The Impudent Observer - Global Liberal Issues Analyzes issues of liberal concern and gives readers a digest of what is reported in over forty newspapers throughout the world to engage them in critical thinking issues. Statistics Unique Visitors: Total Unique Visitors: Outgoing: Total Outgoing: 0 0 57 8575

Articles from The Impudent Observer - Global Liberal Issues

Gates Urges Europe To Forget Iraq 2008-02-09 08:40:37 Secretary of Defense Robert Gates believes there is lingering anger in Europe oveer the Iraq war and that is hindering efforts to obtain a complete commitment from NATO to wage war in Afghanistan. He wants Europeans to separate their feelings about Iraq from the needs in Afghanistan for more troops to fight the Taliban and al-Qaida. “From our standpoint, I worry for many Europeans the missions in Iraq and Afghanistan are confused. I think they combine the two. Many of them have a problem with our involvement in Iraq and project that to Afghanistan and don’t understand the very different–for them–very different kind of threat posed by al-Qaida in Afghanistan as opposed to the militant group in Iraq that goes by the same name.” He urges Europe to “leave aside” the issue of Iraq from the Afghanistan war. Unfortunately, Secretary Gates is asking the impossible– how can any nation separate the fighting in Afghanistan from the debacle and trage ...

British Female Muslim Blasts Archbishop Of Canterbury 2008-02-09 08:22:34 The recent statements by the Archbishop of Canterbury urging Great Britain to allow use of sharia law has aroused a fury of anger among many British Muslims. Yasmin Alibhai-Brown, writing in the Independent, told him in clear terms why his proposal was an attack not merely on women, but on society. “What Rowan Williams wishes upon us is an abomination and I write here as a modern Muslim woman. He lectures the nation on the benefits of sharia law–made by bearded men for men– and wants the alternative legal system to be accomodated within our democracy in the spirit of inclusion and cohesion. Pray tell me sir, how do separate and impenetrablel courts and schools and extreme female segregation promote commonalities and deep bonds between citizens of these small isles?” She criticizes Williams for telling the nation that Muslims want exceptionalism rather than equality and asks a simple question– would the Archbishop wish his daughters to be governed by such ...

Japanese Newspaper Blasts Whaling! 2008-02-09 07:45:08 C.W. Nicol, writing in the Japan Times, expressed his horror at events unrolling in the Antartic Ocean where Japanese whaling ships continue their brutal program of killing whales. “When I turned on my TV to both BBC and CNN, this morning, I was shocked and saddened by the sight of a minke whale and calf being winched up the ramp of a Japanese factory ship in the Antartic Ocean…to see obvious and irrefutable evidence that Japanese whalers have crossed the line to kill calves and probably a mother and calf, was too much.” Mr. Nicol has been involved in whaling since 1965, and he has “made myself unpopular abroad in speaking out in defense of Japan taking whales for food as long as whalers abided by a scientific quota.” However, as “a longtime friend of Japanese whaling” activities, Mr. Nicol joins with the rest of the world in asking Japan to cease and desist from their horrible activity. ...

Putin Steps Up Rhetoric Over Arms Race 2008-02-09 07:29:37 President Vladmir Putin sharply attacked both NATO and the United States over their plans to establish military bases near the border of his nation. “It is already clear,” said the Russian leader, “sthat a new hase in the arms race is unfolding in the world. It is not our fault.” He is concerned over plans by the Bush administration to construct new missile bases in Poland and the Czech Republic, which supposedly, are to head off missile attacks from some enemy. Bush initially said the enemies were Iran and North Korea, but, the United States has been working with North Korea and it is hardly unlikely they would send missiles toward Europe. In fact, the real question is why would Iran send missiles to Europe knowing full well the retaliation would wipe out their nation? Putin is now talking about increasing Russian military expenditures and resuming flights of bombers to do patrolling, a practice that ended fifteen years ago when the Soviet Union collapsed. NATO ...

Turkish Journalist Analyzes German Situation 2008-02-09 01:03:22 In an interview with the German newspaper, Der Spiegel, Kerem Caliskan reviewed the situation of Turkish people in Germany. The recent fires in Ludwigshaven in which several Turkish people were killed or hurt has aroused feelings among many people in Turkey that neo-Nazi right wingers were behind the episode. Caliskan interviewed two girls who claim to have seen a man lighting a fire, but, as of yet, the police do not have any hard evidence of arson. However, there is no question the ground floor of the building set afire was once a neo-Nazi club and is now home to a Turkish club. Caliskan believes there are underlying feelings which lead Turkish people in Germany to conclude the fires stem from plotting by the extreme right wing. He believes both President Sarkozy of France and Chancellor Merkel are “trying to keep Turkey out of Europe.” Caliskan thinks Merket is playing an anti-immigrant approach in order to win votes. The Turkish journalist believes with all the talk abo ...

