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 0 10034

Articles from The Impudent Observer - Global Liberal Issues

Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan Reaches Out To Alevi 2008-01-15 01:16:23 Turkis Prime Minister Gul hosted a dinner for members of the Alevi community in his nation which was probably the first time a Turkish government official had taken such a step. The Alevi are considered a liberal denomination of the Muslim faith and are subject to extreme persecution and discrimination in other Muslim nations. Many Alevi boycotted the dinner because they doubted the sincerity of the prime minister. Erdogan told the audience of Alevis, “we all belong to this country, we are all brothers. We must know and understand one anotheer. We must not give in to those who would sow division.” However, even as he spoke, a Turkish court turned down a request by Alevis that their place of worship, a “cemevi” could be recognized as equivalent to a mosque. The Alevis have long been fighting to attain equal rights in Muslim nations. The Turkish court decision is unfortunate because it fails to acknowledge the right of Muslims to have their own beliefs and accor ...

China And USA Agree On One China Policy 2008-01-14 06:38:48 The Chinese Communist government expressed its appreciation to the United States for supporting the principle of “one China.” The Taiwan government has been making noise about an effort to declalre Taiwan and independent nation and seek membership in the United Nations. Over fifty years ago when defeated forces of the Kuomintang conservative Chinese government fled the mainland in the wake of victory by the Communist Chinese, their presence on the island of Taiwan has been a continual source of conflict. About twenty years ago, the United States finally abandoned its support for the Taiwan government dreams of reconquering China. As Chinese Foreign Minister, Yang Jiechi told visiting US naval commander, Admiral Timothy Keating, “the Chinese side appreciates the United States government’s adherence to the one Chine policy and its oppositiion to the Taiwan authorities efforts at a referendum on Taiwan’s membership in the United Nations. The Taiwan governmen ...

Tony Blair Campaigns For European Leadership 2008-01-14 01:30:11 Tony Blair launched his campaign to become the first full-fledged President of the European Union by disparaging the concept of lelft and right wing politics as having any meaning in the modern European world. Frace is charged with overseeing the appointment process which led the former British prime minister to engate with French officials regarding issues facing the EU. Speaking in French, Blair commented, “Europe is not a question of left or right, but a question of the future or the past, of strength or weakness.” Blair emphasized the globalization was eradicating traditional party lines and class distinctions and rendeering old political remedies obsolete. “It’s about today versus yesterday. Less about politics and more about a state of mind, open as opposed to closed.” President Sarkozy of France emphasized that Europe could not continue with its prsent system of recurring presidents, but needs strong leadership over an extended period of time. He de ...

Mediation, Bush Style- A Palestinian Perspective 2008-01-14 01:16:04 Mohamed Al-Nuseir, who lives in Bethlehem, was shocked to learn on Saturdfay the Israel government was seizing his land in order to build 1,00 units in Jerusalem to house settlers. The decision came on the eve of President Bush’s visit to Israel where his goal was acting as a mediator between the opposing factions. Israel’s move to build more housing in east Jerusalem is apparently based on the view that Bush has relatively scant interest in such issues. In addition to the new housing, the Israel army announced establishment of new checkpoints that hinder the free movement of Palestinians on the West Bank. Last week, ?Fatima Sidr, 32, was forced to give birth in the middle of the street because Israel soldiers at the Hebron checkpoint would not allow her husband to get her to the hospital. Bush apparently does not believe a Paletinian state can be created this year, but hopes there can be an agreement “on the definition of the Palestinian state.” There is indica ...

Grman Neo-Nazis March In Czech Republic 2008-01-14 01:16:00 German neo-Nazis will join their Czech counterparts on a march through Pizen on January 19. The Czech neo-Nazis claim the march is one in their fight for freedom of speech, the Germans are calling it an anti-Jewish demonstration. Czech authorities will not oppose the march of these groups since it is their right to march for whatever fool reason they so desire. January 18, 1942 is the date when the first transport of 3,000 Jews left Peizen for Terezin death camp. Only 200 of them survived the brutality of the death camp. Jewish groups in Pizen will hold a memorial service and simply ignore the idiots marching through their streets. Most probably, ignoring them is the worse thing one can do for those who seek only to further the cause of hatred and persecution. One of the fools in the German neo-Nazi group insisted their march would “put the rabbis on the run.” What can one say when a half century after the end of incredible human brutality some fools in the Czech Republic ...

