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 69 9297

Articles from The Impudent Observer - Global Liberal Issues

Dissent In Putin Russia Not Welcomed 2008-01-09 01:08:07 The British Council was warned by the Russian Foreign Ministry not to attempt any reopening of its offices since the Russian government does not recognize its work or intentions. The British Council is a cultural arm of the its nation’s embassy and does not engage in political activities, but in Putin’s Russia any form of dissent it liable to be met with silence or closure. Not logical reason has been given to a non-government organization that focuses on cultural issues. The situation for dissent within Russia is no better. National Bolshevik activist, Maria Bideda, was assaulted before her apartment because she participated in open activities against the government. A colleague, Mikhail Kamyrin, was beaten to death in December for participating in a protest against the government. The sadness of Putin’s governance continues. He had an opportunity to become a true statesman and leader of his nation. He leaves a legacy of significant improvement in the Russian economy ...

Let College Students Pay Says Turkish Educator 2008-01-09 01:06:21 Professor Yusuf Ziya Ozcan, chairperson of the Higher Education Board of Turkey, came out against the concept of free tuition at his nation’s universities. He argued that most nations of the world compel college students to pay for their education and use good jobs obtained as a result of that education to be the source for repayment of costs. “Not everybody needs to be a university graduate…Let’s admit students on a fee-paying basis and provide scholarships for those who need it…Those who receive scholarships can pay it back when they start working just like in the United States.” The example of the United States actually offers the exact opposite picture than the one portrayed by Professor Ozcan. Poor students and many working class students have difficulty going to college due to the need for repaying costs at some future time. Post WWII American offered veterans the G.I. Bill of Rights which provided free college education. Economists believe t ...

Britain Targets Programs For Muslim Women 2008-01-09 01:03:49 Muslim women in Great Britain continue encountering cultural issues that impair their integration within british society. For example, Aishan Azmi, a teaching assistant in a primary school, was suspended for wearing a veil that only allowed her eyes to show. The school felt such attire interfered with her ability to teach English to children. In another case, Samina Malik, wrote poems on the Internet glorifying martyrs and beheadings. She was subsequently sentenced to a nine month suspended sentence. Muhammad Abdul Bari, secretary-general of the Muslim Council of Britain criticized the ruling claiming, “many young people download objectionable material from the Internet, but it seems that if you are a Muslim then this could lead to terrorist charges.” The British government is allocating nearly $200 million on programs for Muslim women. Women will be encouraged to get into education and career opportunities that will get them integrated within British society. A majority o ...

Clinton And McCain Win In New Hampshire 2008-01-08 22:11:02 Hillary Clinton began to show a human face and it helped transform an apparent loss into a victory for the candidate of experience. In the Republican primary, Senator John McCain pulled ahead of the ever changing challenge of Mitt Romney. It appears Clinton pulled strongly from those over 50 while Obama’s young voters did not turn out in large enough numbers. The race is far from over and there are too many uncertainties in the rocky road to the presidency. Clinton noted in her victory speech that she began to listen to the voters, and “in the process I found my own voice.” But, it will take more than listening, it will also require a rethinking of her platform and what she believes is needed in America. McCain banked his campaign on support for the surge in Iraq. Now, that violence has declined, the American voter appears even more determined to place economic issues on the front page of their desires. McCain simply doesn’t have an economic platform that will ...

Gay Soldiers Speak Publicly Without Punishment 2008-01-08 13:15:11 Army Sgt. Darren Manzella thought he would be discharged from the armed forces for stating on the 60 Minute TV program that he was gay since his statement defied the Pentagon, “don’t ask, Don’t tell” policy. He told the TV audience his fellow soldiers knew all about his gay life style and he even showed a home video of him kissing a man. “I thought I would at least be asked about the segment or approached and told I shouldn’t speak to the media again.” Instead, there was silence from Army authorities. The Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, a gay advocacy group, estimates there are 500 gay soldiers who have openly stated their sexual orientation without being punished. Manzella says he was invited to join the 600 members of an invitation-only MySpace group, “Guys And Gals Like Us” which is for gays. It is estimated about 12,000 members of the military have been discharged since the policy was first announced in 1993. It is appare ...

