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 6 9968

Articles from The Impudent Observer - Global Liberal Issues

Wounded Soldier- Pay Up, Not Our Fault You Got Shot! 2007-11-25 09:00:25 A soldier whose wounds in iraq forced him to leave the military early got the shock of his life when he opened the mail and found a letter from the United States Army asking him to repay of portion of his sign-up bonus. Pfc. Jordan Fox was asked to repay $2,800 of his $7,500 enlistment bonus because he did not serve out the entire length of time. The military is now checking to find out if any other wounded soldiers received such an idiotic letter. Jordan was partially blinded in the right eye as a result of a roadside bomb. Perhaps, the military felt since he only got blinded in one eye, he was perfectly fit to fire a weapon with the other good eye. This is just another example of how so many of those brave young men and women who serve in Iraq have been treated. We have a president who argued against the 3.5% pay increase proposed by Democratic congressmen because it was excessive and he initially opposed increasing funding for the VA until forced by the Democratic Party. ...

Bipartisan Movement In Congress To Control Declaring War 2007-11-25 08:50:50 There is a growing sense among both Republican and Democratic members of Congress that the issue of when and how the United States becomes involved in fighting a war should be under the control of Congress, not merely the Executive. A proposed bill would amend the War Powers Resolution which was enacted during the Vietnam War over a Nixon veto in an effort to restore Congressional control by requiring the president to report any military action to Congress within 48 hours. It also required the president to withdraw forces after 60-90 days unless Congress didn’t explicitly vote an extension. The Constitution clearly places power to declare war in the hands of Congress, but in recent years presidents have simply bypassed that body and deployed troops in war situations. According to Republican Rep. Walter Jones of North carolina, “Throughout American history, the balance too often has been ignored” since Congress has not been allowed to exercise its war making power. T ...

Drug Use Soars In England As Blair Policy Proves Incompetent! 2007-11-25 08:39:07 Former Prime Minister Tony Blair was not only enamored of his beloved American friend, George Bush, but he also actually believed the American FBI knew how to deal with drug problems. Blair created an FBI style the Serious Organized Crime AGency(SOCR) to crush the influx of drugs into Great Britain. Last year approximately 3 tons of drugs were seized compared to over 9 tons in 2004-2005. SOCR has proved to be as much a fiasco as Blair’s policy in supporting the war in Iraq. Drugs are flooding the nation resulting in a dramatic drop in the price of heroin from $140 a gram ten years ago to $90 a gram in 2007. Ironically, the overall drug use in England has probably dropped due to a decrease by young people in using cannabis. Drug experts point out today one can walk the streets of London and get your pick of the drug of your desire. In sections of north London like Camden Town, drug sellers merely wait until the police walk by and then return to openly selling their wares. Most pol ...

Domestic Violence Against Women On Rise In China 2007-11-25 08:13:17 According to evidence compiled by the All China Women’s Federation (ACWF) there has been a significant rise in the number of complaints filed by women regarding being abused by their spouse. Just in the past year, the number increased by 70% and now is at a level of about 50,000 complaints per years. “This increase indicates that domestic violence is widespread in China and women’s awareness of safeguarding their rights and interests has been improved with reinforced publicity by relevant institutions,” notes the ACWF. As the Chinese government ceases to restrict the publication of such information, more and more women are becoming aware they have a right to file complaints. A major problem undoubtedly stems from the financial inability of women to defend their rights. The number of domestic violent complaints is about 11.6% in rural areas, but that rises to 13.5% once those women move to an urban area. The rise is probably due to greater financial ability of w ...

Putin Police Goons Break Up Democratic Protest In Moscow 2007-11-24 17:34:15 Riot police broke up a march against President Vladmir Putin and arrested chess legend Garry Kasparov and several other opposition leaders. The marchers were peaceful and solely intent on presenting a petition questioning the adherence to democratic principles by authorities in the upcoming election when police armed with truncheons moved in on the marchers. The protest group had just come from an authorized meeting and simply wanted to present a petition. Kaspartov commented: “Once more they have demonstrated that the only language they can use with their own people is the language of violence, truncheons, and riot police.” He was then immediately surrounded by police and hustled into a police van. The attack on Kasparov is simply another in a series of actions against anyone or dares oppose the rule of Putin. Although, opposition to Putin is weak and fragmented, the president appears obsessed with eliminating any semblance of opposition to this rule. In a sense, Putin is ...

