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 59 8752

Articles from The Impudent Observer - Global Liberal Issues

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Warns Against US Ties 2008-01-05 08:51:42 Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei claimed his nation was peace-loving unlike the warlike United States and noted: “The U.S. administration is in a situation whereein restoring diplomatic ties with it will be harmful to iran and we naturally should not pursue that.” He pointed out the US had diplomatic relations with Iraq before invading that nation, and warned against allowing the US to use the guise of diplomatic relations as a strategy to stir up anger against the Iranian government. He argued America is reeling from a series of Middle Eastern disasters and seeking to find some nation to blame for its own failures. In a jab at the Bush administration he trotted out abuses in Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo as evidence the Americans abuse human rights, not Iran. The comments about not pursuing relations with the United States at this time suggest a recognition that change is occurring within America. Perhaps, the Supreme Leader is sending a message to the new president th ...

Calm Before The Storm Atmosphere In Kenya 2008-01-05 08:26:01 The situation in Kenya has become somewhat calm after the fury of outraged Kenyans ripped apart the nation in reaction to the attempt by President Kibaki to steal an election. Over 300 people are dead, including dozens of children, many of whom died trying to get out of a burning church. Several mediators are in Kenya led by Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa. After talking with these negotiators, President Kibaki has finally indicated he is open to the possibility of a coalition government. However, the president made clear, violence against his government must cease and his opponents should seek legal redress in the courts if they disagree with the election results. He flatly rejected the idea put forth by opposition leader, Raila Odinga, for a three month interim government. Kibaki, apparently strongly influenced by Tutu, said, “We would accept even another election as long as the Constitution is followed. If the courts decide it, we would accept that.” French Forei ...

Burmese Celebrate Independence Day Amidst Armed Guards 2008-01-05 08:11:39 Four months after huge protests against the military junta which rules Myanmar, the nation’s independence from Great Britain will be celebrated in Rangoon as thousands of police and soldiers observe the scene. Residents watched as hundreds of police gathered at bus stops, railroad stations, and other places where large numbers of people might congregate. The junta’s leader, General Than Thew called for building a “discipline-flourishing democratic state.” Meanwhile, members of the National League for Democracy (NLD), whose leader Aung San Sui Kyi, has spent most of the past 12 years under house arrest, stood quietly outside their party headquarters wearing the prison uniform of dark blue longyi and pale blue shirts with the words, “Fee Political Prisoners” on the back. In another attempt to crush access to information, the Burmese government increased fees for satellite TV from $6 to $1,000. The sixty or so monks who will participate in the &ldqu ...

Veteran Pay For Job Training Reduced 2008-01-05 07:56:50 GI Bill payments for on-the-job and apprenticeship training have dropped more than a hundred dollars a month due to failure on the part of Congress to extend a two-yer-old program that offered higher rates of pay. The GI Bill allows those who have served to enter apprenticeship programs such as hotel management or fire fighting, plumbing and other skills. The benefits are paid for full-time employees in VA approved programs that cover entry level positions. Payment is provided only to those with no prior work experience in the field. These benefits are only available to a veteran of the armed forces or those who served in the National Guard. Hopefully, Congress upon its return this month will make sure this program continues. Many members of the Reserve and National Guard were taken away from their regular occupations and forced to spend a year or so fighting for their country. Many men and women have, essentially, been compelled to end their current career, the least American can do i ...

Zuma Zilches Backing Down On Corruption 2008-01-04 15:25:33 Jacob Zuma, recently elected leader of the African National Congress, continued insisting graft charges against him stem from his opponents who wish to prevent his election next year to the presidency of South Africa. A trade union official who supports him warned of violence, but Zuma urged his followers not to go in that direction. “No, No, that is exactly what I do not want. I do not want people to die or that shops and cars be set alight. I do not want any violence.” After being charged with corruption last year, he was hit with a new set of indictments in the past few weeks. His trial is set to begin August, 4,2008 and will take place amidst the glare of the world press. Many of his supporters believe his rights are being denied due to the long delay in actually beginning a trial. Jacob Zuma aroused the anger of President Mbeki who fired him from the vice presidency. The two have clashed over power and it is clear Mbeki does not want Zuma to follow him as president of ...

Rockets, Rifles, And Dead People 2008-01-04 15:04:47 Palestinians, belonging to the splinter Islamic terrorist group, sent a Katyusha rocket toward the city of Ashkelon which represented the largest rocket to hit an Israel community. The Israel Defense Force responded with air and ground level operations that resulted in the death of Hamas militants and civilians caught in the cross fire. The attack on a major Israel city was bound to initiate a strong reaction since no Israel leader can allow such attacks to go on without a strong reaction. Eleven Palestinians are dead, including two Hamas officials. There is now emerging within Israel the rise of groups which will demand a land invasion of Gaza and, in so doing, wreck any opportunity for peace. This is the old pattern, push the other side to take some strong military action and the result will be to destabilize any opportunity for peace. A powerful Israel thrust into Gaza will compel the Palestinian Authority to end peace negotiations. Obviously, this is the aim of the militants behi ...

Palestinians–We Don’t Trust Anyone! 2008-01-04 14:46:47 New surveys of Palestinian attitudes toward their leaders revealed deep seated mistrust of either Hamas or Fatah. Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas and his Fatah organization received the endorsement of 39% of Palestinians, down from the 46% who had that feeling in November. Only 16% had a favorable attitude toward Hamas and as far as 41% think, a plague on both your houses! There is widespread dissatisfaction with leadership in Palestine and people are seeking honest government that will address their needs rather than play to the grandstand of rhetoric. A majority of those surveyed supported peace moves, but, they simply did not trust the current crop of leaders to actually make peace happen. The Hamas figure is interesting, given that it probably was influenced by Israel bombings in Gaza. Most probably close to 12% of Palestinians actually endorse Hamas as an effective leadership group. The tragedy of the Palestinian movement from day one has been its inability to bring forth a st ...

Muharraf In The Reporter’s Den-Questions And Answers 2008-01-04 09:29:33 Pakistan Presdient Musharraf met a hostile group of international reporters who refused to back away from posing tough questions. The first question asked apparently infuriated the president. He was aksed how he could lead the nation when “many people in the country believe you have blood on your hands over Benazir Bhutto’s death.” Musharraf’s face went cold and he responded: “I consider the question below my dignity to answer. However, I would like to answer it.” He went on to point out he was raised by a cultured family tht did not believe in killing people. But, the questions kept on coming: Would he bow to mounting public opinion and resign? Was he in fear of his life given the levels of terrorist violence? What about the charges of vote rigging before the election? Musharraf defended his actions and made clear he was not afraid of being killed since he knew how to take car of himself. He slipped for a moment when complaining he had warned Bhu ...

President Kibaki Twists And Dodges From Facing Election Truth 2008-01-04 08:55:10 As Raila Odinga, leader of the Orange Democratic Movement met with Archbishop Desmond Tutu from South Africa, President Kibaki of Kenya dug in his heels and insisted the election was fair and he was legally elected. Odinga discussed with Tutu the possibility of some form of mediation that might extricate his nation from the violence which has cost the lives of over 300 people. Secretary Rice and Prime Minister Gordon Brown have both suggested various names like former UN Secretary Koffi Annan or President John Kufor of Ghana. Odinga has indicated a willingness to accept either of these names, but, so far it is far from clear if President Kibaki will even entertain the notion of any review of election results. He ruled out the idea of a transitional government and told his opponents to “follow the law” and cease their complaints. His only concession is a willingness to have discussions with “concerned parties” when things have become quiet. Kenya’s Attorney ... President

Pope Vs Science–Is It Happening? 2008-01-04 08:29:49 Science is taking a back seat to the Pope with the dismantling of the astronomical observatory that has been part of Castel Gandoifo, south of Rome, for more than 75 years. The Pope claims he needs more room for diplomats and has ordered the observatory be removed to a new location. Father Jose G. Funes, director of the observatory, claims “it is not a downgrading of science in the Vatican. To remain within the palace would have had only a symbolic significance..” But, many observers note that symbolism is exactly what the Catholic Church needs at a time when it is led by a Pope who has expressed sympathy for an Intelligent Design view of the origin of the world even though such ideas run counter to the scientific staff of the Observatory. Pope Benedict XVI increasingly has cast his lot with more conservative forces within the Vatican. He opposes all reform ideas that have been circulating within the Church for the past forty years. Perhaps, the removal of the Observatory ...

Jobs And Electricity-Not Guns And Bombs! 2008-01-04 08:10:49 From day one of the invasion of Iraq critics have been complaining about the emphasis on guns and bombing over the need for economic development of Iraq. The 15th Regiment station in Huda is attempting a different approach to dealing with terrorism. In addition to paying local people to form defense units, it will begin paying people to improve sanitation or engage in building or even pick up trash. According to Lt. Col. Jack Marr, “only barely second to security in my neighborhood is employment, and so I’ve got to find a way to make that bridge.” Each person hired will receive a salary of $300 a month, the same figure being given Sunni armed groups known as Awakening Councils. The Huda area has now become fairly quiet and American forces realize economic development is the best guarantee that situation will continue. The plan is to hire 600 men to work in sanitation, building reconstruction, and in security. Four years ago, the arrogance of Rumsfeld and Cheney boast ...

Japan Will Aid Afghanistan Fight Against Terrorism 2008-01-04 07:57:13 Japan’s Prime Minister Yasuo Fukada issued a strong statement indicating he will urge parliament to authorize Japanese military forces to aid efforts in Afghanistan by US and NATO troops who are fighting terrorism. His insistence on resuming refueling operations in the Indian Ocean is opposed by the Democratic Party which now controls Japan’s upper house in the legislature. But, Fukuda went even further in asserting his views that his nation must become more active in fighting terrorism. He wants authorization to allow Japanese troops to be sent to fight in other areas of the world– this is currently forbidden due to the constitution. Fukuda is raising issues which are controversial, given the past history of his nation. After losing World War II, the new constitution made clear that Japan would never again become involved in aggressive war. The war on terrorism is now opening the door to change that historic decision. Perhaps, this is just one more example in which t ...

Barack Obama Wins Iowa Primary 2008-01-03 20:49:57 As results poured in from Iowa caucuses, it became increasingly clear that Barack Obama has won a smashing victory of his main opponent, Hillary Clinton. It is projected that Obama will obtain about 37% of the votes, John Edwards will get 30% and Hillary Clinton will secure 30% of the caucus votes. Bill Richardson is trailing way behind. In the Republican primary, former Governor Mike Huckabee won by obtaining 34% of the vote to Romney’s 25% while Fred Thompson and John McCain trailed with about 13% of the vote for each. The indications are strong that Obama will win in New Hampshire and enter major states with the momentum of being a winner. Hillary Clinton has run a campaign of the past rather than one of the future. Her decision to be cautious, to be middle of the road, to lack passion, is resonating in all the wrong ways with voters. They are seeking change and Hillary Clinton simply projects the past and present which are not that attractive to many Americans. ...

Healthy Sex Episode Catches Malysian Health Minister 2008-01-03 16:37:51 It was just time for a bit of afternoon delight for Malaysia’s Minister of Health, Chua Soi Lek, but unfortunately, the camera was rolling and capturing every moment of his rendevous with a female companion. The sex tape is now is now circulating on DVDs throughout the nation. An embarrassed, Minister of Health did not feel very healthy as he declared the entire problem was caused by enemies. “I have a political agenda and I am a very ambitious man…I think that was my biggest mistake.” Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi did not enjoy having this distraction at a time when he is attempting to placate thousands of Indians in his nation who are fighting for equal rights, jobs, and freedom of religion. One suspects the “biggest mistake,” as always in these episodes, is being caught. In particular, being captured on video with everything showing including the big mistake. ... Health

Fires Of Hate And Anger Smolder In Kenya Slums 2008-01-03 16:13:36 Alex Ndegwa, of the East African Standard, wandered through the slums of Nairobi where people huddled in their shanties, fearing to leave and face the prospect of being hacked to pieces by those belonging to another tribal group. Kenya has collapsed in a blood bath of anger and confusion, all caused by President Kibaki’s grab for power. Smoke from the shanties billows into clear skies, but Kibaki refuses to leave the presidential mansion and pretends that all is well if only parliament would get back to the business of passing legislation. Gunfire echoes on the streets, mobs emerge, police converge on them, there is fighting, shots, and the mob disappears in the distance while slum dwellers huddle in fear. Mama Chege asked Ndegwa, why is this all happening, she cast her vote, but now votes no longer appear to be of importance due to the fraud perpetrated by the Kibaki government. In the meantime, over 300 are dead, including many children. Raila Odinga, the defeated leader of the ...