Afghanistan TIME magazine cover

Very sad and shocking about the maimed woman on the cover and what happened to her, which is of course unjust.

However, before lying that the war in Afghanistan is about "saving" and "protecting" their women, consider this.

Perhaps TIME should put on the cover one of the DAILY morgue bodies of an American infant killed by the "baby mama's boyfriend" or even their own father or mother. We'd have many more examples to grace the cover each DAY than you have of honor killings and maiming in Afghanistan. Don't be total hypocrites, please. It brings you no closer to wisdom and justification.

Commend Iran's work against drug smuggling

One reason IRNA is on my regular reading list is that I learn information that does not make the mainstream western press, such as their steady dedication in the war on drugs and drug smuggling. People who know me know that I consider drug production, usage and addiction to be a dire plague that has significantly diminished the accomplishments and nobility of human beings overall. Thus I am always watchful of the great progress of all who genuinely combat this grievous problem and have noticed Iran's steadfastness. Here is an example of news that does not make much of the biased "drive by" mainstream media.

http://www2.irna.ir/en/news/view/line-17/0811202934181315.htm

Iran, Afghanistan and the UN Mission in Kabul on Thursday held first tripartite meeting on measures to counter drug trafficking from Afghanistan.

UN Secretary-General Special Representative for Afghanistan Kai Eide, Iran's Ambassador to Kabul Fada-Hossein Maleki and Afghan Minister of Counter Narcotics General Khodaidad attended the meeting.

Speaking on the sidelines of the meeting to IRNA, Maleki underlined the significance of cooperation in fighting narcotics and called for avoiding political approach in dealing with the phenomenon.

Unfortunately, narcotics threaten families in various societies, he said, urging regional and international cooperation to seriously deal with the dilemma.

Given Afghan's complicated situation, countering narcotics has been marginalized, he said, stressing that it should be placed at the center of attention by all countries.

Fighting narcotics is not the duty of Afghanistan alone, rather international community should provide it with necessary equipment to Afghanistan to deal with the problem, Maleki said.

Meanwhile, Afghan minister said that Iran has set up 25 checkpoints on the borders and provided them with necessary equipment to counter drug trafficking.

Stating that Iran has many experience in the field and treatment of the addicts, Khodaidad said that an agreement already signed between the two countries on campaign against illicit drugs is still in force.

Afghanistan is determined to promote cooperation with neighboring countries and NATO to prevent poppy cultivation and drug trafficking, he said.

Taliban sympathizers spray girls with acid

What kind of men are these? Who spray girls with acid just because they are going to school AND they are modest and fully veiled? What more were the girls supposed to do? Oh, that's right, these extremists don't believe in education for girls.

Well, ask yourselves, why then would they disfigure and possibly blind these girls, so that then these so called pious men can say they are "not suitable for marriage?" Which way do you want it, extremists? You do not want girls to go to school, yet then you "punish" them by endangering their lives, their beauty and their chances at marriage? You hypocrites!

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/13/world/asia/13afghan.html

An excellent article: California's 500 war deaths

I was just so impressed with the journalistic integrity of this article reporting on the 500th war death experienced by California state. With such a painful and divisive topic, the journalist wrote a wonderful article that "is what it is," with fairness and respectful sensitivity.

LA Times has some fine and very relevant reporters.

http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-hemet21-2008jun21,0,5782180.story