Female Air Pilots Fight In Iraq 2008-01-14 01:15:34 Although their numbers still remain small by comparison with those of males, women increasingly are playing an important role in the air war of Iraq. DefenseDepartment restrictions prohibit all services from placing women in direct ground combat. But Air Force women have been clelared to fight from the air in fighter jets, bombers and gun-ships since the mid 1990s. Female pilots have also paid with their lives and the two gulf wars have resulted in the death of about 104 female service members. Master Sgt. Kimberly Sullpeck, has flown an estimated 450 hours on AC-130H gunships in Afghanistan which has placed her directly in the path of gunfire. Women are3 proving they can handle difficult combat missions. Obviously, the presence of females fighting in wars upsets even some of America’s closest allies in the Middle East such as Saudi Arabia. In the Gulf War, the presence of American females in army uniforms was a factor in Saudi women demanding rights such as the right to drive a ...

CIA Tried Recruiting Former Swedish Prime Minister 2008-01-14 01:12:29 Former Prime Minister Olaf Palme was actively recruited in his youth by representatives of the American CIA. Although he spurned their efforts, Palme coopeerated with officials from the CIA and the US Embassy. Ingemar Engman, a former member of Sweden’s secret military intelligence service, said “Olaf Palme’s cooperation with the Americans and the CIA was well known through the military intelligence service.” Palme most actively cooperated when he was a student activist attempting to build up non-Communist youth organizations. He also kept Sweden’s intelligence up-to-date on his trips behind the Iron Curtain whre he worked with youth groups. Olaf Palme was a man of integrity so it is surprising to learn that at one point in his life, the former Swedish leader cooperated with secret intelligence. A problem is having such stories become public is they generate cynicism among young people that all leaders work with the CIA and much goes on behind the curtai ...

Fight Honor Killing Says Muslim Cleric 2008-01-14 01:09:56 One of Britain’s leading Muslims has called upon his community to rise up against a cultue of fear and help end forced marriages after the recent case in which a 17 year-old Muslim girl was found murdered after she refused family demands to marry the son of an uncle. Dr. Ghayasuddin Siddiqui, head of the Muslim Parliament in Britain, said he was convinced the girl was “unlawfuly killed” and the issue of a forced marriage was apparently a major issue in the conflict between family and daughter. Siddiqui said, “I think relatives won’t speak out becasue they are scared. Somebody in the family disappears, relatives must have been concerned. But they would no co-operate with the police. The family and those who were close were not willing to come forward. That’s why many of these murders are unresolved. There are now 12 case a year on average.” The issue of “honor killing” might first be addressed by changing its name to “murder.&r ...

Iraq Sources Claim Surge Is Not Surging 2008-01-14 01:02:34 According to an editorial in the Iraq newspaper, the situation in Iraq has grown worse despite American claims things are improving. “The security situation in Baghdad is deteriorating very quickly…The synchronized bombing of churches in three major cities in the country–Baghdad, Mosul and Kirkuk- and the ostensible surge in bomb attacks targeting U.S. supported Arab Sunni militias, government targets, and U.S. Marines are indications of worsening security conditions despite Iraqi government efforts to present a different picture.” Azzaman notes that two million people have fled Iraq and at least one in four people in Baghdad have moved to another neighborhood to escape harassment and death. The US government insists things are improving in Iraq. They probably are witnessing fewer deaths of American soldiers, but the basic life situation may not have witnessed significant improvement. Baghdad and other m ajor cities continually experience lack of electricity ...

Fight For Gay Rights In Anglican Church Goes On 2008-01-14 01:01:17 The Reverend Richard Kirker of the Anglican Church in England has been waging a fight for many decades to recognize the rights of gays and lesbians, but has decided to retire and allow others to continue the struggle for equal rights for fellow Christians. He has endeavored to promote torance and respect for gays and lesbians while directing the Gay and Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement. The Anglican Church has been torn apart by the fanatic anti-gay stance of Archbishop Peter Akinola of Nigeria who has become a world wide leader in the movement to suppress any gay rights in the church. Even Rowan Williams, the Archlbishop of Canterbury, has come out against the ordination by American Episcopalians of a gay bishop. Anyone who engaged in such ongoing struggles for human rights is bound to become weary and a bit pessimistic as the forces of intolerance marshall their forces in pursuit of hatred. A fatigued Kirker noted: “The situation is appalling. Life for gay priests is immeasu ...

