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 58 8751

Articles from The Impudent Observer - Global Liberal Issues

President Mbeki Rips Into Rival’s Values 2007-11-30 18:13:06 President Mbeki of South Africa made plain his opposition to Jacob Zuma’s desire to become president of the African National Congress which leads inevitably to president of South Africa. Mbeki specifically pointed out the ANC’s commitment to women rights and charged Zuma is opposed to these historic values. He even stated there should be no problem in having a woman elected head of the nation. These comments were obviously directed at Zuma who was charged with rape(not convicted) and has made several disparaging remarks about women. The president also noted the ANC opposition to tribalism which Zuma frequently plays upon in his public comments. He believes Zuma is a demagogue who plays to the crowd and, if elected, esort to a patronage system of rewarding friends, something the ANC has always opposed. There is considerable evidence that Jacob Zuma has become a popular figure in his party and will most probably obtain the position of president of the ANC and also of the nati ... President

Taliban Foiled In Plan To Kill Afghan School Girls 2007-11-30 13:27:20 Within a day after Osama bin Lalden told the world that America and Europe were the enemies of Afghanistan, US and Afghan troops uncovered bombs set to go off when 400 school girls entered the Poorak Girls School in eastern Logar province. A hand grenade and another bomb were rigged to explode at the school’s entrance. Col. Abdul Majeed Latifi, deputy chief in Logar said: “I am 100 percent sure this was the work of the Taliban.” Upon arrival, US troops found two mortar shells underneath a footbridge in front of the school that was only a few feet from the home of a family. Osama bin Laden continually complains that US and NATO forces have brought death and destruction to Afghanistan. There is no doubt in many cases lack of accuracy in bombing has resulted in the death of hundreds of innocent Afghan men, women, and children. But, for those duly concerned about such carelessness, there should be equal concern about the barbarity of the Taliban which kills fellow Muslims ...

Fatah–We Will Fight With Hamas If Israel Invades Gaza! 2007-11-30 11:48:11 Within days after the conclusion of the Annapolis conference which supposedly was to clear the way for peace between Israel and Palestinian leaders, a key official of Fatah, which President Abbas controls, announced Fatah would back Hamas, its enemy, if Israel troops invade the Gaza strip. “Fatah won’t remain idle in the face of an Israel invasion of the Gaza Strip. We will definitely fight together with Hamas against the Israel army. It’s our duty to defend the people against the occupiers.” This statement apparently indicates a willingness on the part of Fatah and Hamas to set aside differences in case Israel attacks any portion of the Palestinian Authority. There are reports several Arab nations are trying to mediate issues between Hamas and Fatah. Egypt and Saudi Arabia have made clear to President Abbas that peace cannot proceed until he reaches some sort of compromise with Hamas. The leaders of Hamas are charging the Annapolis conference was a cover up to ...

Were US Soldiers In Iraq Exposed To Radiation? 2007-11-30 11:32:59 The United States Army denies reports that soldiers who were stationed at a nuclear research center in Baghdad were exposed to harmful levels of radiation. Since 2003, more than 750 soldiers have been guarding the Tuwaitha Nuclear Research Center which is 12 miles south of Baghdad. Army officials claim those who received measurable levels of radiation were found to be within US safety standards. However, Sgt. Jason Boatright send an email in August suggesting they had been exposed to radiation at levels not appropriate for health and safety. Boatright met with Col. Mark Melanson, chief of radiation safety, but he also gave interviews to a Memphis TV station in which he stated: “I noticed the guys would end up with rashes. Some had headaches, joint pain, nausea, vomiting, gastrointestinal issues. We realized we were exposed to radiation.” Colonel Melanson insists Boatright is the only soldier who ever complained about radiation. The US Army has announced that any soldier wh ...

Iranian Leader-Focus On Nuclear Technology, Not Weapons 2007-11-30 09:51:26 Former Iranian Supreme National Security Council secretary Ali Larijani urged his nation to remain focused on developing its nuclear capabilities. “Iran has reached a good level in nuclear technology due to its steadfastness and today their(Western) theorists should accept that Iran has gained access to nuclear technology.” He pointed out the International Atomic Energy Agency and its director, Mohamed ElBaradel has stated there is no evidence Iran is making atomic weapons. Larijani says even if Iran was thinking about making nuclear weapons that would not even happen for years to come. He urged his nation’s leaders to engage in negotiations with other nations about nuclear energy. Larijani’s statement is an indication many clerics wish their nation to pursue a nuclear energy program, but are not particularly interested in developing atomic weapons. Despite what Bush and other hysterical commentators believe, Iran’s clerics are conservative and they are no ...

