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

Korean Students Heading Home From Overseas 2008-02-07 15:17:59 Since the end of World War II, thousands of Asian students have made the trek to the United States or towards Europ in search of highed eduction opportunities. The nonstop rise in American tuition costs added into difficulties in finding suitable housing, is causing many Korean students to re-evalaute the benefits of going abroad for education. According to Moon Heung-ahn, an admission officail at Konkuk University, “It’s rather easier for Korean students to enter overseas universities compared to domestic universities in Korea, while it’s harder for them to graduate from them. That’s the main reason behind the rise in transfers to Korean universities.” Korean students report higher tuition costs at American universities and increasing difficulties in obtaining scholarship assistance. Housing costs are also a major factor in returning home to Korea. There is also some evidence employers prefer graduates from Korean universities rather than overseas instit ... Korean

Romney Quits Race-Insults Democratic Party! 2008-02-07 12:29:34 Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney decided to suspend his presidential race and, literally, turn over the nomination to Senator John McCain. His concession speech contained insulting language which is inappropriate for a man who aspired to the presidential nomination of this nation. “If I fight on in my campaign,” he said, “all the way to the conventin, I would forestall the launch of a national campaign and make it more likely that Senator Clinton or Obama would win. And, in a time of war, I simply cannot let my campaign be part of aiding a surrender to terror.” To assume victory by either Senator Hillary Clinton or Senator Barack Obama signifies some sort of “surrender to terror” not merely insults these two outstanding Americans, but insults everyone in this nation who opposes the failed policies of Geroge Bush. Most Americans want this year’s presidential race to be one in which all parties maintain respect for the integrity and dign ...

Bugging And Bans Hit Kenyan Leaders 2008-02-07 12:11:53 Ten high pofile leaders of Kenyan political parties have been banned from traveling to the United States over their alleged links to post-election violence in their nation. This apparently is a sign international pressure is shifing from subtle verbal threats to actual action against those who have plunged the nation into violence and chaos. Another incident raised even more issues when it was discovered the hotel rooms of UN-backed mediator, Kofi Annan, had been bugged. Although Kenya’s police denied the veracity of the story, an independent sources told the Kenya Standard, “Annan’s security aides found the device while the talks were in session on Tuesday.” The center of this entire conflict is President Kibaki who stole the election and has stood by idly while people in his country are killing one another. He refuses to consider alternatives such as a coalition government or calling of new elections in the near future. One outcome of his stubborn refusal to ...

British Archbishop Expects Sharia Law! 2008-02-07 11:45:25 The Archbishop of Canterbury created a firestorm of controversy when he said the introduction of sharia law for Bitish Muslims was “unavoidable.” he told a BBC audience Muslims should be able to choose whether to have matters such as marital disputes dealt with under sharia law or the British legal system. A spokesperson for Gordon Brown said concessions to sharia law could be made on a case-by-case basis.” But, Brown made clear “British law should apply in this country based on British values.” The Archbishop argued giving sharia official status would help maintain social cohesion because some Muslims do not relate to the Brtish legal system. “It seems unavoidable and, as a matter of fact, certain conditions of sharia are already recognized in our society and under our law, so it is not as if we are bringing in an alien and rival system.” The Archbishop undoubtedly means well and is reaching out to establish friendly relations with other relig ...

Iran Rocket — Russian Nyet! 2008-02-07 11:13:57 Iran announced that it had fired a rocket which had a rather long range. The Russian government, which has been supportive of Iran in its conflict with the United Nations over a supposed nuclear weapon program, is upset at this latest development in Iranian weaponry. Russian deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Losyuko, noted: “Any movement in terms of creating such a potential weapon worries us and others. All the more since it raises suspicion toward Iran about its possible desire to create a nuclear weapon.” The Russian diplomat pointed out nations which develop such long range rockets are usually connecting them to a nuclear system. The Russian government has used Iran as a ploy in fighting against the United States and the European Union, but its desire has always been to restrict Iran from having access to nuclear weapons. A nuclear Muslim Iran sitting on the southern boundary of Russia, a nation containing millions of Muslims, is not exactly what Putin and other leaders ...

