• MSNBC/Wash Post: U.S. builds presence in central Asia --- New Kyrgyzstan base suggests military wants a foothold
  

  First, I do think it is a coup for us to get this installation at this particular location. Having a full scale military installation 300 miles from China is a major asset for us. China is America's most serious military threat, so this is the equivilant of what Russia did when they put missles in Cuba.
  

  However, this story also concerns me because it would confirm the report that I have received from my own unnamed sources... that the US is preparing to make major military move against Iran. Unless there is hard evidence that Iran is developing nuclear/chemical/biological weapons (and if they truly are, and not just making aspirin, then a surgical military strike as the Israelis did to Iraq in the 80's might be in order), then this is stupid. Iran is actually making moves towards democracy right now. A military invasion could set this country back by decades. (To say nothing of the cost in American and Iranian lives.)
  

  I think before we start attacking Iran and Iraq, we need to pay attention to more serious violators of human rights abuses, like China and Saudi Arabia.

• TXCN: Women can dare to bare in Austin --- City won't ticket Mardi Gras revelers who show their breasts --- hehehe, this brings back memories of my days as a pedicab driver in Austin, TX. That is one crazy town. I miss it. (not the public nudity part, but their independent spirit that was so unlike most of the Texas/Oklahoma region.)
  

• NY Post: The Eternal Scandal --- an op-ed on the ridiculous cost of buiding new school buildings in NYC
  

• MSNBC: Captives resist questioning --- IF this story is telling the truth, then it looks like the US is handling the situation well. I, however have my doubts. I don't understand why they deny the prisoners POW status under the Geneva Convention if they are not planning on using torture as a tactic for extracting intelligence. (Or maybe already are using torture?)
  

• NY Times: As Suicide Approvals Rise in Oregon, Half Go Unused
  

• CNN: Oklahoma Governor favors profiling in terror war --- It's good to know that we have a bigot as Governor. Thankfully his days as Governor Do-nothing will soon be over.
  

• ZDNet: Dangerous hole discovered in Morpheus
  

• AP: Lindh's attorney's seek his release
  
  
  One of his lawyers, James Brosnahan, told reporters at the time that Lindh, known in Afghanistan by his Muslim name, Sulayman al-Faris, had asked for legal representation at the time of his apprehension but was denied that.
  

  The government told the court the young man decided on his own to waive his right to counsel, before he was questioned, and chose willingly to join the Taliban and support Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida terrorist organization.
  

  ``John Walker chose to join terrorists who wanted to kill Americans, and he chose to waive his right to an attorney, both orally and in writing, before he was questioned by the FBI,'' Attorney General John Ashcroft (news - web sites) said at a news conference.
  ...
  Continuing to attack the government's complaint, the defense team said that Lindh spoke to the FBI under duress while he was ``kept under heavy armed guard and given minimal food and medical attention, despite gunshot and/or shrapnel wounds and despite malnutrition and dehydration.''
  

  While the government's initial charges were based on that interview and statements Lindh made to CNN while in Afghanistan, Ashcroft pointed out that Lindh signed a waiver, agreeing to be questioned without a lawyer present during the Dec. 9-11 interviews in Afghanistan with FBI agents.
  

  Brosnahan, the lead attorney, told Sewell in an earlier hearing that Lindh had been asking for a lawyer since Dec. 2 and contended the defendant's statements should not be admissible in the case.

  
  

• NY Times: Powell in possible shift, calls U.S. willing to sign nuclear pact
  

• NYC IMC: Reformers regain control at Pacifica - Banned and fired return to WBAI --- This is very good news!
  

• MSNBC: Only 10 percent at World Economic Forum are women
  

• NY Times: Russian aide warns U.S. not to extend war to Iraq
  

• Yahoo News: Amtrak threatens to end some service --- This is bad thing. Right now with all of the difficulties with air travel, the government should do everything possible to keep Amtrak afloat.
  

• NY Times: Reservists balk at occupation, rolling Israel --- This is a very good sign IMHO.
  

• NY Times: Rules are set on who is fit to visit space station
  

• Austin Chronicle: Confounded constable
  

  This story is admittedly pretty obscure unless you're into Austin politics, but I found it interesting because it talks chiefly about the political intrigue involving Bruce Elfant, Travis County Constable Precinct 5. I was Elfant's sole opponent in the 2000 election (I ran on the Libertarian ticket.). He beat me soundly, but 18% of the folks in my district did think that a change was in order. (I am proud to say that my campaign had only a $200 budget.)
  

• The Guardian: New Enron scandal link to Bush
  

• MSNBC: Democrats say Dole has ties to Enron
  

Links:

• AP: Bush and Democrats split over farm spending
  

• MSNBC/KFOR: Governor do-nothing Keating delivers last
  "State of State" address --- This bring back memories of my foolish Republican days.
  

• Statesman.com: Bacon, eggs and less marijuana--- a weed watchers diet for Willie