Tuesday, August 01, 2006

Midnight News -- 8/1/06

Castro has given up power temporarily while he undergoes surgery. Much joy is reported and expressed -- see also Boli-Nica, Babalu, and Abajo Fidel.

Odious former President Jimmy Carter editorializes in the Washington Post:

It is inarguable that Israel has a right to defend itself against attacks on its citizens, but it is inhumane and counterproductive to punish civilian populations in the illogical hope that somehow they will blame Hamas and Hezbollah for provoking the devastating response.

The civilians are being punished because Hezbollah launches rockets from their apartment buildings, not because Israel has some strategic interest in harming civilians. Mr. Carter's ignorance of this fact is alone justification to ignore him. He continues:
A major impediment to progress is Washington's strange policy that dialogue on controversial issues will be extended only as a reward for subservient behavior and will be withheld from those who reject U.S. assertions.

"Subserviance" in this context is agreeing to disarm an illegal, private army. It is only strange to a serial appeaser who doesn't much mind civilian casualties provided they are Jewish.

Israel had suspended air attacks as a result of the deaths at Qana, deaths that occurred when a building collapsed 8 hours after it was hit by Israeli missiles. They have decided instead to use ground attacks.

Having held their first election in decades, the Congolese decided they enjoyed the experience so much that they extended the election for an extra day. Early returns showed deep geographic divisions, and the incumbent president in the lead.

Fire was exchanged along the DMZ between North and South Korea.

It has been very hot in America the last few days.

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