Pyongyang Seizes Boat From South

South Korean activists demanded the North return a South Korean fishing boat.
Associated Press/Lee Jin-man

From The Wall Street Journal:

SEOUL -- North Korea seized a South Korean fishing vessel and its four-person crew after they strayed across the inter-Korean maritime border in the East Sea, or Sea of Japan, early Thursday, South Korean officials said.

The incident will be a new test of how North Korea will deal with the outside world. Since the illness of dictator Kim Jong Il last August, North Korea has taken a harder line in its dealings with foreigners, most visibly with its detention of two American journalists and a South Korean businessman.

Read more ....

My Comment: These fishermen are not going to be heard from for a long time. One more divergence away from the mess of what is North Korea and one more more nail in the coffin for any hope on negotiating a limit to North Korea's nuclear program.

Commentaries, Opinions, And Editorials -- July 30, 2009

No Toppling Dominoes In South Asia, Thank You -- Globe And Mail

In her brilliant book The Uses and Abuses of History, historian Margaret MacMillan tells a story about two Americans discussing the atrocities of Sept. 11, 2001. One draws an analogy with Pearl Harbor, Japan's attack on the United States in 1941. His friend has no idea what this means. “You know,” the first man replies. “It was when the Vietnamese bombed the American fleet and started the Vietnam War.”

Read more ....

COMMENTARIES, OPINIONS, AND EDITORIALS

Did Biden Blow Up the Russian 'Reset'? -- Gregory Scoblete, RealClearWorld

The Military Is Not the Police -- New York Times editorial

No Unguarded Moment -- David Ignatius, Washington Post opinion

Banishing Our Friends -- Wall Street Journal editorial

Tough on Israel -- Washington Post editorial

Philippine death squads -- Washington Times opinion

Fragile Philippine democracy -- Washington Times editorial

Revenge of the ‘Shoe Bomber’ -- Debra Burlingame, Wall Street Journal

Why China Eclipsed Russia -- Peter Osnos, The Daily Beast

Washington Is Taking China Too Seriously -- David Pilling, Financial Times

Island of Discord Between Russia & Japan -- Vladimir Kozin, Moscow Times

World News Briefs -- July 30, 2009

A demonstrator in Italy holds up a picture of Neda Agha-Soltan, an Iranian woman who was killed during post-election unrest in Tehran in June. Iranian police were out in force on Thursday at a cemetery where defiant opposition leaders are planning a memorial visit to the graves of protesters killed in post-election violence, witnesses said. (AFP/File/Giuseppe Cacace)

Iran Police Break Up Memorial For Protest Victims -- Yahoo News/Reuters

TEHRAN (Reuters) – Baton-wielding Iranian police fired tear gas on Thursday and arrested protesters mourning the young woman killed in post-election violence who has become a symbol for the opposition to Tehran's hardline leaders.

Read more ....

MIDDLE EAST'

Iran police beat opposition sympathisers at graveside memorial.

Bombs kill 12 in north and west Iraq, say police.

US hopeful about exit after a quiet July in Iraq.

West Bank settlers send Obama defiant message.

Israel to allow cement into Gaza.

ASIA

US envoy warns of possible new sanctions on North Korea.

India prime minister pushes for dialogue with Pakistan.

Burma warning on Suu Kyi protests.

Kyrgyz authorities crack down on opposition rallies.

Activist says thousands missing in China's Uighur Province.

Beijing closing coal plants in environmental move.

AFRICA

Nigerian sect leader shot dead after capture: police.

Algerian soldiers 'die in ambush'.

Fed-up South Africans lash out at Zuma's government.

Fears of Zimbabwe plot grow after minister is held for stealing old mobile phone.

How Google and governments should manage Africa's Internet boom. Cable fault cuts off West Africa.

EUROPE

Spanish police defuse 2nd bomb on Mallorca. Blast on Spanish Island of Mallorca kills 2.

Moldovan Communists beaten in landmark election.

Recession robs Spain's youth of jobs and hope.

Report: Only 367 Muslim women in France wear full veil.

Serbian officials say Mladic is 'within reach'.

AMERICAS

Honduran Leader backs return of President.

Hugo Chavez freezes ties with Colombia over weapons row.

Treasury announces sanctions of Mexican Drug Lords.

Russia signs oil pact, offers $150M credit to Cuba.

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

U.S. judge orders Guantanamo prisoner Jawad freed.

