Unreported News This Week

Sure war is hell, but you ever been to Atlanta?

According to Mr. King, the violent death rate in Iraq is 25.71 per 100,000. That may sound high, but not when you compare it to places like Colombia (61.7), South Africa (49.6), Jamaica (32.4), and Venezuela (31.6). How about the violent death rates in American cities? New Orleans before Hurricane Katrina was 53.1. FBI statistics for 2004-05 have Washington at 45.9, Baltimore at 37.7, and Atlanta at 34.9.

Sure war is hell, that's why all these folks are enlisting:

May 16, 2006: In the last seven months, the U.S. Army has met or exceeded all of its recruiting goals. In that time, over 160,000 people have enlisted, or re-enlisted. The total strength of the active duty and reserve forces are 1.2 million men and women, all of them volunteers. Except for a few months in 2004-5, the military has been able to maintain its strength, despite wartime conditions. The biggest problem has not been casualties (only about 10,000 soldiers have been killed or disabled so far, less than one percent of overall strength).

Sure war is hell, but that isn't keeping Iran from fishing for pals in it's sprint toward self destruction.

TEHRAN, Iran - Iran is enlisting Syria and the Palestinian group Hamas - both also deeply at odds with the United States, Israel, and some in Western Europe - as allies in the battle over its disputed nuclear program. The move has prompted Israel's U.N. ambassador, Dan Gillerman, to declare that "a dark cloud is looming above our region, and it is metastasizing as a result of the statements and actions by leaders of Iran, Syria, and the newly elected government of the Palestinian Authority."

I'm sure Kerry/Gore/Dean/Edwards(who?) have a plan to fix all this. Whatever happens, good or bad, sooner or later, diplomatically or militarily I'm sure it'll be Bush's fault.