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 57 8575

Articles from The Impudent Observer - Global Liberal Issues

US Military Lawyer Prepares Blast At Guantanamo Prison Procedures 2007-10-27 07:38:45 An American military lawyer who has been involved in numerous Guantanamo tribunals is prepared to openly express his disgust with the unconstitutional procedures occurring at the prison. The whistle blower, a major who is thoroughly familiar with the entire Guantanamo operation, described the detention of a hospital administrator from Sudan as “unconscionable.” The major says that in rare circumstances when it was decided that a detainee was no longer an enemy combatant, senior commanders ordered another panel in order to over rule the decision. He reports “acrimony” during a “heated conference” call from Admiral McGarragh, who reports to the Secretary of the US Navy, when a panel refused to describe several Uighur detainees as enemy combatants. Senior military commanders wanted to know how they could disagree with a previous designation that the Uighur were enemy combatants. The major told the admiral it was good for the system that people actuall ...

All Somewhat Quiet On The Turkish Front 2007-10-27 07:19:39 A feeling of quiet unease pervades many parts of Turkey as people attempt to sort out the situation. Late Friday evening, Chief of Staff, General Yasar Buyukant said neither the government has instructed the military to undertake a cross border operation into northern Iraq against separatist terrorist hideouts there, nor has the military requested permission to carry out such a mission. He said military leaders will meet with Prime Minister Recep Erdogan on November 5 in order to determine future operations. General Buyukant also noted the Turkish military was extremely disappointed in failure of the Iraq government to demonstrate a willingness to crack down on Kurdish rebels operating within Iraq. Life goes on in Turkey with the minority Kurdish population uneasy regarding the situation. They are caught in a cross fire between an angry Turkish people anxious for revenge against the killing of their soldiers, and a sense of identify with a Kurdish desire for an independent nation. How ...

Japan Fingers Foreigners As Potential Terrorists 2007-10-27 07:02:24 The Japanese government is introducing a new anti-terrorist program in the coming months. From now on, the 6.7 million tourists and other foreigners visiting their country will be finger printed and photographed in order to assist the immigration people fight terrorism. According to immigration official, Takumi Sato, this “will help keep terrorists out of the country.” As of this date, there has never been a single terrorist act committed by a foreigner in Japan. Of course, Japanese terrorists have committed acts of violence within their own country as well as in other areas of the world. Perhaps, this is an example of “much ado about nothing” except to pester and insult foreigners visiting Japan. ...

Secretary Of Defense Robert Gates Blasts NATO For Afghan Failure 2007-10-26 16:37:59 Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates, sharply criticized NATO army chiefs for failure on the part of the European Union to make a substantial commitment to winning the war in Afghanistan. “In Afghanistan, a handful of allies are paying the price and bearing the burden. The failure to meet commitments puts the Afghan mission– and with it, the credibility of NATO at real risk.” There are currently 26,000 American and 23,000 NATO troops fighting in Afghanistan. He questioned why the world’s greatest military alliance is unable to defeat Afghan rebels, and particularly focused on failure of NATO to supply helicopters which has caused great strain on the American air force. His remarks drew little reaction from the generals in the audience who only gave him some polite applause. Secretary Gates might be in a stronger position if he could explain why American forces were withdrawn from Afghanistan when the opportunity for success was great. He might explain the lack of ...

Turkey Demands Iraq Hand Over Kurd Rebel Leaders 2007-10-26 16:08:42 Turkey’s Deputy Prime Minister, Cemil Cicek, told a television audience his government was demanding Iraq turn over the top Kurdish rebel leaders. He said a list of 18 prominent Kurdish leaders had been turned over to the Iraq government in hope it would take action. Turkey is expecting cooperation from the United States in quelling the actions of Kurdish rebels, but General Benjamin Mixon, who heads US forces in northern Iraq, said he would do “absolutely nothing” regarding containing or capturing Kurdish rebels. There are no reports of any Iraq officials taking action against the PKK rebels. There is a stand off for a moment in the Turkish-Kurd conflict. The Turkish government apparently is allowing the United States and the Iraq government to do something about the continued attacks by PKK forces into Turkey. If nothing is done, this allows the Iraq government to claim it has exhausted all opportunities for peaceful resolution of the problem and must now take actio ...

