‘Israeli forces took up positions in buildings near Yasir Arafat’s compound in Ramallah today, two days after they complied with American demands and lifted a 10-day siege.

Defense Minister Benjamin Ben-Eliezer said that the new arrangement was intended to enable Israel to “put its hands on all those inside who are suspects if they try to come out.”

Palestinian officials said that the Israelis had not truly abandoned the siege, put in place after a suicide bomber killed six Israelis in Tel Aviv on Sept. 19. Nabil Aburdeineh, an adviser to Mr. Arafat, said that it remained dangerous for the Palestinian leader and others to leave or enter the compound. “They are deceiving the Americans,” he said of the Israelis.’ NY Times

A Russian Lama’s Body, and His Faith, Defy Time: “A miracle has occurred here in Siberia. Or it may be a hoax. Others believe science can explain it. It is a question, it seems, of faith.” NY Times

“Bush has many enemies. But he didn’t expect them to include Nancy Reagan; Alzheimer’s grief drives former first lady’s stealth campaign” to get Bush to reverse oppositon ot stem cell research. Guardian UK

Patients to get chemically “sterilised” blood . New Scientist

“Could singing fish novelties be hooked by a proposed law requiring anti-copying technology in digital devices?

Princeton professor Ed Felten thinks so.

The computer scientist has launched a site, called Fritz’s Hit List, that points out devices that could be forced to carry anti-copying technology if Sen. Fritz Hollings’, D-S.C., Consumer Broadband and Digital Television Promotion Act (CBDTPA) passes. The bill, which is designed to thwart piracy, would restrict digital products that don’t carry government-approved security technology.

So far, Fritz’s Hit List features a catalog of unlikely devices Felten said would be regulated under the law. They include common objects such as baby monitors and automobile navigation systems as well as seemingly innocuous toys such as the Shop With Me Barbie toy cash register, the Sony Aibo robot dog and Big Mouth Billy Bass.” CNET News

Jay Bookman — Bush’s real goal in Iraq:

This war, should it come, is intended to mark the official emergence of the United States as a full-fledged global empire, seizing sole responsibility and authority as planetary policeman. It would be the culmination of a plan 10 years or more in the making, carried out by those who believe the United States must seize the opportunity for global domination, even if it means becoming the “American imperialists” that our enemies always claimed we were. Atlanta Journal-Constitution [via rc3]

Nice to see we’re going about winning hearts and minds in Central Asia about like we did in Southeast Asia… MSNBC

No-fly blacklist snares political activists: ‘A federal “No Fly” list, intended to keep terrorists from boarding planes, is snaring peace activists at San Francisco International and other U. S. airports, triggering complaints that civil liberties are being trampled.

…Federal law enforcement officials deny targeting dissidents. They suggested that the activists were stopped not because their names are on the list, but because their names resemble those of suspected criminals or terrorists.’ SF Chronicle