Peace Or Israel Could Be Finished, Says Olmert 2007-11-30 09:32:25 Prime Minister Ehud Olmert expressed a view that many objective observers share that “if the day comes when the two-state solution collapses, and we face a South African-styloe struggle for equal voting rights(also for the Palestinians in the territories), then, as soon as that happens, the state of Israel is finished.” This is the first time an Israel leader has made a link between the current situation as the South African apartheid struggle. In a sense, Olmert was confronting the alternative to a two-state solution– an Israel in which Muslims would outnumber Jews if they received the right to vote. Unfortunately, for the prime minister, polls indicate most Israelis were not reassured by the Annapolis conference. The liberal daily Haaretz poll showed only 17% thought Annapolis a success and 42% regarded it as a failure. A similar poll in Yedhiot Ahronot showed 50% felt Annapolis a failure and 83% did not expect positive results by the end of 2008. Olmert’s hon ...

Russian Election Results Known Before Election 2007-11-30 09:01:20 President Vladmir Putin has set in motion an impressive election machine that will guarantee his United Russia party will gain at least 70% of the votes in this week’s election. United Russia has completely dominated what is reported on television. They have received 60% of news coverage in prime time and recent debates between members of other political parties was shown at 7:00 am and at midnight leading to only 1.5% of Russians ever seeing the event. According to Federal Election Chief, Vladmir Churov commented when asked about the limited exposure by TV to other political parties, “if a party does nothing, how can we expect the media to cover it?” Of course, whatever United Russia does must, by definition, be something of worth. Golos, an independent national election observer, is concerned at the incredible increase in the number of absentee ballots which probably is due to pressure from employers that their workers vote for United Russia and by having absentee b ...

Pakistan Political Parties Debate Boycott Of Elections 2007-11-30 08:33:25 The political opposition to President Musharraf has yet to decide on a unified approach to dealing with the upcoming January elections. The All Parties Democratic Movement(APDM) issued a clear statement that it will engage in a boycott unless President Musharraf restores by December 15th the judiciary to its positions of authority. former prime minister Nawaz Sharif has also indicated his willingness to support a boycott unless Musharraf ensures the presence of an honest election and restoration of Pakistan Supreme Court judges to their posts. Sharif expressed his view that “we do not accept him(Musharraf) as a legitimate president. However, Benazir Bhutto, leader of the Pakistan People’s Party(PPP) indicated she might participate in elections if guaranteed they will be fair. She believes the issue of the judiciary should be handled apart from the electoral process. It is doubtful if a splintered political opposition will be able to attain the success it might achieve if un ...

Flash-Osama bin Laden Wants West Out Of Middle East! 2007-11-30 08:19:02 In another example of Osama bin Laden attempting to come across as a real threat, the terrorist leader urged European leaders to get out of the Middle East for their own good. He noted, “with the grace of God…the American tide is receding and they eventually will return to their home across the Atlantic, it is in your own interests to force the hand of your politicians(away from) the White House.” He said the United States and the Europeans would soon be out of Afghanistan which would allow its neighbors to “settle their scores.’ Osama bin Laden also claimed he alone was responsible for 9/11 and the Taliban knew nothing about his plans or actions. He expressed concern that Americans deliberately bombed innocent children and women in order to break the spirit of the mujahideen. Osama bin Laden is undoubtedly hiding in some mountain cave in Pakistan, distant from any serious military action and increasingly becoming a voice from the past. He expresses horr ...

Teddy Bears And Muhammad–The Saga Concludes! 2007-11-30 01:02:54 People of the Muslim faith are encountering discrimination and prejudice from religious bigots throughout the world and the last thing they needed was for the clerical bigots in the Sudan to add fire to the flames of anti-Muslim feeling. In a decision that would have seemed logical to the 15th century mind, Ms. Gillian Gibbons of England, a primary school teacher working in the Sudan, was found guilty of “insulting religion” because the children in her class chose the name of “Muhammad” for a teddy bear. The British Foreign Office is furious and British Muslim groups are distressed because the court case is a God-send to every idiotic bigot in their nation who wants to make a case that the Muslim religion is backward and bigoted. It now turns out that a member of the school staff– Sara Khawad, was the one who told religious authorities about the “crime” and even testified against Ms. Gibbons. The judge who heard the case, Mohammed Youssef, said ...