Don’t Violate Gaza Borders-Or Else, Warns Egypt 2008-02-07 08:04:19 Egyptian ‘foreign Minister Ahmed Abdul Gheit made clear there will be no more violations of its borders in the wake of the 12 day breach on the frontier with Gaza. He said “anyone who violates Egypt’s borders will get his legs broken.” He added his nation only allowed the Palestinians to cross the border after Hamas blew up the wall because of fears over the humanitarian situaiton resulting from Israel’s blockade of the Gaza Strip. Gheit blamed both Israel and Hamas for the situation warning Hamas to cease sending missiles into Israel. “After Hamas’s takeover of Gaza it has decided to clash with Israel though this clash is a laughable caricature because clashing with an opponent in battle is supposed to mean damaging them. You do not go into battle just to damage yourself.” The Egyptian foreign minister finally came out and said what any intelligent person knows–Hamas has done damage to the Palistinian cause and prevents achievement ...

New Revelations In Trial Of Canadian Terrorist Supsect 2008-02-07 07:49:12 A US Special Services soldier who was injured in the battle when Omar Khadr was captured says he was shocked to learn the 15 year old Canadian teenager wasn’t the only one alive win an Afghan compound when a grenade fatally wounded another American soldier. According to Layne Morris, a former Green Beret, “Eveyone had told me from the get-go that there was only one guy in there.” A document inadvertently released to reporters on Monday disclosed that after the grenade was thrown, a US operative killed another suspect and then shot Khadr in the back. The revelation casts doubts on the Pentagon’s assertion that Khadr threw the grenade that fatally wounded the Delta Force soldier and medic Christopher Speer. Khadr, now 21, is charged with “murder in violation of the laws of war.” The document now uncovered says an unidentified operative saw someone wih an Ak-47 moving and “moaning” after the grenade was thrown. he operative shot him in the ...

British Intelligence Wants To Control Bugging Evidence 2008-02-07 07:33:03 The use of intelligence evidence in court for the first time could be stalled by demands from intelligence services for a right to veto the use of the transcripts from their secret bugging operations. The CIA is also unhappy that its intercepted phone calls or conversations between suspected terrorists could be produced in British courts. An effort to have such evidence produced in court ran into opposition from the Gordon Brown government which noted “there are considerable hurdles that need to be crossed.” Civil rights leaders in Great Britain not only want the evidence produced in court, but they want the Brown administration to cease its campaign to detain suspects up to 42 days(it is now 28) which is being advocated by those in authority. Prime MInister Gordon brown told MPs he personally supported the idea of using intercept evidence in courts, but he still had work to do in order to gain support from intelligence agencies. The MPs want to prevent disclosure of materi ...

Democrats Support Servicemen-Why Doesn’t Bush? 2008-02-07 07:18:39 Senator James Webb, D-Va, has been fighting to obtain a new version of the G.I. Bill of Rights for veterans of fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan without any active support from the Bush administration. He wants adaptation of the post WWII bill that provided free tuition, payments for books, and living stipend. That version of veteran benefits played an hisoric role in transforming American society by educating millions. Senator Webb told Defense Secretary Robert Gates, he would like to get the bill passed this year” We’ve been working on it for a year. We’ve been trying to get the other side to understand that this is not a political issue.” Republican Senator John Warner reached over and announced to his comrade from Virginia that he would support such a bill. Democat Senator Levin asked Gates to at least provide the Pentagon’s view and respond to the request for a new version of veteran benefits. President Bush loves making speeches condemning Democratic ...

Al Qaeda Vows Revenge In Afghanistan 2008-02-07 07:04:01 The Ameican killing of a top al-Qaeda leader, Abu Laith al-Libi, has aroused the fury of his followers who are threatening some sort of retaliation. “The men he trained… will not rest until they avenge him and realise his aspirations and hopes,” said Mustafa Abu al-Yazid. Libi was considered as one of Osama bin Laden’s top lieutenants and was killed in a suspected US missile strike that killed up to 13 foreign militants in Pakistan’s northern regions which are the scene of extensive miltant action. The American campaign against al-Qaeda and Taliban leaders is based, very much like the Israel idea, that one can kill the head of the militants which will lead to some form of collapse. Israel has been pursuing such a policy for years without any evidence it works. For each leader who is killed there is always someone to rise to the top and assume leadership of militants. This is not to argue against killing militant leaders, merely to point out it is a strate ...