Olmert And Abbas Work on Core Issues 2008-01-08 13:03:11 Israeli and Palestinian negotiating teams were instructed to focus on core issues such as Jerusalem, the refugees, and the contours of a future Palestinian state by Prime Minister Olmert and President Abbas of the Palestinian Authority. They want action and believe it must begin now. Strategic Affairs Minister Avigdor Lieberman, a member of the Olmert Cabinet, aid he would withdraw his party from the coalition government if discussions entailed core issues between the two groups. Olmert and Abbas met a day before the arrival of Bush in an apparent effort to offer the American leader some concrete news about progress on negotiations. Obviously, the security issue is central to resolution of the conflict and this continues to be a matter of debate. Secretary of State Rice told reporters from the Jerusalem Post that her administration opposes any further Israeli housing construction on either the West Bank or in east Jerusalem. Both sides appear to be focusing on achieving some results r ...

Who Is In Charge Of US Operations In Pakistan? 2008-01-08 12:26:29 There have been extensive discussion in Washington D.C. regarding new approaches to deal with militants operating in Pakistan. Among the suggestions is authorizing Special Operations forces and the CIA greater leeway in instituting military campaigns in the northwest region of Pakistan which is home to thousands of militants. One problem is deciding which bureaucrat in the Bush administration will be in charge of such operations. The State Department wants our Ambassador to India to have final decision making on such operations. Meanwhile, the Pakistan military has announced it intends to capture Taliban leader, Baitullah Mehsud, dead or alive. Each passing day makes even clearer the ineptness and disorganization of the Bush administration not only in conducting foreign policy, but in basic issues of military policy. From the moment the ill fated invasion of Iraq began without sufficient troops to carry out the mission, Bush has begun one policy after another in an endeavor to find so ...

US Prison Facility In Afghanistan Expands 2008-01-08 08:06:05 The United States has quietly expanded the number of “enemy combatants” being held in judicial limbo at Bagram military base in Afghanistan. The facility has grown to more than twice the size of the controversial and much more widely discussed Guantanamo Bay prison in Cuba. Both prisons hold inmates incommunicado for weeks or months and deny them access to legal opportunities to defend themselves against charges of terrorism. New York Times figures indicate there are about 630 prisoners in the facility which is twice the number in Cuba. US officials have admitted that Afghan guards beat at least two prisoners to death and there are isolation cells which are deemed to be inhuman. the International Committee of the Red Cross(ICRC) claims prisoners are being treated in a manner that is in direct violation of the Geneva Convention. The Bush administration has scant interest in traditional procedures for the treatment of prisoners since they excuse all violations of the Geneva ...

China May Restrict Foreign Purchases Of Real Estate 2008-01-08 07:51:23 The Chinese government is undertaking an extensive survey as to how many foreigners actually own property in its nation. The Chinese economic boom is enticing foreign investors to enter the real estate market and become active players in what will become a major economic factor in the world’s real estate market. The Chinese government has made it clear that only foreign institutions which have established branches or offices in China or individuals who are working and studying and have lived in Chin a for more than a year are eligible to purchase apartments. China is slowly entering the world in many ways. Thirty years from now people from throughout the world will be living and working in China. Individuals will have summer homes in various parts of the nation as the global impact of an international economy reaches into every aspect of life. China may be communist, but market forces are compelling their ideology to take second place to reality. ...

It’s Slow Time For Bin Laden Hunt, Says Musharraf 2008-01-08 01:20:34 President Muharraf of Pakistan told a CBS television audience his government has no extensive plan of action to capture Osama bin Laden. “We are not particularly looking for him, but we are operating against terrorists and Al Qaeda and militant Taliban. And in the process, obviously, combined, maybe we are looking for him also.” He claimed Pakistan’s armed forces had killed about 700 al-Qaeda leaders which is more than any other country has accomplished. Mahmoud Ali Durran, Pakistan’s envoy to the United States, said his president was merely trying to say that neither the US nor his nation had the slightest idea as to the hiding place of bin Laden. The reality is that Pakistan’s ISI was the group which organized the Taliban and most probably are not that enthusiastic about destroying their creation. The Northwest Region of Pakistan is virtually under the control of tribal chieftains and al-Qaeda wanders around quite free from being captured. Perhaps, the f ...