Rudy Giuliani, The Beggar Man 2008-01-13 13:17:52 In a recent letter soliciting funds for the Rudy Giuliani campaign his campaign managers pleaded that “everyone in the campaign is doing all we can to conserve resources to help Rudy get elected” including staff forgoing their salaries. “Will you help us one more time?” pleaded the communication. Meanwhile, down in Florida, Rudy gave another of his 9/11 speeches in which he claimed to save America due to his heroics on that tragic day. The senior citizens, many from New York, apparently thought his comments made sense. However, when they exited, they discovered on automobile windshields, a communication from firefigher organizations that said: “Rudy Didn’t Prepare NYC After 1993(the first World Trade Center bombing)Took Place. How Can We Trust Him To Prepare America?” One can only assume Rudy Giuliani will not forgo receiving his normal $200,00 to make one of his speeches in the name of his campaign. The only sacrifice he ever makes is to sacr ...

Illegal West Bank Outposts Must Go, Says Olmert 2008-01-13 09:58:39 Prime Minister Olmert of Israel emphatically told his ministers that all illegal outposts on the West Bank must be dismantled as soon as possible. He termed the outposts, which were build withoout authorization by government authorities, to be a “disgrace” which should be remedied as soon as possible in order to put Israel in accordance with the road map laid out for peace negotiations with Palestinians. His comments came days after President Bush had commented those installations “ought to go” for the future of peace. Olmert told his colleagues, that Bush, “repeated the absolute commitment of the US that no agreement between us and the Palestinians can be implemented on the ground before the full implementation of the road map both in Gaza and the West Bank.” Israel’s government has a choice– give up a few dozen scattered outposts that mainly provide home to a few hundred people or give up possession of housing that provides homes for 2 ...

Turkey Opposes Political Approach To Kurds 2008-01-13 09:26:15 President Abdullah Gul told an American press conference he had not discussed with Presidcent Bush any possible resolution of his nation’s conflict with Kurds insurgents through means of political actions. He insisted Bush had never urged him to engage in political activities with the Kurdistan Workers Party(PKK) and supported Turkey’s military operations. US State Department spokesperson, Tom Casey, told reporters “we favor putting thee PKK out of business. It’s a terrorist organization.” Gul indicated his government is focusing on economic and social emasures that reach out to Kurds in Turkey, but he will not engage in poltical negotiations with those he deems to be terrorists. “You can’t seek a political solution here, just like you can’t seek a political solution to al-Qaeda attacks.” He will engage in political dialogue with the government of Iraq to secure their cooperation in dealing with PKK forces in northern Iraq. There is ...

Conressman Blasts NATO Afghanistan Inaction 2008-01-13 09:14:23 Rep. Duncan H unter, ranking Republican member of the House Armed Services Committee, issued a blistering attack on NATO nations for failure to do their fair share of the fighting in Afghanistan. “In the eyes of Congress, it is unaccpetable that the United Stats must continue to dig deeper into its military force when some of our NATO alliesare unwilling to fulfill or make robust commitments to the international effort in Afghanistan. It is discouraging that some of our allies continually restrict their military forces from certain geographic and operational missions, limiting the ability of our military commanders to execute their mission.” His comments came shortly after announcement that 3,000 US marines might be heading for the fighting in Afghanistan. Rep. Hunter’s frustration undoubtedly stems from genuine concern about the actions of many NATO nations. But, the Republican congressman misses a key point. There is no overall coherent plan of operations in Afghan ...

Iran Religious Leader Says No To Atomic Bomb 2008-01-13 09:02:01 Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei told visiting UN nuclear officials his country was not interested in deveopment of atomic bombs. “The Islamic Republic of Iran has repeatedly announced that in principle, based on sharia law, it is opposed to the production and use of nuclear weapons.” He told Mohammed ElBaradei who heads the International Atomic Energy Agency it was time for the UN Security Council to cease demanding Iran be attacked for supposedly producing weapons that it has no desire to obtain. ElBaradei assured him Iran has every right “to use nuclear energy for developing the country.” There have been numerous proposals to resolve this conflict, but, at heart, a major problem is continued inflamatory rhetoric from the Bush administration which apparently is bent on perpetuating a crisis for its own political ends. A new American president might well reach out to Iran and offer genuine negotiations in order to end the ongoing harmful dialogue which has gone on ...