Iraq and Afghanistan
In Aghanistan, suicide bombers bracketed Defense Secretary Gates' one day visit, attacking a NATO convoy on his way in, and an Afghan Army convoy on his way out, killing 13 and wounding 42, all civilians.
(AP) The Iraqi government admits that it can't handle the possibility of a refugee return. (Imagine returning to your house to find someone living there, and they refuse to leave because someone is living in their house....)
(AP) 15 month tours are expected to last until next fall. (at least!)
(AP) "the Iraqi Cabinet agreed Tuesday to ask the United Nations to extend the authorization for U.S.-led forces in Iraq through the end of next year, but it will be the last time, officials said." (Moving towards the binary US bases agreement after that.)
And, (AP) A "hostage video" was released of one of the five British contractors captured back in May.
Later: (AP) Gates hist Baghdad and 25 more are killed in a bombing.
(AP) The Iraqi government admits that it can't handle the possibility of a refugee return. (Imagine returning to your house to find someone living there, and they refuse to leave because someone is living in their house....)
(AP) 15 month tours are expected to last until next fall. (at least!)
(AP) "the Iraqi Cabinet agreed Tuesday to ask the United Nations to extend the authorization for U.S.-led forces in Iraq through the end of next year, but it will be the last time, officials said." (Moving towards the binary US bases agreement after that.)
And, (AP) A "hostage video" was released of one of the five British contractors captured back in May.
Later: (AP) Gates hist Baghdad and 25 more are killed in a bombing.
posted by mikevotes at
8:37 AM
10 Comments:
So Gates visits Afghanistan and Iraq and we get bombings. Kinda makes you wonder what will happen when Bush visits the region.
By
Anonymous, at 10:59 AM
I know he's hitting Israel, is he going anywhere else?
By
mikevotes, at 1:25 PM
Not sure but there may be a plan to visit the West Bank. I'm sure he wants to see how ordinary Palestinians are doing.
By
Anonymous, at 2:17 PM
Boy, that would be a big security question.
By
mikevotes, at 3:57 PM
He will probably be meeting with Abbas to keep it balanced. Can't see him going to Ramallah though.
By
Anonymous, at 4:57 PM
Maybe a Maliki like meeting in Jordan?
By
mikevotes, at 5:20 PM
Imagine coming home to find someone living in your house? Come to the Czech Republic, I can introduce you to many people in the same situation. Only now, it is your house, but people are living in it with life leases below the cost of maintenance and by law you have to maintain the building at your own cost.
By
Praguetwin, at 5:28 PM
Forgive me for not knowing, but what's the context of that? WWI? Soviet? Czech/Slovak split?
By
mikevotes, at 5:59 PM
Sorry for the delay. Basically, Soviet. People lost their property to the state. Housing was assigned by need, and the leases extended to your children and so on.
After the revolution, they found the families who owned the property, gave the property back, but the leases are still valid. At least for now. Reform is slowing taking hold with owners able to raise the rent 10% per year, and within a few years they will be able to charge market rates.
By
Praguetwin, at 2:02 AM
Thanks. The mechanics of de-Sovietization got so little coverage here.
By
mikevotes, at 6:23 AM
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