Israel declined to offer former US President Jimmy Carter security help during his visit to the country. Carter’s planned meeting with Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal in Syria… and calling Israel’s policies in occupied Palestine “a system of apartheid” in a 2006 book probably didn’t help matters either.

“They’re not getting support from local security,” one of the sources said, on condition of anonymity.

An Israeli security source said the Shin Bet security service provided no protection to Carter during his visit to the Jewish state because no request was made.

Asked about the Israeli account, Carter’s delegation, which had previously declined to comment, told Reuters in a statement: “The Carter delegation inquired with both the lead agent of the Secret Service detail (protecting Carter) and the State Department Regional Security Officer and were told unequivocally that an official request for assistance had been made.”

American sources close to the matter said the Shin Bet, which helps protect visiting dignitaries and is overseen by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s office, declined to meet the head of Carter’s Secret Service detail or provide his team with assistance as is customary during such visits.

Carter said he hoped his meeting with Hamas would help “gauge the group’s willingness to accept Arab peace overtures.” Carter shouldn’t be too concerned, though. There’s always Secret Service Cat.

While we would NEVER, EVER discount the importance of celerity death news, jewelry designs and new albums being released, here are a few things going on in the world RIGHT NOW.

Burmese pro-democracy activists are being charged for the demonstrations that occurred last August.

This includes: being charged for making illegal statements (the government is declining to state what they supposedly said); not being able to meet with their lawyers; the trial will be held at a Rangoon prison where they ave been held since capture (convenient, innit?); 700 people are still being held by Burma’s government; at least 31 peaceful protesters were murdered by government troops.

Syrian pro-democracy dissident and former MP Riad Seif is being charged for harming Syria’s image.

This includes: attending a meeting for pro-democratic reform; he is the 11th person to be arrested who attended the pro-democracy meeting in December; Seif had already been banned from leaving the country to treat his prostrate cancer; one of the charges is “belonging to a secret organisation seeking to alter the social and economic base of the state”.

Temporary housing used to shelter Hurricane Katrina and Rita victims may pose health risks.
This includes: tens of thousands of hurricane victims still in temporary housing; FEMA ignored documents on dangers of prolonged exposure to formaldehyde; FEMA supressed warnings from its field workers about the future risks and current health problems being experienced by the victims; over 40,000 trailers are still being used as housing.

yay. now go about yoru business. I hear that Gwen Stefani is preggers, and Britney is crying and hanging out with her paparazzi buddies…