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

Chinese Govenment Offers Negotiation 2007-10-14 22:40:18 The Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) proposed a peace agreement with Taiwan that would end the half century of conflict between the two areas. Hu Jintao, general secretary of the Communist Party, said China was ready to conduct “exchanges, dialogue, consultations, and negotiations with any political party on Taiwan as long as it recognizes that both sides of the Straits belong to one and the same China.” This is the first time China has indicated this desire for open negotiations with Taiwan. Cynics may decry the offer because it clearly indicates any final resolution will contain a statement or agreement that Taiwan is part of China. However, the willingness to discuss the issue opens possibilities for a multiple array of solutions which ensures Taiwan is part of China, but allows Taiwan considerable freedom to pursue its own policies and maintain its democratic political system. Certainly, this is an opportunity for dialogue and Taiwan must be willi ...

Pentagon Involved In Domestic Spying 2007-10-14 22:24:48 The American Civil Liberties Union has uncovered documents which reveal a collaboration between the Pentagon and the FBI in seeking to gather information about private citizens. They secretly sent hundreds of letters in order to obtain financial records of private citizens without approval. Vice President Richard Cheney defended the practice as a “perfectly legitimate activity to protect America against terrorism. It is particularly disturbing that the military of the United States is now engaged in domestic intelligence. The Bush administration has exploited 9/11 to justify any action or practice dealing with cviil liberties of this nation. The cry of “protecting America against terrorism” has been abused in this frantic effort to break the law and violate the essence of the American Constitution. Any opposition is derided as reflecting a “soft on terrorism” attitude in order to allow the administration to proceed in its quest to create an all powerful ex ...

Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood Urges Iranian Style State 2007-10-14 22:08:58 Egyptian’s moderate secular parties have been hoping the Muslim Brotherhood would cooperate in efforts to establish a democratic Egyptian nation. Their hopes were dashed with publication by the Muslim Brotherhood of its platform for change in Egypt. The document would bar women and Christians from holding the office of president and allow a board of clerics to oversee Parliament and decide which laws could be passed. A hard line group within the Brotherhood, the “Daaw,” which in Arabic translates as “preaching” over-rode objections by moderates in pushing through their fundamentalist ideas which appear to resemble the Iranian government in form and substance. Abdel Moneim Sud of the Al-Ahram Center said “it establishes a religious state. It’s an assassination for the public state.” The document argues women should not be allowed to hold high office because it would lead to “burdening women with duties against their nature or role in ...

Will Turkey Shoot Itself In The Foot? 2007-10-14 19:49:51 Turkey’s consideration of a cross border incursion into Iraq in pursuit of Kurdish rebels and its threat to retaliate against a US House of Representative Resolution on the Armenian genocide may well turn out to be a case of shooting oneself in the foot. According to a diplomat quoted in Zaman, these decisions ‘will in the long run affect Turkey’s political and economic reforms, isolating itself from the world.” Prime Minister Erdogan is threatening to retaliate if the Resolution passes, and states “if such an action is chosen, whatever the price, it will be paid” while Chief of the Army, General Buyukrant says America’s action will cause damage “that cannot be repaired.” Perhaps, it is time for the Turkish government and people to examine long term consequences of hasty actions. An invasion of northern Iraq would result in a dramatic rise in oil prices which will probably infuriate members of the European Union and threaten an invi ...

The Innocence of Turkey? 2007-10-14 17:21:40 It is apparent my comments concerning the Armenian resolution before Congress have aroused the ire of many readers. Most of the comments accuse Armenians of engaging in a “massacre” of Turks. One can only assume these writers refer to Armenians who served in the Russian army which fought against Turkey in World War I. There certainly is a difference between soldiers fighting against other soldiers other than soldiers shooting civilians. Certainly, for the most part, the initial years of World War I did not entail mass killing of civilians by either side despite extensive British propaganda concerning Germans killing thousands of Belgians. Belgian civilians were killed, but there was no sanction by the German government for the killings. To those who claim Armenians engaged in a “massacre” of Turks, it would be helpful if they (a) identified the Armenian government authority that authorized such killings; (b) presented evidence of any order from an Armenian milit ...

The Cold Freeze Between Putin And Sarkozy 2007-10-14 15:26:50 President Nicolas Sarkozy was on one of his hyperactive adventures in diplomacy when he encountered a stone faced Vladmir Putin of Russia. Sarkozy tried turning on the charm about his “friend Vladmir,” but the Russian responded with a frosty glare. The Russian leader disagrees with Sarkozy’s alliance with the United States in attempting to force Iran into ending its atomic energy program. Putin prefers allowing the United Nations to handle the situation and regards America’s heavy handed approach as emanating from emotion rather than from solid evidence. Sarkozy admitted Russia did not agree with his point of view. “There is a difference of analysis on whether the Iranians are manufacturing the bomb and whether they want to use it.” The French president met with Russian students at Bauman university where he championed freedom of the press and noted, “A country where the judiciary are not independent is not a free country” which Putin int ...

US Companies Create Fear Among British In Afghanistan 2007-10-14 13:46:28 British forces in the Helmand province of Afghanistan are concerned American security companies will be playing an increasingly vital role in the area. The British have worked to win the “hearts and minds” of Afghanistanis and do not with the heavy handed private companies entering the area. A diplomat noted, “The worry is that there will be a blast and some contractors will panic and open fire as happened in Baghdad.” DynCorp will play an important role, but they were heavily involved in programs to eradicate poppy fields which angered local farmers. USAID workers expressed their concerns that much of American aid in Afghanistan gets siphoned off to security companies rather than getting to the average farmer or worker in the country. In prior wars, groups like the famous Seabees of World War II handled construction projects. There is a difference in having regular army soldiers handling every aspect of the military than allowing private companies which are not ...