Bush Steps Into Lebanon Mess For Some Strange Reason 2007-11-24 17:18:32 The political situation in Lebanon remains unresolved and for some reason President Bush saw fit to make a statement about what is happening. President Emile Lahoud stepped down from his position since his term of office was over and asked the Lebanese army to handle things. Prime Minister Fouad Siniora said that was an illegal action since the “situation is secure as the army is maintaining security in the country.” He argued that Lahoud was, in effect, creating a sense there was need for a state of emergency and argued that decision rested with the Cabinet, not the President. The opposition parties suggested that a neutral person take over as president for a two year term and the Siniora majority continue in office, but this was rejected by the majority. Siniora said he would keep parliament in session until they came up with a president. The outgoing president, Lahoud, commented: “No matter what (US president George W.)Bush says, this (Siniora’s government) i ...

Turkish Deputies Challenge German Immigration Minister 2007-11-24 09:22:54 Germany’s Minister on Immigration, Maria Bohmer, confronted an angry group of members of the Turkish Parliament who were upset at a June, 2007 law in Germany which places restrictions on immigration by people from Turkey. Ostensibly, the law pertains to any non-European Union national seeking to immigrate into Germany, but everyone knows it is directed at people from Turkey. The law requires spouses of German nationals who come from non-EU nations to be conversant in the German language before being able to join their spouse. Halide Incekara, a member of the Justice and Development Party, told the German Minister, “You tried to tear down the Berlin Wall with sledgehammers. Now, you are trying to rebuild it with laws. Let’s say I fall in love with Hand and I want to get married. Will you show me an A-1 form and tell me I can only marry him if I learn German” Can this be?” Bohmer replied if this happened the Turkish female deputy should see her. The German l ...

Bush Beware–Your Austalian Friend Got Whipped! 2007-11-24 09:03:52 President George Bush may be upset today because his close friend and ally, Prime Minister John Howard of Australia, went down to a crushing and humiliating defeat in the Australian election. A major issue of the campaign was a promise by the incoming prime minister, Kevin Rudd of the Labor Party, that he was opposed to Australian participation in the Iraq war. Election results indicate the Labor Party and its Green allies will capture at least 86 out of 150 seats in parliament and the total may even go higher. Prime Minister John Howard stands a chance of losing his own seat as voters expressed their indignation at the current leadership of their nation. Let us hope the people of Australia have shown the American people what to do next fall. Perhaps, the defeat might even impact current Republican presidential candidates to reconsider their views on the Iraq war. ...

“Blasphemous” Muslim Female Writer Threatened With Death 2007-11-24 08:50:58 The writer, Taslima Nasrin, has been fighting for women rights in Bangladesh and India for years, but last week there were violent protests by mobs that drove her to flee from the city of Koikata. She noted that “India is my home and I would like to keep living in this country until I die, but the All India Minorities Forum, a Muslim group, demanded she be deported. At the center of hatred against her is the charge that she allegedly told an Indian newspaper years ago there was need for alterations in the Koran in order to provide women with more rights. A court also accused her of “deliberately and maliciously: hurting the feelings of Muslims because her novel, “Laija”(Shame) focused on riots between Muslims and Hindus. Nasrin has denied making comments about changing the Koran, but she has refused to back down on her fight for women rights. “Women are oppressed in the East, in the West, in the South, in the North. Women are oppressed inside, outside home ...

Marine Whistleblower Given Cold Shoulder 2007-11-24 08:33:32 A marine who told about instructions given men in his unit by an officer to get their stories straight on a story regarding the killing of civilians has resulted in his fellow soldiers avoiding contact with him. Sgt. Henry Butts taped comments by Capt. Shane Cole to be careful in what the men said to investigators of the incident. Shane told men in his unit, “Earlier up on the roof, there were like five women and little girls. OK. We f—ed that area up. If we did any collateral damage, there will be people asking. Your answer, for the sake of yourselves– and me– better be you were f—ing shooting at muzzle flashes.” Butts has picked up from other men they have been instructed not to talk with him. The sergeant admitted he had an ongoing conflict with Capt. Cole and held off on turning over the recording, but eventually gave it to his first sergeant who then made certain it got to the proper authorities. In an earlier investigation of the incident, Mar ...