John McCain– Is He the Real McCoy? 2008-02-06 16:12:56 John McCain contnually portrays himself as an “underdog” who stands up to powerful interests in the nation and the Republican party. On one hand, he revels in the role of being a maverik and, on the other hand, insists he is a true conservative. Ironically, despite a solid conservative voting record, the closer he gets to the nomination, the more angry are right wing Republicans. Rush Limbaugh, is among the chief McCain-bashers. Within hours after the conclusion of voting on Super Tuesday, he lambasted the senator for his allegedly anti-conservative positions on a raft of issues ranging from immigration to tax cuts. He even hinted at voting for a Democrat in November. “One question I asked myself: if, if, if, if down the road you think the election of Obama, Hillary ofr McCain is going to result in very bad things happening to the country, who would you rather get blamed for it?” Tomorrow night, John McCain will stand before 6,000 foot soldiers of the conservat ...

Taliban Militants In Pakistan Declare Cease-Fire 2008-02-06 15:18:50 Taliban militants declared a case-fire Wednesday in fighting with Pakistan forces and he government said it was preparing fo peace talks with al-Qaida-linked extremists in the lawless tribal areas near the border with Afghanistan. A spokesperson for the Taliban siad the truce would include not only the tribal belt near the Afghan border, but the restive Swat region to the east. Maulvi Mohammed Umar, said: “The declaration of war we made against security forces was on orders of Baitullah Mehsud. We now withdraw that for an indefinite period.” Interior Minister Athar Abbas said the government would soon form a jirga or tribal council of influential figures, “for a dialogue with the militants.” Ismail Khan, a journalist on the scene, questions the decision for a cease-fire. “Why did the governmen launch the military operation and then abandon it half way through without achieving its objective? It boggles the mind.” It appears militants have suffered la ...

Benazir Bhutto Will Designates Husband As Leader 2008-02-06 15:01:49 The will of assassinated leader Benazir Bhutto is now being revealed to the public. In her will, Ms. Bhutto designates her husband, Asif Ali Zardari, as her successor in the role of Prime Minister of Pakistan and terms him “a man of courage and honour. He has the political stature to keep our party united.” Naturally, Zardari echoes the feelings of his dead wife by regarding himself as the perfect man to lead Pakistan in these difficult times if his People’s Party of Pakistan wins an electoral majority in the upcoming parliamentary elections. The history of Mr. Zardari reveals scant evidence of his brilliance or “honour” in leadership. He is a corrupt individual who has a reputation of hiring incompetents and those who want to join him in the task of using government for enrichment possibilities. Pakistan needs new leadership, not relics of the old corrupt era of the Bhuttos. ...

Fires, Drought, Volcanoes– Claim Psychics 2008-02-06 14:21:47 We are just concluding the Year of the Pig which supposedly brought calamities, and now entering the Year of the Earth so we can say good-bye to floods and storms and look forward instead to fires, dought, and possible volcanic eruptions– at least that is waht psychics are predicting and we all know they are probably more on target than George Bush predictions of peace and democracy spreading through the world. Feng shui pra cticioners and soothsayers predict that at least three volcanoes will soon be spewing their lava. Master Tan predicts there will be a dry season which most probably will bring famine to areas of the world. Master Tan had a few words about politicians. the politicians “may appear to be quiet on the surface but they are scheming their dirty tricks and their will be a leader who breaks his word.” I really don’t know much about the good Master Tan, but, I think he really doesn’t know much about American politics except for is comments abo ...

It’s Getting Better In Afghanistan– Or Is It? 2008-02-06 13:33:32 The top American general in Afghanistan discounted stories about a growing insurgency in the nation and assured the world, things remain the same as always. As to the insurgency, General Dan McNeill, told reporters: “I think that it’s probably stayed the same as it was.” He claimed the only differernce is the presence of an additional eight or nine thousand more soldiers than previously which is probably what accounts for additional casualties. “We exposed ourselves to a lot more things than the force has exposed themselves to in times past. And, that, more than anything, created the increased levels of violence that are so often referred to in the news…there wasn’t a resurgent Taliban.” On one hand, Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates is berating and scolding NATO allies for failure to dispatch more troops to Afghanistan, and General McNeill insists there is no surge in Taliban attacks. If we accept the McNeill thesis that more troops in the ...