Gates: Guards ‘undermine’ US Iraq aims

The activities of security contractors are “in conflict” with the US military’s mission in Iraq, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates has said. (…)
“Just based on everything I’ve read and what our own team has reported, there have been instances where, to put it mildly, the Iraqis have been offended and not treated properly,” he added. BBC

That’s true. But to be fair: The US military is also not exactly helping the job of the US military.

EU leaders agree new treaty deal - unified foreign policy

A unified voice for the EU in matters of foreign policy is on the horizon:

The new Reform Treaty is designed to speed up decision making in the expanded European Union. It will also create a new president of the European Council, a new EU foreign affairs chief, a reformed voting system and scrap vetoes in dozens of areas. BBC

Get off that couch and get on her Majesty’s Secret Services payroll

Talk about some odd form of cross promotion:

One of Britain’s intelligence agencies will embed advertisements into popular video games this month in a bid to attract new recruits, The Times reported on Thursday.

The Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ), Britain’s intelligence listening post, will embed the adverts as billboards in video games including “Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Double Agent” in a bid to attract “computer-savvy, technologically-able, quick-thinking” recruits.

“We find increasingly we have to use less conventional means of attracting people … to go beyond glossy brochures and milk-round stalls,” a GCHQ spokeswoman told the newspaper.

“We will monitor the results from this campaign and are ready to change our recruitment methods … We know we can’t stand still,” the spokeswoman said, adding that GCHQ hoped to “plant the idea in the heads of younger players”. AFP

Dalai-Iran-Torture cocktail ala Bush

This is something only Bush can pull off: photo op with the Dalai Lama, justifying torture and rallying for war with Iran at the same time. Check out the picture in combination with the hedlines on the right right on the NY Times site:

Let’s do this like buddhists

George W. Bush will meet the Dalai Lama tomorrow to give him a Congressional medal. Chinese officials are miffed because they fear it gives his Holiness political power in Tibet they’d rather have remain with the Chinese Party. They’d probably would like nothing better than for him to curl up and die. (He’d be back.) Or at least go away and stop peacefully protesting.

This recent episode does not only show the ugly side of China, it is also a fine example of peaceful protest done right because of that very reason. The BBC reports:

Chinese officials in Tibet expressed fury at the announcement of the Congressional award.

Tibet’s Communist Party Secretary of Tibet, Zhang Qingli, accused the exiled spiritual leader of trying to “split the motherland”.

“We are furious,” he said. “If the Dalai Lama can receive such an award, there must be no justice or good people in the world.”

Asked by journalists after the meeting to comment on China’s reaction, the Buddhist leader said: “That always happens”. BBC

Somehow I doubt this would be getting so much play in the mainstream press if the Chinese had just kept their mouths shut. Instead they openly protested and shone the spotlight on him. All he had to do is smile and say “yeah, they always act this way” and he looks good.

Now that is wisdom.

Stephen Colbert writes NYT guest column

Yup, you read that hedline right. Stephen “My Balls are so big I carry on while Bush and Co are sitting near by” Colbert has written a guest column for the New York Times. Read it here.

Rice: Kremlin has too much power

Asinine quote of the day:

“I think that there is too much concentration of power in the Kremlin. Everybody has doubts about the full independence of the judiciary.” BBC

Che

AP: Stallone and Crew Saw Myanmar Aftermath

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Sylvester Stallone says he and his “Rambo” sequel movie crew recently witnessed the human toll of unspeakable atrocities while filming along the Myanmar border.

“I witnessed the aftermath — survivors with legs cut off and all kinds of land-mine injuries, maggot-infested wounds and ears cut off,” Stallone told The Associated Press in a phone interview Monday. “We hear about Vietnam and Cambodia and this was more horrific. AP

Former junta: “several thousand dead” in Burma

The Daily Mail spoke to a former junta who has this to say about the recent protests:

Thousands of protesters are dead and the bodies of hundreds of executed monks have been dumped in the jungle, a former intelligence officer for Burma’s ruling junta has revealed.

The most senior official to defect so far, Hla Win, said: “Many more people have been killed in recent days than you’ve heard about. The bodies can be counted in several thousand.”

Mr Win, who spoke out as a Swedish diplomat predicted that the revolt has failed, said he fled when he was ordered to take part in a massacre of holy men. He has now reached the border with Thailand. The Daily Mail

New Radiohead Album in 10 (!) days

Radiohead has always played by their own rules. They just announced that not only is their long awaited 7th studio album finished, it also is a double album consisting of 18 tracks and includes a book. It’s called In Rainbows and ships in 10 days.

More info at their new and increasingly slow site www.inrainbows.com or the best Radiohead fansite there is: atease.com.