Kuwait Might Make 21st Century 2008-02-09 01:01:09 Kuwait aspires to becom a modern vibrant society with cultural centers and an education system that would attract people from all over the region and world. But, Kuwait is still hampered by outdatedf laws stemming from the religious sector. A new law will end segregation of male and female students at Kuwait universities. According to liberal MP Mohammad Al-Sager, “All universities and schools in Muslim countries adopt coeducation and their standard is good. So, why should we cast doubt on the morals of our sons and daughters by forcing them to separtate?” Conservative MPs were furious at his remarks and threatened to make certain segregation remained. It’s time to move on, Kuwait. ...

Kenya Peace Plan Proceeds-Everyone Hopes! 2008-02-08 15:02:39 Weeks of violence and disorder have wracked the nation of Kenya after its president, Kibaki, manipulated election results in order to claim he was re-elected. Mediator Kofi Annan said talks have “reached far” and was optimistic there would be a resolution of the growing civil war in order to end bloodshed. William Ruto, of the Opposition Orange Democratic Movement said, “we have finally agreed there is a problem in the country, and neither side can proceed on it own. We have agreed to form a joint government.” Raila Odinga, ODM leader, made it clear his party wanted a resolution of the problem and was now agreeing o cease insisting President Kibaki step down. The sad aspect of their entire story is the blatant power grap on th part of Pesident Kibaki even though it meant hundreds would die. ...

Turkish Headscarf Debate Ends Round I 2008-02-08 14:47:23 TheTurkish parliament passed a law that would allow women to wear a heascarf in universities by a vote of 404 to 92. This is the first round of voting and the final passage will take place in a week. Prime Minister Erdogan of the ruling Justice and Development Party, emphasized the importance of the law and argued it ends discrimination against women who are religious. The constitution will now have a statement that “no one can be deprived of their right to a higher education.” Hakki Suha Okay, of the secular Republican People’s Party wanted such a change “will encourage radical(Islamic) circles in Turkey, accelerate movement towards a state based on religion,” and encourage divisiveness within society. It appears the issue is more than wearing a headscarf or not wearing one, it deals with genuine concerns as to whether or not this move is the beginning of an Islamic drive to impose a sharia law upon a largely secular Turkey. ...

Pakistan-Militant Cease Fire Angers Bhutto Followers 2008-02-08 08:28:48 A Pakistan government spokesperson confirmed there was a cease fire in existence in the fight against al-Qaeda and Taliban forces. “There is no announced cease fire. There is a de facto cease fire between militants and government troops.” During the past week there were secret talks between the Pakistan military leadership and members of militant groups in order to find a way to end the fighting. It is expected as part of the agreement, a tribal council, a jirga, will be formed to work on how to transform the de facto truce into something that would be more permanent. News of the cease fire aroused the anger of supporters of the murdered Benazir Bhutto. Sheery Rehman, speaking for the Pakistan People’s Party, said: “The government is holding talks with the man who it blamed for the killing opf Benazir Bhutto.” The central issue is what is behind the decision of al-Qada and Taliban leaders to enter into truce talks with the Pakistan army. There is no doubt ...

Life In Putin Russia-Detentions In Hell 2008-02-08 08:06:09 The Moscow Times has been fighting aganst the increasinging spread of Putinism within Russia, a modern form of disease known as “latent Stalinism.” It offered the story of Mikhail Trepashkin who was arrested in October, 2003 on charges of illegal firearm possession just days before he was to offer testimony regarding the alleged role of Russia’s Federal security Agency in the 1999 Moscow bombings. He was held in a detention center for over a year and kept away from contact with the outside world on grounds that he was ill and therefore might have some form of contagious disease. Trepashkin claims it has become normal in Putin Russia for those who oppose the regime or cast doubt on any of its agencies to be “detained for medical reasons” as a means of keeping them quiet. The horror of Vladmir Putin is he had a wonderful opportunity to develop a modern Russian economy and move his nation forward towards democracy. Instead, he and his former KGB allies, are i ...