Freedom Of Press Challenged In Turkey 2007-11-29 14:12:04 The Turkish publisher of the best-selling book by Richard Dawkins may wind up in court for daring to publish a book written by an atheist. The prosecutor is investigating whether to charge publisher Erol Karaasian with getting out a book that supposedly incites religious hatred and insults religious values because Dawkins questions the existence of a God. As of this date, the book has sold about 6,000 copies in Turkey. It is actions such as these which endanger the possibility that Turkey will be accepted into the European Union. The assumption of the Turkish prosecutor is that it is forbidden to insult religion, but perfectly legal to insult those who are atheists. As far as it is know, no Muslim author of leaflets and publications which preach hatred toward Jews or advocate suicide bombing which results in the death of innocent Muslim men, women, and children, has ever been threatened with inciting hatred or violating religious values. One assumes killing children is not justified un ...

Syria Asks For Negotiations Over Golan Heights 2007-11-29 09:35:11 The Syrian press urged Israel to enter into negotiations with its government in order to revolve the Golan Heights issue. Teshreen commented: “It is now vital to act seriously to put peace talks back on track. The alternative to this are dangerous to the region and the entire world.” The Syrians claimed they attended the Annapolis conference in order to test America’s sincerity towards peace in the Middle East. Meanwhile, Hammas which had been barred from the meeting, came out with another bombastic statement urging the UN to end the partition of Palestine and return to some sort of other condition. One can only wonder if such statements would have come from Hammas if their representatives were in a room filled with Arab leaders who are tired of the perennial problem of Palestine and Israel. Bush and Rice blundered by not inviting Hamas since that organization would have moderated their rhetoric and spoken in a more sensible manner. Syria is now speaking about peace ...

Philippine Coup Fails-Corruption Continues! 2007-11-29 08:29:00 Philippine troops and SWAT teams stormed a five-star hotel that dissident military officers had commandeered after walking out of a coup trial. The military officers have insisted their aim is to end the blatant corruption of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s government. They want her to resign in order to create a government that is both legitimate and honest. Their coup was supported by several political leaders including former Vice President Teofisto Guingona. Arroyo in a defiant response said the coup members would be held “accountable” and there would be swift justice. The coup members had literally walked out of their trial accompanied by dozens of military sympathizers including General Danio Lim and went to the hotel. They claim Arroyo stole an election and has been manipulating the political process since taking office. Unfortunately, the Philippines has been the scene of continual fights over the honesty of its government. This has led members of the mili ...

Muslim Insurgents In South Thailand Continue Brutality 2007-11-29 08:14:44 The ongoing insurgency in south Thailand which contains the nation’s largest center of Muslims continues to demonstrate brutality and callousness toward human life. The rebellion which began in 2004 when Muslims claimed they were being oppressed by the Buddhist majority has resulted in widespread atrocities committed against not merely members of the Thai armed forces, but against fellow Muslims. yesterday, insurgents took a Muslim man they accused of being a police spy and hacked his body with knives, then drove six-inch nails through is head, arms, and legs before transforming the body into a Christ like symbol of one who has been crucified. Later, insurgent kidnapped two fishmongers and after shooting them, took off their heads. The south Thailand rebellion has mainly been fought with guns and knives rather than with economic, political and social programs which would address needs of the majority of people. The use of violence invariably results in more violence. It is about ... Thailand

Indonesian Muslim Clerics Demand Freedom Of Expression 2007-11-29 08:02:37 Indonesia’s two largest Muslim organizations criticized the Religious Affairs Ministry for barring a liberal Egyptian Islamic thinker from addressing an international youth conference in East Java. Din Syamusuddin, Chair of Muhammadiyah, who is a noted professor of Islamic thought, commented: “his visit should have instead been used for tabayyun(clarification) with Abu Zayd to find the truth about his Islamic thoughts. We should have discussed this kind of issue in a forum or debate with broad-mindness and tolerance.” Abu Zayd has been attacked in Egypt for arguing the Koran should be regarded as a cultural document The leader of Nahdiatul Ulama, Masdar Farid Mas’udi, also expressed concern over the ban. “I am not interested in judging whether Abu Zayd’s Islamic thought is right or heretic… but I think it’s not wise to promote an excessive suspicion of new things considered to be violating the mainstream view.” Both men expressed d ...