The Palestinian press is raising the possibility that Israel may be trying to provoke a response with a recent large spate of "targeted killings." From the International Middle East Media Center, Feb. 10:

Ongoing Israeli Assassinations by Missile said to be 'Baiting' Palestinian militants
While the Israeli government refuses all contact with the future democratically elected Palestinian government, it has returned to its policy of assassination, targeting alleged Palestinian terrorists without trial or formal accusations, killing 13 this week in aerial missile attacks.

From AP, Feb. 9:

A suicide bomber struck Thursday in Pakistan on the holiest festival for Shiite Muslims, triggering a riot that left a provincial town in flames and at least 27 people dead and more than 50 wounded.

On Tuesday, February 14, at 7:30 PM, the Libertarian Book Club's Anarchist Forum will present Bill Weinberg, host of the WBAI program "The Moorish Orthodox Radio Crusade" and creator of the World War 4 Report website, where important but seldom-seen news from around the world can be found. Weinberg will provide a detailed picture of the almost never-discussed secular left opposition in Iraq. These are the Iraqis that oppose the U.S. occupation, the torture state it protects, and the jihadi insurgents alike. He will discuss how we can lend solidarity to the trade unions, women’s rights groups, and community organizations under siege in Iraq. He will also be reporting back on the recent conference in Tokyo in solidarity with the Iraqi Freedom Congress, and showing a new DVD on the organization's work.

An informative and insightful, if somewhat problematic, commentary from Egypt's Al-Ahram Weekly. Anjali Kamat argues that the cartoons are not merely "offensive" but propagandistic, and that leaving racism out of the simplistic "free speech/Islamic intolerance" equation is to miss the critical point:

A statement, apparently not yet posted elsewhere on the Web, from the UK branch of the Organization of Women's Freedom in Iraq (OWFI) and allied groups:

Civilised humanity must take a stand in defence of freedom of expression, against Islamists and racists
The recent controversy over some caricatures of Mohammed gave the Islamists an opportunity to wage a hysterical protest internationally. In many cases, this took a violent form and was clearly aimed at silencing those who dared to even portray Mohammed. In these demonstrations - across the world and in London, the very heart of Europe - many of the banners on show were emblazoned with shameful slogans. These included - "Those who insult Islam must be beheaded" and "Freedom go to hell" plus various other fatwas and threats against cartoonists and others who have the temerity to "insult" Islam.

Harsh new methods have been used in a successful bid to break the inmate hunger strike at the Pentagon's Guantanamo prison camp in Cuba. The methods reportedly included strapping detainees into "restraint chairs" for force-feeding, apparently to prevent the practice of deliberately regurgitating meals. Other strikers were placed in very cold air-conditioned cells, had "comfort" items like blankets removed and were placed in solitary confinement.

From the website of The Muslim Brotherhood [Ikhwan]:

Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood Statement
by Khairat el-Shater, Feb. 7

"Rage spread all over the Islamic world over defaming caricatures of Prophet Muhammad PBUH published in a Danish newspaper. We emphatically believe that those who allowed this dispecable behavior on assumption of freedom of expression, are indeed tarnishing the concept of liberty, in whose name such repulsive and shameless acts are committed. We, however, appeal to Muslims not to let their furor drag them to attack properties, to expand the scope of protest, or to turn it into a clash between civilizations. Enraged Muslims should adhere to the Islamic ethics and principles in showing their outcry. Presently, the world suffers from an evil band that dedicates its capacities to ignite religion and civilization clashes, hoping to exercise further economical and political domination. We, in addition, express our hope that this mishap triggers an international initiative on passing a U.N. law that makes the respect of holy symbols of all nations and cultures binding. Therefore, such acts will not recur."

An ominous juxtaposition of two news items. First, the anti-immigrant vigilante group known has the Minutemen rallied at the Capitol Building in Washington as the Senate debates a get-tough immigration bill already passed by the House. The Minuteman rally was addressed by two lawmakers, Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) and Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-CO)—who explicitly called for a military solution. "We are, in fact, being invaded," Tancredo said. "I'm asking the president to commit the military to this border." (Arizona Republic, Feb. 8)

Meanwhile, the Mexican army is already occupying the border city of Nuevo Laredo—and has failed to stem the gangland violence which has reached nearly paramilitary proportions. As the Minutemen rallied in DC, gunmen with assualt rifles shot up a newspaper office in Nuevo Laredo, leaving a journalist gravely wounded. From Reporters Without Borders: