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 0 10034

Articles from The Impudent Observer - Global Liberal Issues

Kibai Tries Sabotaging Kenya Talks 2008-02-03 01:16:35 Raila Odinga, head of the ODM, reiterated his party’s commitment to dialogue with President Kibai who was accused of attempting to derail mediation talks by making “aggressive” statements. Raila said Kibaki was subverting mediation talks by insisting the electoral dispute could be resolved through local courts and that his election was not subject to any further discussion. Odinga said “We in ODM are committed to the success of negotiations and are doing everything in our power to ensure the ground is stable for this to happen. Kibaki must als aproach mediation in good faith.” Trade union leaders have warned Kibaki they are prepared to organize workers in mass protests unless he honestly engages in meaningful dialogue. Kibaki told members of the African Union that ODM was to blame for the violence in the country and that this was premeditated.” How could the ODM forsee Kibaki would manipulate vote counts to ensure his re-election? The only premedi ...

Pakistan OK With US Drone Attacks On Militant Leaders 2008-02-03 01:14:16 The recent killing of an Al Qaeda leader by an unarmed Predator airstrike in a remote area of Pakistan demonstrateds the US has the military reach and intelligence sources that can be fruitful to the Pakistan government, but it does not change views of President Musharraf concerning the presence of American ground forces in his nation. “The agreement that apparently to have been reached,” notes Rand analyst Seth Jones, “between the US and Pakistan is that it’s OK to cooperate on targeted strikes against Al Qaeda leaders. But it’s not OK at the moment for US forces to try to clear and hold territory that is controlled by Al Qaeda or Al Qaeda-related groups in Pakistan.” Jones believes over the past few months American intelligence sources have stepped up their conveying of information to Pakistan counterparts. It appears US involvement in Pakistan has been limited to training Pakistani security forces, supplying equipment such as night vision goggle ...

Iran Owes US Says American Official 2008-02-03 01:09:54 Zalmay Khaliilzad, American Ambassador to the United Nations told a Columbia University audience that Iran is deeply in debt for the manner in which the United States has helped eliminate Afghanistan and Iraq, two major foes of the Iranian government. By destroying the Taliban and Saddam Hussein’s government, “It’s helped Iran’s relative position in the region, because Iraq was a rival of Iran…. and the balance there has disintegrated or weakened.” The Ambassador declared there is no question the unintended consequence of the destruction of the Taliban in Afghanistan and the defeat of Saddam Hussein is the strengthening of Iran’s position in the Middle East. “I, as you know, have met with the Iranians many times over the years in my various positions, including in Afghanistan. And I used to tease the (Iranian) Ambassador that we have done so much for you in Iraq and Afghanistan, the least you can do is to be helpful to this effort. Oth ...

Japan Educators Await Court Decisions on Flag-Anthem 2008-02-03 01:04:15 Hiroko Arai, a Japanese school teacher, is being punished because she refused to stand and sing the “Kimgayo” national anthem of her nation. She would not sing it in front of the Hinomaru national flag on the belief they symbolize Japanese militarism. Her refusal was in direct violation of a notice issued by the Tokyo metropolitan board of education on Oct. 23, 2003, that directed school principals to order teachers to stand and sing the anthem or else be reprimanded. “I told my students, ” she said, “to make their own decisions on what they should no, not unquestioningly follow the majority or obey those in power” said the 62 year-old woman who has taught for 35 years. Ms. Arai and eleven other techers have filed a suit whose decision should be announced next week. All twelve have been refused part-time work after retiring because of their refusal to stand. The plaintiffs say it goes against a parliamentary agreement that authorities should not forc ...

Israel OKs Hamas Desire For Egyptian Ties 2008-02-03 01:01:48 The Israel government looks with favor on an announcement by Hamas leader, Ismail Haniyeh, for closer economic ties with Egypt. Haniyeh told the daily Palestine in an interview that Hamas would like to see Gaza’s economy cut its ties with Israel and instead forge closer relations with Egypt. “We will restore control over the border in cooperation with Egypt.” Egypt, however, has closed the border even though hundreds of Gaza women protested outside the border area. The Hamas demand for a role in controlling the border has been rejected by Pesident Mubarak. Hamas also said it would accept the return of European Union monitors to the Rafah border crossing on condition they reside in Egypt or Gaza. In the long run, Palestinians are linked with Israel in various economic relations. Hamas leaders frequently assume a stance of power in discussing issues with other nations. Unfortunately, Egypt has its own problems and is not interested in becoming more actively involved i ...

Nobody Asked Me But, 2008-02-02 11:14:39 Each week, we survey the American scene making observations that are strictly personal and bear no relation to any hard evidence. It snowed in St. Louis the other day and I went to mail a package. I only saw one person at the counter and asked where everyone was. He told me they couldn’t get to work due to the snow. Whatever happened to the postman who got the mail through despite, rain, snow, and other horrible conditions? John mcCain is a decent man. His problem is being in an indecent political party. He thus winds up making indecent statements to please the indecent people. If you are under the illusion people teaching in colleges are intelligent, then go to a college faculty meeting. The faculty will spend hours discussing the parking situation but not a minute discussing teaching and learning. I continually get comments from people defending their right to own a weapon because they want to protect themselves against criminals. In the same breath they oppose laws that requir ...

Nein To You, Secretary Gates, Responds Germany 2008-02-02 09:27:16 Geman Chancellor Angela Merkel and senior members of her government flatly rejected a request by US secretary of Defense Robert Gates to send Bundeswehr combat troops to Taliban hotspots in Afghanistan. A Merkel spokesperson said the exting Afghanistan mandate is not open for discussion. On Friday morning, German Defense Minister Franz Josef Jung rejected a call by Gates to send German troops to southern afghanistan where a Taliban-led insurgency has destabilized the area. The negative harping and critical tone of the Gates letter infuriated German leaders and made them even more certain to continue their present polciy of what Jung noted, “We need to keep our point of focus in northern Afghanistan.” A Merkel spokesperson, Ulrich Wilhelm, made clear there were currently “no thoughts” about changing policy, a step that would require approval of the Bundestag. Wilhelm emphasized Gemany’s position has repeatedly been made clear to the United States and would ...

“I’ll Be President of Europe-Give Me Power” Says Blair 2008-02-02 09:11:28 Tony Blair has been holding discussions with some of his oldest allies on how he could moount a campaign to become the full-time president of the European Uniion Council, the prestigious new job characterised as “president of Europe.” He is currently the Middle East envoy for the US, Russia, EU, and the UN, but has told friends it is a job that leads nowhere and is probably not going to result in success anytime in the near future. The president of the European council of ministers is a post created under the Lisbon treaty. Blair has the active support of President Sarkozy of France, but would encounter a problem if the commision president, Jose Manuel Barroso, decided he wanted to seek the president position. Smaller nations in the EU might be concerned if major leadership positions were parcelled out to former key figures who come from larger countries. There is also considerable anger among EU leaders about Blair assuming the position, given his close affinity with the ... President

Bad News For New York Football Giants! 2008-02-02 08:52:55 it is now almost a certainty the New York Football Giants will lose the Super Bowl. CIA Director Mike Hayden has picked them to win 28-24. If CIA picks in the past are any indicator of what will happen, it is a certainty the Giants are doomed to lose. ...

Army Employees Spread Anti-Obama Messages 2008-02-02 08:49:05 An unknown number of Army employees disributed chaine-mail that make false accusations about Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama. the e-mails originated at Fort Sam Houston in Texas. The e-mail accuses Obama of being a secret radical Muslim, that he disrespects the Ameican flag, and that he was sworn into public office while holding his hand on the Koran. The e-mail is being distributed under the subject line: “Who is Barack Obama?” The e-mail thread obtained by the Army Times shows the message began to circulate outside the government and reached an AMEDD employee before going out to a wide distribution list in that department. Let’s hope this type of fraudulent information is stopped dead in its tracks and those responsible are fired from their positions. That is the best way to handle such un-American behavior. ...

