand the intensity and depth of challenges we face.” Maybe because people didn’t want this in the first place? Everyone loves drafts!

Bush Campaign Has Raised $184 Million. Who has 2k to spend on dinner? Uhg.

The latest polls show gains for Bush. Unbelievable.

Spare time adjusted

Ahh. Day off. Or rather, spare time adjusted.

Went up to the Museum of Man today in Balboa Park (3rd tuesday of the month is free). Wandered around but was facinated by the Peruvian mummies and Inca monuments/carvings. Reminded me of Burning Man last year, where the man was on top of a temple. I came home to an email regarding this years theme for Burning Man: Vault of Heaven Should be fun. I have a few ideas, but haven’t planned out what I am doing yet.

Went over to feed Fang (Anna’s cat) and found the late harvest moscato in the fridge. We bought last time we were up in the central coast. The thing had been open for months, but still tasted great.

Jo Wilding was one of the only western journalists to venture into Falluja, leaving many mainstream news outlets turning to her for info. She was briefly featured on ABC News’ Nightline on Thursday. Report 1, Report 2

Our new ambassador to Iraq will be a man who armed Iraq’s enemy during war. John Negroponte. Nice one.