Officer Defends Patriotism of Doonesbury! 2007-11-24 01:05:51 The military newspaper previously had published a letter which urged removal of the cartoon strip, Doonesbury, on grounds it gave “aid and comfort to the enemies.” Following is a response to that letter from an officer serving in Iraq. “For an officer on active duty to state a political cartoon provides ‘aid and comfort to the enemies” makes me cringe and wonder which military he belongs to-the U.S. or Pakistan? though I find Ann Coulter frightening and Rush Limbaugh a blow-hard wacko with a drug addiction, I just do not read them. If you do consider moving Doonesbury, how about the front page?” Colonel Charles W. Mitchell Camp Victory, Iraq ...

Commonwealth Nations Suspend Pakistan -Seek Climate Control 2007-11-24 01:01:52 The Commonwealth’s biennial summit met in Uganda and among its first actions was to suspend Pakistan from the group. Despite an angry response from Islamabad, the leaders gathered in Kampala defended the suspension. “You can be assured that every country that has been suspended will say that we didn’t understand the unique circumstances that prevailed in their country at the time,” commented a spokesperson for the Commonwealth organization. The group insists Musharraf step down as army chief, free judges, restore the constitution and halt further curbs on the media. Their stance is quite different from that of President Bush who continues supporting the Pakistan leader. An important aspect of the meeting dealt with issues of climate control. The Commonwealth organization set as its goals a 50% reduction in greenhouse-gas emissions below 1990 levels by the year 2050. It is reassuring that a major group is taking a strong stand to confront the Musharraf human righ ...

Number Of Iraq War Wounded Not Correct Claims Investigation 2007-11-23 14:25:02 A USA TODAY survey of four military installations reveals the number of Iraq war soldiers who have been classified as wounded in action is actually almost five times the number reported by the Pentagon. For example, Marine Lance Cp. Gene Landrus was wounded by a bomb blast but since it impacted his brain rather than his body, the lack of a physical wound meant he was not classified as being wounded even though he suffers from nausea, dizziness and memory loss. The USA TODAY investigation discovered that 20,000 soldiers showed signs of damage but they were not classified as being wounded in action. According to a memo written by Assistance Secretary of Defense Ellen Embrey, the military lacks “a standardized definition of traumatic injury or a uniform system to report all (traumatic brain injury) cases.” There is some evidence as many as 150,000 troops have suffered brain injuries in combat according to Rep. Bill Pascrell, founder of the Congressional Brain Injury Task For ...

Pakistan Political Parties Debate Election Stance 2007-11-23 14:00:41 The situation in Pakistan regarding the January election for parliament is still unclear as political parties explore their options. Although Secretary of State Rice said the release of 5,000 prisoners was a positive step toward restoring democracy, most political parties have yet to decide if Musharraf will actually allow a free vote. The 53 nation Commonwealth of nations bloc suspended Pakistan until that nation restores constitutional government. There appear to be two schools of thought among opposition parties as t the best strategy of combating Musharraf. The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz is supporting the position of its exiled leader, Nawaz Sharif that a boycott of the election is the best way to handle the current situation, but Pakistan People’s Party leader, Benazir Bhutto has authorized the party’s candidates to file papers as though they intend to run for office. However, Bhutto made clear that was not a final decision since she is working closely with her form ...

Turkey Continues Annoying EU Over Its Membership Application 2007-11-23 08:26:47 There is increasing evidence the European Union is becoming irritated at failure of the Turkish government to take action on several vital pieces of legislation concerning protection of human rights. Turkey meets with a EU commission every six months to discuss its application for membership and there are repeated requests from the EU for action. AS EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn noted: “We are warning the government against Article 301 which continues to undermine freedom of expression and the Turkish government says it will be changed. The repeated rhetoric has become annoying.” Article 301 makes illegal insulting the Turkish government and that includes claiming there was an Armenian genocide. There are also several other items such as allowing private institutions of higher learning or laws to ensure protection of minority rights which lay dormant in the Turkish parliament. It is important for world peace that Turkey be admitted into the European Union Hopefully, ...