Criminal Terror In Kenya As Police Go Wild 2007-10-26 15:07:33 Reports from Kenya tell of a wave of killings by the police who are attempting to wipe out a criminal gang by the name of Mungiki. Scores of bodies are turning up on the outskirts of Nairobi as well as in the countryside with evidence they were executed by a single shot to the head. The Kenya police are blamed for this outburst of violence. The Mungiki gang began in the 1990s as a semi-religious sect, but apparently saw more productive outlets for their talents in the world of crime. They became major players in protection rackets and other criminal activities. It is believed politicians draw upon their talents to have those opposing them in elections taken care of in a way that would please the old Murder Incorporated gang of New York. The Kenya police have gained a reputation for brutality. Last year they demolished scores of huts in the slums around Nairobi and drove thousands of people back to the countryside. Last June during one of their slum raids, they killed 39 people. As in m ...

German Environment Minister Challenges US To Act Responsibly 2007-10-26 14:50:01 Sigmar Gabriel, Germany’s Environment Minister, blasted the American do nothing attitude as a major impediment to obtaining world wide cooperation in the fight to achieve a reduction in pollution. Germany played a major role in securing European Union approval for a 20% reduction in emissions and there is a clause that might up that figure to 30% if major industrial corporations give complete support to the campaign. But, where are the Americans when it comes to environment control? Gabriel believes it is time to confront the United States, “the challenge remains that of convincing the Americans that they have a responsibility also for their citizens who suffer from climate change. Look at the hurricane in New Orleans.” He is concerned that America’s negligence toward climate issues merely encourages developing nations to shirk their own efforts in controlling pollution. China and India are rapidly expanding their economies and both nations are entering producti ...

Israel Sends Mixed Signals On Desire For Peace With Palestinians 2007-10-26 11:53:22 The government of Israel continues sending confusing signals to Palestinians and the world about its desires to establish permanent peace in the Middle East. Yesterday, Defense Minister Barak said Israel would begin cutting electricity supplies to Gaza for each rocket fired from the area, today Prime Minister Olmert told President Abbas his government has no intention of creating a humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Olmert also indicated he had uncertain feelings about the upcoming Annapolis peace conference. “If all goes well, we will meet in Annapolis, (but) Annapolis is not made to be the event for the declaration of peace.” Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh claimed that Israel was using Annapolis as a cover to continue its policies of aggression against Palestinians. Prime Minister Olmert continues to reflect his lack of grasp regarding how to proceed towards peace. He is unable to make concrete statements that reflect a commitment to peace, but obfuscates his intent by contradicto ...

Violence Continues In Pakistan 2007-10-26 11:29:32 The attempted assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto is apparently just one story in a never ending violence which is enveloping Pakistant. While Pakistani security forces attacked a cleric’s stronghold, nearby insurgents kidnapped eight police from a bus. About 2,500 soldiers took part in the assault on cleric Maulana Faziullah’s stronghold which is one of many such encampments where insurgents are trained to conduct attacks on Pakistan soldiers and society. Residents observed security forces firing rocket propelled grenades, mortars, and other weapons at the cleric’s forces. Militants carried out the ambush of the soldiers and fired on a helicopter carrying a general. Yesterday, a suicide car bomber hit a truck carrying troops and killed 19 soldiers and wounded 35. The violence continues unabated in Pakistan raising fears if the present Musharraf-Bhutto alliance is capable of restoring some semblance of law and order to the nation. Benazir Bhutto cla ...

Turkey Plans Economic Sanctions Against Iraq 2007-10-26 11:12:09 Turkey’s National Security Council is recommending applying economic sanctions against northern Iraq in an effort to apply pressure on groups aiding the outlawed Kurdish Workers Party. Many observers warn such action might turn out to have the opposite effect. According to Turkish political analyst Ilter Turan, “any sanctions could b ring about unexpected results; they could boost support for Iraq’s Kurdish leader, Massad Barzani, and push the masses in northern Iraq to congregate around him. Barzani has a reputation of turning a blind eye to activities of Kurdish rebels who are attacking into Turkey. There is talk in Turkey of cutting off electricity and food supplies to northern Iraq which relies extensively upon those sources for many daily needs. Turkey apparently still hasn’t learned from the failed sanction approach of George Bush that those type of solutions wind up causing more anguish than benefits. Cuba has been subjected to sanctions for half a centur ...