Iranian Attack Craft Play With US Vessels 2008-01-08 01:09:57 Five High speed Iranian attack craft accosted a trio of U.S. Navy warships on sunday in the strategically critical Strait of Hormuz. Their approach required American ships to take evasive action. Although no one on either side was hurt, the Iranian maneuver infuriated naval officials. As three US ships sailed in the straits, the Iranian craft sailed to within 200 yards and sailors on the ships dropped “white box-like objects” into the water which made American take evasive action. The entire incident was over within thirty minutes. Admiral Congriff was upset at the irresponsible Iranian behavior in a heavily traveled waterway where the slightest miscalculation might have resulted in tragedy. For some reason, no one bothered to pick up at least one of the mysterious white boxes in order to discover if they contained anything that was threatening. In a world in which miscalculations can result in explosive results it might be wise to establish communication with the Iranian ...

1,000 Dead In Kenya Violence 2008-01-08 01:07:17 At least 1,000 Kenyans are dead in the violence which has torn apart the once peaceful democracy. Opposition leader Raila Odinga called off nationwide protests by supporters in order to create a “peaceful atmosphere” for the talks he will be having with President Kibaki. It is estimated about 250,000 people have been forced to flee to escape angry mobs as tribal identities led to attacks on rival groups. Much of tribal violence is directed toward members of Kibaki’s Kikuyu tribe. The US State Department reiterated its strong support for the Kenyan government despite the violence which has shaken the nation due to the blatant attempt by President Kibaki to steal the election. Even as Washington continues backing Kibaki, the Law Society of Kneya accused electoral officials of “dishonesty and ineptitude” and called Kibaki’s swearing in-ceremony “null and void.” The world waits for leadership and few eyes are gazing westward to the United St ...

Israel Makes Concessions On Outposts 2008-01-07 19:17:20 As Israel prepares for the upcoming visit of President Bush, its government has decided to make several concessions regarding outposts on the West Bank. It is now committed to “expeditiously” evacuate unauthorized settlement outposts on the West Bank. Bush has been urging such action and apparently the government decided to give in on this point. Most of these outposts actually consist of a few trailers set up on hill tops by hard-lineers endeavoring to sabotage any peace with Palestinians. Originally, the roadmap called for Israel to halt any further housing construction, but that has long since been ignored. Israel peace activists believe there are at least a 100 of these outposts scattered throughout the West Bank. Palestinians are waiting for what was originally promised in 2003 to actually occur– dismantling of the outposts. But, that in itself is not sufficient for peace. Israel must address the issue of its continuing policy of building more housing on the Wes ...

Obamania Sweeps Over New Hampshire 2008-01-07 18:38:53 Obamania is sweeping through New Hampshire like a winter wind bringing winds of change to the northeast. Latest polls indicate he now holds anywhere from 39% of the vote up to the forties while Clinton has dropped to about 29%. A fatigued Hillary Clinton vowed not to drop out of the race even if tomorrow’s news is a crushing defeat for her campaign. “It’s not easy. It’s not easy,” she told her supporters. “I just don’t want to see us fall backward.” The Iowa defeat and the coming defeat in New Hampshire has made Clinton adopts the Giuliani strategy of focusing on the large states. Barack Obama has connected with the people of America while Senator Clinton appears trapped in the past of experience. The question confronting both candidates and political analysts is whether success in Iowa and New Hampshire will translate into victories all over the country. Is Obamania a quick spring rain that will vanish or is it the beginning of a powe ...

A Soldier Blogger’s Last Words 2008-01-07 18:24:11 Major Andrew Olmsted”s “Final Post” was published online after the Rocky Mountain News blogger was killed in Iraq. He termed himself a libertarian. In his last blog he warned against using his death as an argument for or against the war. “My life isn’t a chit to be used to bludgeon people in silence on either side. I have my own opinions about what we should do about Iraq, but since I’m not around to expound on them I’d prefer others not try and use me as some kind of moral capital to support a position I probably didn’t support….If there is any hope for the long term success of democracy, it will be if people agree to listen to and try to understand their political opponents rather than simply seeking to crush them.” Noted and reported. ...