Palestinian Authority Gloomy Over Peace Prospects 2008-02-08 07:31:04 Palestinian Pime Minister Salaam Fayad expressed his pessimism concerning the possibility of achieving a peaceful resolution of the conflict with Israel any time in 2008. He blamed failure on the part of Israel to dismantle illegal West Bank settlements and the continuing Israeli military activities on the West Bank as undermining factors which impair movement towards peace. Fayad argues the continued presence of Israel soldiers on the West Bank makes it clear that Palestinian forces are not in charge. Israel Foreign Minister, Tzip Livni, insists the IDF has to deal with terrorist forces and until that is accomplished, they simply can not allow the creation of a Palestinian Authority. Yesterday, another 22 Kassam rockets hit the Negev area. Israel and the Palestinian Authority continue dancing around the topic of where does Hamas fit into the peace equation. It is this failure which is fundamental to the eventual resolution of issues that damage movement towards peace. At some point, H ...

US And NATO Allies Clash In Afghanistan 2008-02-08 07:18:33 During the past month, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates has been arguing with NATO allies over the issue of the number of soldiers being sent to Afghanistan. The Amercan commander of forces in Afghanistan, General McNeill openly clashed with his allies not only over ther failure to send sufficient troops, but on the short term stay of those personnel. He complained about “minimalist forces” who are too few in number, and, for the most part only remain for a six month tour of duty. He compared the NATO effort to that of Americans who have at least a 15 month tour of duty. This allows, according to General McNeill, an opportunity to develop “relationships with the terrain, with the indigenous pepple and their leadership, and with the enemy.” The Americ an general was critical over the lack of training being given NATO forces for operations in Afghanistan. It is now almost seven years since the Taliban was defeated and supposedly driven from Afghanistan. One would ...

Japan’s Whaling Ships-Caught In The Act! 2008-02-08 06:57:52 New pictures reveal the gory reality of Japan’s so called “scientific” whale hunt in the Southern Ocean. The pictures show in stark reality a slaughtered adult mink whale and its calf being hauled aboard a ship. The pictures were not taken by activists who are interested in protecting whales, but by officials of the Kevin Rudd government which then made them available for use throughout the world. The new Australian administration of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is ready and willing to challenge Japanese policies regarding whales. A Japanese official in Tokyo said the pictures were “dangerous emotional propaganda that could cause serious damage to the relationship between our two countries.” Hideki Moronuki, head of the whaling section of Japan’s fishing, insisted, “the fleet is engaged in random sampling” of whales. It is still unclear exactly what type of “scientific whaling” activities that Japan is doing. It is clear Japane ...

Admiral Mullen-General McNeill-Who Is Right? 2008-02-08 06:41:58 Admiral Mullen, who is Chief of Staff, clashed with his subordinate, General McNeill, commander of NTO forces in Afghanstan over the extent and power of the Taliban in Afghanistan. General McNeill does not believe there is any evidence of a “resurgent” Taliban while his superior has the exact opposite conclusion. According to Mullen: “In Afghanistan, we are seeing a growing insurgency, iincreasing violence, and a burgeoining drug trade fueled by widespread poppy cultivation.” General McNeill’s response was, “Admiral Mullen has his view, I’ve got mine.” Although General McNeill doesn’t see evidence of any Taliban resurgency, some figures reveal a different perspective. The number of suicide attacks has grown from 3 in 2004 to 130 least year, the number of acts of violence has risen from 900 to 8,950 and the number of roadside bomb attacks has gone up fom 325 to 1,469. This may well be a minor example of difference of opinion, but it ...

Why The US Is Going Broke! 2008-02-07 16:27:54 Chalmers Johnson, writing in Le Monde Diplomatique, says “there is an enormous anomaly in the US economy above and beyond the subprime mortgage crisis, the housing bubble, and the prospect of recession: 60 years of misallocation of resources, and borrowings, to the establishment and maintenance of a military-industrial complex as the basis of the nation’s econmomic life.” Part of problem stems from Bush arrogance that his group of neoconservatives actually knew what they were doing. As we enter the new years, America is unable to afford its bloated wasteful military and the Bush solution of putting off payment on the shoulders of future generations has only added to the collapse of many aspects of the economy. Johnson identifies three glaring problems. First, spending billions on defense projects against unknown enemies and allowing the wealthy to get away from paying their fair share of taxes. Second, the mistaken belief America’s economy somehow benefits fro ...