Venezuela reacted with outrage to a call by television evangelist Pat Robertson for the U.S. to assassinate President Huge Chavez, and two U.S. senators called the remarks “irresponsible” and “incredibly stupid.”

Robertson’s statement was “incredibly stupid” and “has no reflection on reality,” U.S. Senator Norm Coleman, a Republican from Minnesota who is chairman of the Senate’s Foreign Relations subcommittee on the western hemisphere.

U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said at a press briefing in Washington that Robertson’s views “do not represent the policy of the United States.”

Well, that’s a load of rubbish. The US tried to overthrow Chavez and I’m guessing he wouldn’t have lived long had they succeeded.

For a bit of comic relief, check this -

The Bush administration also forcefully distanced itself from Robertson’s comments on Tuesday.

Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld said: “Our department doesn’t do that kind of thing. It’s against the law.“

Note the odd syntax, “our department”, almost implying that others may be doing just that.

And why did Coleman call Robertson’s comments “incredibly stupid?” Because Venezuela has been threatening to cut off oil supplies to the U.S., and Robertson’s lunatic ramblings may well hasten that happening.

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The News Dissector blog currently has been hacked, with the home page saying  ”Heh !!! Unfortunately Your Site Is hacked By Minus Power Virus Coding Team.for the lack of security.”

Water World Week has an announcement, “ On Tuesday, August 16, and continuing today, our server was attacked by a virus, and the Secretariat (SIWI) has been unable to receive any email.”

So, keep those patches up to date, and do lots of backups. Having lax computer security is like leaving the back door unlocked then wondering why you got robbed. If the door is locked, they’ll probably go elsewhere instead.

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Uranium traced to Pakistani equipment

Traces of bomb-grade uranium found two years ago in Iran came from contaminated Pakistani equipment and are not evidence of a clandestine nuclear weapons program, a group of U.S. government experts and other international scientists has determined.

“The biggest smoking gun that everyone was waving is now eliminated with these conclusions,” said a senior official who discussed the still-confidential findings on the condition of anonymity.

Doubtless this won’t deter the Bushites from lying about Iraq as they continue their plans to invade. I mean, have facts ever stopped them before?

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The United States Institute of Peace is a non-profit funded heavily by Congress, who just authorized 100 million for their new building in a cushy part of D.C. on the Mall across from the Lincoln Memorial. Their current budget is 22 million a year.

The United States Institute of Peace is an independent, nonpartisan federal institution created by Congress to promote the prevention, management, and peaceful resolution of international conflicts.

Um, maybe they could advise Congress and the President to stop invading so many countries, might be good first step towards peace.

Established in 1984 [by Reagan], the Institute meets its congressional mandate through an array of programs, including research grants, fellowships, professional training, education programs from high school through graduate school, conferences and workshops, library services, and publications. The Institute’s Board of Directors is appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the Senate.

Ok, who are they and what do they really do? Anyone know? Yes, I admit to being just a teensy bit skeptical of an Institute of Peace started by Reagan

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Iraq’s new constitution, supposedly the blueprint for a democratic future, was threatening to drag the country into civil war last night.

The Sunni reaction was immediate, with politicians queuing to denounce the move and warning of a cataclysmic reaction. Soha Allawi, one of the leading negotiators, declared: “We will not be silent. We will campaign for public awareness to tell both Sunnis and Shias to reject the constitution, which has elements that will lead to the break-up of Iraq and civil war.” Another Sunni delegate, Hussein Shukur al-Fallu, said: “If they pass this constitution, then the rebellion will reach its peak.”

Iraqi drafter doubts Sunnis will support constitution in 3 days

The head of the committee drafting Iraq’s constitution said Tuesday that three days are not enough to win over the Sunni Arabs, and the document they rejected may ultimately have to be approved by parliament as is and taken to the people in a referendum.

From the proposed Constitution

Article Two: The political system is republican, parliamentary, democratic and federal.

1. Islam is a main source for legislation.

— a. No law may contradict Islamic standards.

— b. No law may contradict democratic standards.

Seems a bit contradictory to me.

PS 5 Calif. guardsmen face charges of abusing Iraqis.

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Why? Global warming, that’s why.

The visit by two warships to the area is the latest move to challenge rival claims in the Arctic triggered by the threat of melting ice.

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