01/21 Morning Report

The Serbs are electing a new parliament. Kosovo and war crimes have trumped the issues of the economy and corruption. But, as Uncle Mac posted in his 8 part series on Serbia, there are a lot of things that haven’t been done or were hidden by authorities.

In other news, the Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr says his forces will end their boycott of Parliament. It seems to me he made this deal before. And then bailed on it when he didn’t get what he wanted. How do we know he will not do the same again?

And, the Kenyans turned over Somali Islamists. The suspected Islamic fighters included one Canadian, and some of the leaders of the Somalia Islamic Courts Council.
(…too bad about the Canadian…well, there are Islamists in every nation…I guess it was just a matter of time…)

In another “not surprise” announcement, Iran has thumbed it’s nose at the UN. Sadaam set a bad precedent—or at least continued one—in defying the international “authority”. Why so many put their trust in an institution that has accomplished very little, enforces nothing, and is rampant with unaddressed corruption (aka Kofi), I have no idea. Iran is even planning war games around short range missile tests.
(…I hate to say it, but I think I’m glad it doesn’t have any real power…)

In immigration news here at home, Bush is considering a pardon for border patrol agents currently in prison for shooting—but not killing—a Mexican drug runner. Among other things that bother me about this case, in exchange for his testimony against the border agents, the drug runner got immunity—after admitting he was transported hundreds of pounds of illegal drugs.
(…like there couldn’t have been a real reason to get the guy?...)

Meanwhile, in Massachusetts, Gov. Romney signed legislation that allows state troopers to detain illegal aliens they discover in the course of their regular duties. Can someone explain why we needed this law? Can our police and law enforcement officers not arrest…excuse me…detain those they find that have broken the laws? But, given the latest coalition to get more immigrants into the country, I can’t say that I blame him.
(…that it needed to be done is a terrible commentary on the state of our nation…not to mention just so much political grandstanding and election posturing…)

Finally, I thought this comment by the NY Times was a bit strange. Speaking on the President’s planned State of the Union address, and his health care plans, the Times said:

White House officials say the health tax plan would neither increase spending nor reduce tax revenues. Supporters say it would expand coverage to some of the 47 million uninsured. But critics say it would, in effect, tax people with insurance to provide coverage to those without it.

So, is their complaint that the government wouldn’t be in control of this plan? It strikes me as something close to the end results of the Clinton Plan of the 90s.