I bombed Jakarta hotels.

Was Manchester United the target of the Jakarta bombing?

FINANCIAL/ECONOMIC CRISIS

Weak Treasury auctions raise worries about US debt burden.

US economy likely to contract in second quarter: Obama.

China's central bank reassures on monetary policy.

How The U.S. Desire For Drugs Fuels Wars

Mexican drug traffickers are growing millions of marijuana plants
in California's vast national parks Photo: AP

California's Pot Plants Earn Mexican Drug Gangs Billions -- The Telegraph

Mexican drug traffickers are growing millions of marijuana plants in California's vast national parks, exploiting the embattled state's sweeping cutbacks in its police forces.

The authorities have already seized more than a million cannabis plants this year – worth up to $4 billion (£2.4 billion) – and the growing season is not even half over.

Officials concede that for every plant they find, dozens of others escape detection.

While the criminals are becoming harder to catch, they are also becoming more brazen – increasingly growing their plants close to homes and camping sites, and refusing to flee the area when the authorities arrive.

Read more ....

My Comment: Forget about the drug battles that are occurring in Mexico, Americans should look at themselves.

Unfortunately, I think that with time we will have no choice but to look at what the drug war is bringing to the home front. At the present time the U.S. is experiencing a drug war that claims and imprisons scores of people every day, but it has not reached the levels of Mexico or Colombia .... yet.

Will that day come .... I do not know. Law enforcement and education have clearly failed. Another way must be found. But when that day will come .... my guess is as good as the next person's analysis on this crisis.

In the meantime .... the drug trade (and war) continues.

Israeli Report Defends Actions During Gaza War

A Palestinian boy walks past as the rubble of al-Taqwa mosque is cleared in Gaza City July 26, 2009. REUTERS/Suhaib Salem

From The AP:

JERUSALEM — An Israeli government report released Thursday insisted that "incessant" Hamas rocket attacks forced Israel to hit Gaza hard earlier this year, countering charges of war crimes but acknowledging that more than a dozen criminal inquiries are underway.

The 160-page report was called the first comprehensive Israeli government study of the punishing offensive in December and January that killed more than 1,100 Palestinians.

Read more ....

Update #1: Israel says investigating 100 Gaza war complaints -- Reuters

Update #2: Israel military holds criminal probes over Gaza war -- AFP

My Comment: With the exception of (maybe) a few in the Israeli Government and military who will pay attention to this report .... no one else will.

As to the question .... will anyone be punished? Maybe one or two will ultimately be prosecuted .... but that is about it.

U.S. House Seems To Be Set on Pork-Padded Defense Bill

Gates and Gen. Cartwright announce the 2010 budget numbers/Pentagon

From Washington Post:

The Democratic-controlled House is poised to give the Pentagon dozens of new ships, planes, helicopters and armored vehicles that Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates says the military does not need to fund next year, acting in many cases in response to defense industry pressures and campaign contributions under an approach he has decried as "business as usual" and vowed to help end.

The unwanted equipment in a military spending bill expected to come to a vote on the House floor Thursday or Friday has a price tag of at least $6.9 billion.

Read more ....

My Comment: Defense Secretary Gates used up all of his markers in the cancellation of the F-22 program and major elements of the FCS program.

This pork is going to be passed by the Congress .... and it will be signed by President Obama.

Peace Moves Between India And Pakistan Meet Resistance

Prime Ministers Yousuf Raza Gilani of Pakistan, left, and Manmohan Singh of India meet July 16 in Egypt, leading to a joint statement on improved ties. Xinhua/ZUMA Press

Indian Opposition In Uproar At Policy Towards Pakistan -- Reuters

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Indian opposition lawmakers staged a noisy protest and walked out of parliament on Thursday, branding government efforts to improve ties with Pakistan a sell out of national interest. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has been under attack for a joint statement he signed with Pakistani counterpart Yusuf Raza Gilani agreeing to delink the issue of terrorism from a broader peace process India halted after November's Mumbai attacks.

He also drew flak for agreeing to include in the joint statement a reference to the Pakistani province of Baluchistan, where Pakistan accuses India of fomenting an insurgency. New Delhi denies the charge.

Read more ....

Update: Singh Defends Effort to Improve Ties With Pakistan -- Wall Street Journal

My Comment: As bad as the opposition is to these peace moves in India .... they pale to the opposition in Pakistan.