Syrian cities under fire, opposition says

Syrian cities under fire, opposition says: Syrians in the devastated city of Homs endured another day of heavy shelling Sunday, opposition activists said, a day after the U.N. Security Council voted to send up to 300 observers to monitor a shaky cease-fire.

The only "cease fire" the government of Syria cares about is the one that comes after its foes are dead or fled from the country. They will not stop killing until they feel safe, and by feeling safe I mean democratic ideas in Syria are extinguished.

Evidence: IHH Leader Urges Men to Throw Israelis Overboard 30May2010

It will be interesting to see who this plays out...

clipped from www.cnn.com Ripples of Dubai killing spread across region

The poor pay the most

No matter what the nature of loss, either natural disaster or acts of terrorism and war, it is always the poor that pay the most. The rich have more insulation in the form of greater resources, often more dispersed in the economy and geographically. A poor person has one house, a rich person may have multiple houses, more likely to be insured against loss. The poor also don't have the same means of escaping danger as the rich do. They can't flee the country, they can't fly away on a plane, or speed away in their cars.

clipped from www.csmonitor.com On Tuesday, the latest Taliban bomb went off in Peshawar, killing three. The Taliban targets upscale buildings and neighborhoods, but many of the injured – and those hit hardest economically by the bombings in Pakistan – are the poor.

President Bush was right...

As American troops prepare to pull out of Iraq the country might be in the best condition in years. Open to the rest of the world after the removal of Saddam Husein, and settling into a post war peace means concerns about cucumbers and parking are growing and violence shrinking.

However, the threat from Iran remains. It might be noted that Iran and Iraq have long been tense neighbors. While some Iraqis may want a continued American presence in the country, it isn't clearly beneficial or necessary. American power in the region should be enough to prevent Iran from provoking any real trouble, and minor problems can be handled by Iraqis. The presence of American troops on the other hand continues to provide fuel to elements that don't like America and don't want to see democracy in Iraq. This fuel makes the country more unstable than it might be otherwise.

clipped from www.csmonitor.com During Mullen's walk, Iraqis there were at once wary and friendly, with children and shopkeepers talking to the American soldiers and posing for pictures. One shopkeeper stopped Mullen to complain about parking. Fears of violence just aren’t as much on the minds of Iraqis as they once were, Mullen said later.

Iranian People should be Time Person of The Year

By standing up to one of the most repressive governments in the world, and putting their own lives in danger they were an example to all humynity. The power of freedom rests on the will of people to fight for it. The Iranian people have shown they have that will.

in reference to:

"The events that unfolded in Iran following the contested presidential election have transfixed the world. Much of the information that came out of (and into) the country traveled over social media services as a result of censorship and blocking of communications systems by the government."
- Yasamin Beitollahi: Iranian Protesters Should Be Time Magazine's "Persons of the Year 2009" (view on Google Sidewiki)

Time Person of the year

I agree, they deserve it more than anyone else. They have out life and limb on the line to stand up for what is right.

clipped from www.huffingtonpost.com The events that unfolded in Iran following the contested presidential election have transfixed the world. Much of the information that came out of (and into) the country traveled over social media services as a result of censorship and blocking of communications systems by the government.

Of course they blame the US

Who else are they going to blame for their problems, themselves?

clipped from www.cnn.com Beirut, Lebanon (CNN) -- Hezbollah's chief on Monday announced the group's new "manifesto," which calls on all countries to "liberate Jerusalem" and declares the United States a threat to the world. "American terrorism is the source of every terrorism in the world," Hassan Nasrallah said in a televised speech from an undisclosed location.

Inside Story - Afghanistan election turmoil -01 Nov 09

Palestinian Refugee Camp Marked with Monument to Western Vapidity [Twitter]

Palestinian Refugee Camp Marked with Monument to Western Vapidity [Twitter]: "

Palestinian refugees can now enjoy the world's first-ever street named after Twitter following a Dutchman's $146 donation. Good luck explaining Twitter to your kids, refugee camp parents, or giving out your address. At least the money goes to charity.

WHAT??? All I can say is WHAT???

Young Women beaten in streets of Tehran while protesting

US-Iranians prepare to cast their votes 11 Jun 09

To meet June deadline, US and Iraqis redraw city borders | csmonitor.com

To meet June deadline, US and Iraqis redraw city borders | csmonitor.com:

"Baghdad - On a map of Baghdad, the US Army's Forward Operating Base Falcon is clearly within city limits.

Except that Iraqi and American military officials have decided it's not. As the June 30 deadline for US soldiers to be out of Iraqi cities approaches, there are no plans to relocate the roughly 3,000 American troops who help maintain security in south Baghdad along what were the fault lines in the sectarian war."

Sounds like cheating to me...

Taliban Video Of A Girl Getting Beaten

Another attempt to give the terrorists what they want

Haven't they tried this at least two or three times already. I might be wrong, but it seems that it has failed in the past. If it works I can see how it might help, but will it work?

clipped from www.cnn.com ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (CNN) -- Taliban spokesman Muslim Khan announced a 10-day cease-fire on Sunday in Pakistan's Swat Valley, a volatile region in North West Frontier Province that is largely controlled by the Taliban.

More Violence in Gaza

Because this isn't anything at all like shoots flies with a shootgun. I mean, it worked so well just a couple weeks ago didn't it? Oh yeah, it didn't.

clipped from news.bbc.co.uk Israeli jets have bombed tunnels on Gaza's border with Egypt, after two rockets were fired at southern Israel.

Huge Israeli Airstrike Caught On Tape

IAF release video showing how they changed path of missile away from civilians

Raw Video: Blast in Pakistan Kills Dozens

Inside Story - Reaching out to the tribes - Nov 2008 9 part 1