Attacking Iran– Last Option, Says Armed Forces Head 2007-10-26 10:03:01 As rumors continue circulating around Washington D.C. about a secret Dick Cheney plan to attack Iran, Admiral Michael Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said U.S. officials should consider the damage that could result from initiating a new war in the Middle East. H also added that military options could not be taken off the table. He specifically noted it was ‘a last option.” Mullen believes the focus now should be on “bringing together the international community that is constructive, not destructive.” he also commented on a lesson he had learned from fighting in Iraq– there is need to have agencies like USAID receive funding that is larger. The choice of words by Admiral Mullen is instructive. He uses expressions like “last option” and urges “bringing together the international community” in dealing with Iran. Ironically, the Bush administration is following the opposite path of ignoring the international community an ...

Fat Cats Of War — New Growth Industry Of Murder 2007-10-26 09:39:20 A reporter, from The Independent of England, was in Nisour Square a few days after the Blackwater massacre of innocent Iraqi civilians and encountered continuing fury on the part of the local population. They are demanding an end to private armies in their nation. Lawyer Hassan Jabar Salman, who was shot four times in the back by Blackwater gunmen, said: “This is not the first time they have killed innocent people and they will do it again, you’ll see.” Prime Minister Mailki threatened to expel Blackwater from Iraq, but he was forced to back down under American pressure. The past few days, Robert Griffin, who was in charge of overseeing private contracts, resigned from the State Department. An Independent reporter talked with Mark, a former Royal Marine, who now is in the private army business. “I suppose,” he said, “we should thank George Bush and Tony Blair for what they have done for our industry much as I dislike their policies. And, if I was an ...

Russia-European Union Clash Over Energy Control 2007-10-26 09:00:34 President Putin was in Portugal this weekend campaigning for support of Russia’s bid to join the World Trade Organization. Russian officials claim “the delays in increasing the EU-Russian relationship has to do with Russia not joining the World Trade Organization.” The European Union is particularly concerned at the fact Putin has dramatically increased the Russian government’s ownership of oil, gas, and power transmission lines in order to enable his country to set prices and put the squeeze on European nations requiring these resources. Several major oil and power companies were persuaded to surrender control to the Russian government which now has the capability of setting prices. Several months ago, Russia threatened to withhold gas supplies to the Ukraine unless it followed the Moscow line on aspects of its internal politics. The Russian power squeeze is another example of allowing a small number of countries to control energy resources in a world ever incr ...

New Olympic Challenge — Pollution! 2007-10-26 08:46:21 There is growing concern among Olympic officials at the possibility pollution in Beijing may be a factor in Olympic competitions. The extensive coal mining boom in China which is stimulating industrial production has also added considerably to pollution in the nation. Beijing lies in a valley surrounded by mountain ranges which make for difficulty in dispersing pollutants. Khalid Mailk, UN representative in Beijing noted: “You have to bear in mind this is the first time the Olympics are being held in a developing country.” Although China has spent at least $16 billion in preparation for the Olympics attempting to deal with environmental concerns, the presence of adverse pollutants may be a factor in the competitions. ...

Tony Blair Plan Infuriates Palestinians 2007-10-25 20:57:48 Tony Blair presented a plan for resolving conflicts between Palestinians and Israelis that left Palestinians wondering if the former British prime minister was truly an objective third party. His proposal calls for increasing the effectiveness of the Palestinian government in combating Hamas and other Islamic militants. He argued without successful operations against Palestinian resistance movements in the West Bank, there is no hope of reaching a settlement in the conflict. Blair wants a strengthened judiciary which will try members of the resistance and ensure they are not released from jail until completion of their sentences. He wants more European police assistance to train Palestinian police in becoming effective. His plan would lclreate a thee person committee to oversee implementation of the recommendations including Israel’s Minister of Defense, Ehud Barak. A main issue between israel and Palestinians is the return of refugees. Blair proposes building a new city on th ...