Chad Rebels Fighting In Capital 2008-02-02 08:33:56 Hundreds of Chad rebels penetrated the capital of Chad as they fought against government forces. It is believed the fighting is raging just outside the presidential palace after the rebels made a lightening advance across the oil-producing African nation. Col. Thierry Burkhard, a French miiitary spokesperson, said about 1,500 rebels are now actualy in the capital. Ibni Oumar Mahamat Saleh, a leader of the opposition which is supporting the rebels, said the state radio has gone off the air, and “at the moment we are not hearing any firing. The rebels are in the city. Civilians are in the streets. They are watching what is happening.” The fighting has led the European Union to delay dispatching its peacekeeping mission to both Chad and the neighboring Central African Republic. The EU forces were supposed to protect nations from the chaos caused by the Sudan government’s policies in Darfur which has led to insurgencies flowing out of Darfur into neighboring African natio ...

US Demands More German Troops In Afghanistan-Nein 2008-02-02 01:09:26 US secretary of Defense Robert Gates has sent a letter to his German counterpart demanding more German engagement in Afghanistan. In the past Germany’s response has been -nein. There is considerable opposition within Germany to dispatch more German soldiers to the Afghan fighting front. The Gates missive was eight pages in length and spelled out in detail the role expected by the United States of its German ally. Gates indicated 3,000 Marines would be arriving in Afghanistan, but they are only expected to remain for several months, and Gates insists when they leave German and other NATO allies should assume responsibility for completing the work done by the Marines. Canada has already made clear it will withdraw troops unless NATO forces increase their presence in Afghanistan. The German government has imposed restrictive conditions on NATO commanders when using their troops. German troops are “barredf from the use of deadly foce unless an attack is underway or is imminent. ...

Goodbye Africa-Hello Europe! 2008-02-02 01:04:59 Libyan leader, Moamer Kadhafi, made it clear to members of the African Union he would turn his back on the black portion of Africa and redirect his money elsewhere– to Europe or to the Mediterranean area. The upcoming Addis Abba African Union summit “must mark a decisive step in the eastablishment of African unity” and “anyone who blocks the unity project is part of a conspiracy to sell Africa to the highest bidder.” Kadhafi wants a federal African government among the continent’s 53 member nations. He believes the African Union commission is a dead letter “without any power and ought to be replaced by an executive cabinet.” A key aspiration of Kadhafi is enabling the Arab portion of Africa to assume greater control over the African Union. Kadhfi noted the Arabn states have been deprived of assuming leadership of the AU “even though they represent two-thirds of the continent and contribue 60% of the African Union’s budget.&r ...

Flawed Elections-OK-If You Are On Our Side! 2008-02-02 01:04:21 A new report by Human Rights Watch denounces hypocritical western nations for accepting flawed election results if the winner turns out to be a friend of the “good guys.” Last year Nigeria experienced an election where there was widespread and credible accusations of election violence and vote-rigging, but not a word of protest emanated from western governments because the winner was viewed as friendly to the West. It is any wonder President Kibaki manipulated vote counts to ensure his victory in Kenya? After the fraudulent vote count indicated he had been “re-elected,” within hours he swore himself in and immediately had his victory recognized by the American government! In fairness, it should be noted the US State Department later had second thoughts, particularly since the entire Kenya nation erupted in violence, rapes, murder and thousands driven from their homes. Western powers believe the mere fact there has been an “election” means one must a ...

Yes Or No Headscarf– A Defense From America 2008-02-02 01:03:55 Two American Muslim seniors at Georgetown University in Washington D.C. presented an eloquent defense of why Muslim women should wear a headscarf. Hafsa Kanjwai and Khadijeh Zarafshar, defend wearing of the headscarf on several grounds. They charge the West has distorted reasons why Muslim women wear one and connect the Hijab to some sort of male oppression of women. “In modern times, the veil has become an emotionally charged symbol of the struggle between tradition and modernity, betwen Islam and the West. It has arguably served as a partial political justification for certain policies spearheaded by the United States to ‘liberate Muslim women’ in Afghanistan or Iraq. We, as Ameican Muslim women, simply by living our dual identity, demand a re-evaluation of this externally imposed dichotomy. As Americans, it is not our place to speak on behalf of women of other nations.” They argue there is not such thing as “Muslim women” since that expression att ... America