What Caught My Eye Today

Congo - Increasing violent unrest in eastern DR (Democratic Republic) Congo may spark a huge increase in the numbers of people fleeing the fighting, the United Nations has warned. More than 160,000 people have already been displaced this year in the region's North Kivu province. Aid agencies believe a further 280,000 people may flee in the next six months. An ethnic Tutsi claims he is defending his people from Rwandan Hutu rebels, suspected to have participated in Rwanda´s 1994 genocide, who have been in eastern DR Congo ever since. The Rwandans are determined to prevent those Hutus who fled into DR Congo after the genocide from rebuilding their strength on foreign soil. With all the press coverage being given to the Middle East, we sometimes forget that there are other parts of the world in desperate need of assistance.

Speaking of which...

Sudan - The Sudanese government, which fought efforts to bring international peacekeepers to the devastated Darfur region, seems to be cooperating as the United Nations-mandated force takes shape. The Sudanese government is adamantly opposed to non-Africans playing any major role in the hybrid U.N.-African Union operation that was authorized by the U.N. Security Council on July 31 and will be made up of 20,000 peacekeepers and 6,000 civilian police. The United States is not providing troops but is expected to fund about a quarter of the mission's projected $2.4 billion annual cost. The way I heard on the street it was, we were going to send some troops, but for some reason, find our military forces stretched a bit thin at the moment. Gee whiz, I wonder were they all are?

Georgia - Before I begin, I want to point out that I'm talking about the country not the state. Georgian forces fired on a Russian plane flying over Georgian territory earlier this week, claiming residents nearby reported an explosion and fire afterward. Russia immediately denied the claim. The dispute came amid heated disagreement between the ex-Soviet neighbors over Georgian accusations of airspace violations by Russian military aircraft. Georgian authorities could not confirm the plane crashed, but said residents of the remote area reported hearing an explosion and seeing forest land burning. My first reaction was to cheer for the underdog, but then I remembered that picture of a topless Vladimir Putin and decided to reconsider. That dude could lay a serious hurting on you.

Criminal Justice - You have to read this to believe it. Nicole Richie was released from jail Thursday after serving 82 minutes of a four-day sentence for driving under the influence of drugs. The reality show star, who checked into a women's jail at 3:15 p.m., was released at 4:37 p.m. "based on her sentence and federal guidelines." Under a federal court mandate to manage jail overcrowding, arrestees sentenced to 30 days or less for a nonviolent offense are usually released within 12 hours. Richie was originally sentenced to 96 hours in jail, but that was reduced to 90 hours because of time served when she was arrested. Her time at the Century Regional Detention Facility was spent getting booked, including taking a mugshot and submitting her fingerprints. She didn't reach her jail cell. I don't take issue with the possibility that Richie's celebrity status may have had something to do with this (clearly it did). My problem is this--what sort of deterrent is a possible jail sentence for driving under the influence when you are basically looking at a stint that is shorter than most movies shown at the cineplex?

Football - Commissioner Roger Goodell suspended Atlanta Falcons quarterback, Michael Vick, indefinitely without pay, just hours after Vick filed a plea agreement that portrayed him as less involved than three co-defendants and guilty mainly of poor judgment for associating with them. Vick acknowledged bankrolling gambling on the dogfights, but denied placing bets himself or taking any of the winnings. He admitted that dogs not worthy of the pit were killed "as a result of the collective efforts" of himself and two co-defendants. The commissioner said Vick's admitted conduct was "not only illegal but also cruel and reprehensible." Even if he didn't personally placed bets, Goodell said, "your actions in funding the betting and your association with illegal gambling both violate the terms of your NFL player contract and expose you to corrupting influences in derogation of one of the most fundamental responsibilities of an NFL player." Good riddance, you jerk.