Henry Phish

According to an article by Sally Buzbee from the Associated Press, Iraq has stepped up pressure on a timetable for the withdrawal of US troops. The withdrawal is specifically linked to Iraq resuming security responsibilities for all 18 of it’s provinces, with 9 provinces already under Iraqi control. After that, the countries security situation would be evaluated every 6 months for 3 to 5 years to decide when US troops would pull out completely. At this time, the handover of the final 9 provinces have no turnover date, which gives the US some flexibility in how it handles troop withdrawals.

This is a good step, as it indicates Iraq’s growing confidence in its ability to secure itself. The main issue with pulling out of Iraq has always been their lack of infrastructure. With warring factions a constant threat to people on the street, police and hospitals in short supply, utilities such as water and electricity nearly non existent in some areas, and an economic structure just scraping by, it’s difficult to imagine Iraq being self sufficient without a stable governing body in place.

With current violence levels having fallen to their lowest point in the last 4 years, and with the latest statement from the current parliament, it’s becoming clear that Iraq is beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel. What their statement says about the Iraqi government is that we can and will police ourselves, and that’s a good thing to see after so many years of war.

This is an interesting video on the issue of internet neutrality.  Perhaps you’ve seen in your local papers the bi-line “The Internet: Right or Privilege.”  Basically, the gist of the argument is that certain groups want to control the internet and impose additional charges for its use.  Personally, I don’t know why people are worried, I mean just look at all the companies that provide access to the internet: Comcast, AOL, Qwest, and look at all the different ways you can get access: digital cable, DSL, ISP, Satellite.  If one of these companies tried to force a price change then all the other companies would counter.  It’s not as if there is a lack of competition, and these companies are not known for working together.  In the world of commerce, it’s all about survival.  For instance, if digital cable decided to charge based on number of sites visited, then a lot of people would simply jump ship and switch to DSL…who by the way is losing the battle for net superiority anyway (due to Qwest’s aweful customer service, overpricing, and the increasing data transfer rate of digital cable)…or an alternate provider.  I mean why would they want to jeapordize their customer relationship just to make a quick buck?  The truth is that short of the federal government imposing an internet tax…which they have mentioned from time to time but will never impose…there really isn’t any call to be alarmed.  Last I checked, in a capitalist country, companies still have to follow the laws of supply and demand.  For them to try to impose something on consumers that they neither want nor need is simply folley…they will simply go somewhere else. 

Anyway, take a look at the video, it’s kind of cool, and uses clips from Elephants Dream.

I’m not sure what to write about this link…  The blog it leads to is more than a little offensive, and at times it’s just plain stupid…however…there’s one point with which I totally have to agree: I mean, who couldn’t get elected to the presidency if they bought Dale Earnheart and plastered their name all over a NASCAR…it’s a no brainer…

 Politics Schmolatics

Here is another reason to prefer Twin Cities based Target over Wal-Mart. Target apparently has one of the nations most advanced crime labs. Target even uses its resources to help law enforcement agencies.

Chief executive Robert J. Ulrich made cooperating with law enforcement a priority in the mid-1990s, when crime rates skyrocketed and his hometown of Minneapolis was nicknamed “Murderopolis.”

Retailer Target Branches Out Into Police Work

The amount of resources that they share with law enforcement is impressive.

…Target has taken it a step further in working with the government on cases that have nothing to do with its business. The Post reports that Target forensics investigators spend 45 percent of their time offering pro-bono assistance to law enforcement.

CSI: Target Corp.

There have been discussions over the last few years about allowing video cameras into the Supreme Court. As a fan of The People’s Court (unfortunately a bad flash site) I would love to see the discussions and arguments that are held in the Supreme Court. I’ve read articles about questions and responses that are posed and can sometimes hardly believe that they came from the highest court of the land.

Law Blog Audio Special: Supreme Court TV

You have to see this one to believe it.
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