Thursday, July 2, 2009
Your Morning News 7.2.09
Posted by Josh in Afghanistan, Big Picture, iran, Karl Malden, michael jackson, Opium
From the Boston Globe's "Big Picture" Blog
U.S. Marines in are in the middle of a major offensive in the Helmand River valley in southwestern Afghanistan. This area has been controlled by the Taliban and poppy harvests and opium smuggling there provides major financing for the insurgency. So far there has not been any major resistance as most Taliban fighters have chosen to slip away rather than face the U.S. head on. However, holding the area and getting the farmers to grow something other than poppies will be the real test. Reuters has a great Q&A for anyone who has basic questions.
Iranian opposition leaders have come out of seclusion to accuse the government there of conducting a coup against its own people. In response, the government is seeking to cast its opponents as outlaws. Charges of “destabilizing national security” could send opposition leaders to jail for up to 10 years and leave the U.S. government unsure how to respond.
Michael Jackson’s will has already set off a legal battle between his lawyers, executors and relatives. Man, who HASN’T seen that coming? If you want to get your fill of Jackson, every TV news outlet in the world is live from Neverland Ranch today because they erroneously believed there was going to be a public memorial.
Meanwhile, in low-profile celebrity deaths, actor Karl Malden also died this weekend at the age of 97. I have a soft sport for character actors and remember Malden from his amazing performance in On The Waterfront – a great film if you find yourself with extra time this weekend.