Israel Hit by First Suicide Attack in a Year

In Dimona, Israel, one of two suicide bombers blew himself up at a shopping center on Monday. Then there was a second bomber who attempted to blow himself up, but failed his bomb failed to detonate and he was shot dead by police at the scene. The last suicide attack the country has seen occured in January of 07' it the city of Eilat, killing three Israelis. After the bombing, police officials went on high alert in various areas of the country, and near Dimona, officials were stationed at main junctions in and around the city. Not only are suicide bombers a massive threat in Israel, but so is the Israeli air force that also carried out an attack in Gaza against militants that had been responsible for rocket attacks on Israel. In my opinion, i dont think that the security of Israel defense, Shin Bet is taking the right measures in securing his people from terrorists and suicide bombers. When weapons were smuggled into Gaza, it was because at the time the border was down, leaving it ungaurded. Many weapons were smuggled at the time such as long-range missiles, anititank and antiaircaft missiles. As a result of this, the defense minister, Ehud Barak told the cabinet that there was a high urgency to build a fence along the border between Israel and Egypt. Though there are constructive plans to build a border, the lack of money is always an issue. Egyptians want the border to feel safe and secure again, but find it hard to come up with the finances for such a structure.Many civilians are so scared that they refuse to leave their homes becuase in Israel you are unaware of who is against you and who is not. I feel that the people should be protected first and foremost, and a way to do so is found to be most challenging.

The Blackwater Case Faces Obstacles

In Washington D.C, justice department officials have told Congress numerous times about the legal difficulties in pursuing criminal prosecutions of the Blackwater security guards involved in a September shooting that left at least 17 Iraquis dead. The Justice Department revealed that on January 16, 2008, the briefing had prinicpally been held to answer questions concerning those problems involved in the case. One of which arose when State Department investigators granted Blackwater employees a limited form of immunity, immunity that should have never been granted. When asked about this, investigators declined commenting on the matter. There are several questions from the public as to whether federal law even applies to the Blackwater contractors.On the night in question of the September shooting, one of the bloodiest involving private security guards in Iraq, set off furious protests from the Iraqui goverment and has forced a major reassment in both the Bush administration and Congress over the role of private contractors in the war zone. Justice officials main concerns are between the gaps in the law and the immunity deal. Officials in the briefing stated that the federal law that applies to civilian employees by or accompanying the American military overseas may not apply to contractors in Iraq working for the State Department. Blackwater is under contract by the State Department to provide security for American diplomats in Baghdad. Officials have openly admitted to the public that they are not going to prosecute anyone because of the enormous amount of difficulties concerning the situation. Because of the immunity deals offered to the Blackwater guards by investigators, it can not be proven that the evidence gathered by federal prosecutors stemmed from those statements made by the guards after they were promised limited immunity. A group called Human Rights First is angered by the situation and argues that the laws are sufficient to prosecute contractors, including those working for the State Department, and that the Bush administration has failed to do so because of a lack of political will. Since the September shooting, the State Department and the Pentagon have reached an agreement to put private contractors under greater military control.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/16/washington/16blackwater.html