The Humanitarian Charter is a basic set of principles under which NGO’s operate.

Slashdot is reporting that Emacs 21 is out. (Here’s the official press relase.) With new major releases of vim and emacs this month, we’re entering an editor renaissance …

I’ve been following the ongoing story of a $100,000 transfer made to Mohammed Atta. The Times of India originally reported that the transfer was made on behalf of the recently retired head of the Pakistani intelligence service, Mahmud Ahmad. Last week, a reader sent links to two articles (CNN and BBC), which point to a man named Sheik Syed making the transfer, but do not make the further connection to the general that’s made by the Times article.

The ongoing tale of law enforcement’s frustration with basic civil liberties continues in today’s Washington Post. This passage should make every American cringe:

Said one experienced FBI agent involved in the investigation: “We are known for humanitarian treatment, so basically we are stuck. . . . Usually there is some incentive, some angle to play, what you can do for them. But it could get to that spot where we could go to pressure . . . where we won’t have a choice, and we are probably getting there.”

Among the alternative strategies under discussion are using drugs or pressure tactics, such as those employed occasionally by Israeli interrogators, to extract information. Another idea is extraditing the suspects to allied countries where security services sometimes employ threats to family members or resort to torture.

Not only is torture and coercion completely barbaric, but the quality of information obtained through these means has a very high chance of being tainted. The history of law enforcement is full of cases where people confess to crimes that they did not even commit after grueling interrogation sessions that did not involve torture. Adding in violence and threats to the mix just make it more likely that the subjects of interrogation will simply tell you whatever they think you want to hear in order to get out of the hot seat.

Bob Woodward has an article in today’s Washington Post about the President’s new strategy to combat terrorism. The CIA has been given authorization to work with the military on a seventies style dirty war against terrorists, or who the CIA considers to be terrorists, anyway. Dick Cheney also says the war may not end in our lifetimes. So does that mean we can look forward to an ongoing program of extrajudicial executions and secret operations that will outrage us 30 years down the road when they’re finally declassified? I hope not.

The article also does a good job of explaining what a tough spot the government is in. They receive many threats every day. Which are valid? Which should be publicized? Someone has to make the call on every single one of the threats and there’s not much margin for error. I’m glad that’s not my job.

Here’s a particularly large set of attack-related links from Phil Agre. Also, the ground war has begun.

Where’s the money the Bush administration has pledged for supporting the people of Afghanistan? It seems like the UNHCR needs it pretty badly right now.

There’s going to be a Senate hearing concerning the SSSCA on October 25. Following all of the legislation that’s hostile to our freedoms these days is really a huge pain in the ass. I wish that both the House and Senate would go into recess for the rest of the year just to give everyone a break.

What’s Apple going to announce on Tuesday? And where’s my invitation?

Eureka! Here’s a document on how to create Mozilla sidebars. I have a couple of ideas for Mozilla sidebars that I’m eager to try out.