Condi Rice Shuttling For Peace 2007-10-14 12:08:10 Secretary of State Rice, returning from a rather frosty meeting in Moscow with President Putin, began a series of meetings with Israel and Palestinian leaders. She immediately emphasized her visit should not be regarded as one which will lead to anything substantial since she was mainly trying to obtain commitments from both sides they agree on the need for an outline as to what will happen at the Annapolis meeting. Defense Minister Barak said any agreement must ensure the Israel Defense Force (IDF) retained the right of free movement on the West Bank since that was a “fundamental principle that must be demanded in the future as well.” Prime Minister Olmert did not indicate he was interested in an immediate outline for peace. Secretary Rice has yet to develop a plan for dealing with the apparent refusal of Prime Minister Olmert to focus on developing a concrete peace agreement which will in the near future result in peace. He apparently is more interested in keeping the sta ...

Is Tony Blair Changing His Mind About Middle East Issues? 2007-10-13 13:48:11 Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair has been spending the past few months studying the Palestinian-Israel conflict and gradually realizing some of his past views on the situation are in need of being rethought. While at a West Bank checkpoint he asked Israel guards why Palestinian trucks could not be checked quickly and allowed to proceed without going through a rather elaborate security checking system. He was told the system required extensive checks and the trucks must wait. In the Hebron area, he was shocked to learn Palestinian farmers could only dig wells one third as deep as Israeli farmers which enabled the Israeilis greater access to water. Blair previously accepted the argument that Israel security was the number one priority but apparently is now shifting to believe security, political issues, and economic development are all linked and must simultaneously be addressed. It would be helpful if President Bush actually spent time on his next trip to Israel visiting and tal ...

An American Turk Defends Turkey 2007-10-13 13:02:22 Vural Cengiz, a Turkish American offered a vigorous defense of Turkey and condemned House Resolution 106 which deals with Turkish genocidal policies toward Armenians. He argues “How could two million people be collected when only one million existed” in 1915. He then goes on to blame America for many problems impacting Turkey including the Bush I Gulf War which cost Turkey “billions of petro dollars.” Cengiz points out there is evidence Kurdish rebels who are attacking Turkish forces possess American made weapons. “Now Turks are not only called national enemies, but enemies of humanity?” He argues under the Ottoman Empire all nationalities lived in peace and were able to keep “their religious beliefs and values.” Armenians, he claims, aided Russia which was an enemy of the Ottomans and “were punished for their killings and betrayal.” We print this harangue because it illustrates the emotional and distorted feelings of those i ...

Myanmar Brutality Continues 2007-10-13 12:15:05 The ruling military junta continued its policies of crushing all opposition by organizing mass demonstrations all over the country, including Yangoon, in which people shouted support for the government while condemning “internal and external destructive elements.” Reporters said anonymous officials were told by the government to round up people for the demonstrations and pay them 80 cents for attending. Amnesty International reports at least 4 prominent leaders of the National League for Democracy (NDL) were arrested along with the other 216 already in custody. One NDL activist died while in custody of “natural causes” and his body was cremated before members of the family to examine the corpse. UN officials visit Myanmar, members of the military junta undoubtedly protest their innocence, but they will not abandon their program of intimidation and oppression. Talk by the UN will not succeed. ...

Springtime For Nazism According To Eva Herman 2007-10-12 22:42:49 German TV presenter, Eva Herman, who was fired for making pro-Nazi remarks, continues her battle to defend the bright side of Nazism. She was fired for stating that while Hitler did gruesome things, people forget the good side of Nazism, ‘there was at the time something good, and that is the values, that is the children, that is the family, that is a togetherness– it was all abolished.” She argues if you can’t discuss the good side of Nazism then you can’t comment on the autobahn which was built during that era. Herman recently appeared at a conservative German Catholic Forum where she received applause and was hailed as a “martyr in the battle for marriage, family, and children.” Ms. Herman is merely displaying her ignorance of Nazism when she claims it was a good time for children, family values and togetherness. Children attended schools where they were indoctrinated in hatred and to love violence. Thousands of teenagers gave their lives fo ...

Two Views On Rush Limbaugh 2007-10-12 12:11:04 The October 12, 2007 issue of Stars & Stripes had several letters dealing with comments by Rush Limbaugh and Ann Coulter. We print two opposing views: “In response to the opinions voiced in the October 8 letters to the editor reference to Rush Limbaugh and Ann Coulter, I disagree with the writers and hope that Armed Forces Network would continue to air their programs. When taken in full context, it has been clearly shown that Limbaugh did not disrespect the military with his remarks. Coulter’s writing style is full of hyperbole and needs to be read with that in mind. She is opinionated, but factual. To call her a liar is libelous. .Until more entertaining politically conservative pundits can be found, keep Limbaugh and Coulter, please.” Chaplain (Col) James Hoke, Stuttgart, Germany “I served honorably for 20 years in the U.S. military, but today I oppose the war in Iraq. I assume Limbaugh will call me a “phony veteran.” Considering the sour ...

US Marines Cause Controversy With Army Generals 2007-10-12 11:29:13 Recent reports in newspapers about the desire of the U.S. Marine Corps to pull its troops out of Iraq and take over the fighting in Afghanistan have provoked fury among Army generals. “This (the proposal) is not going down well with the Army,” said a general on the Joint Chiefs of Staff, adding the situation is going to “be more contentious and sensitive than many people outside of the inside team realize.” The Marines have floated the idea of its 25,000 mean force in Iraq being pulled out and going to Afghanistan where it would have complete responsibility for handling military operations. This would require Army troops being pulled out of Afghanistan and redeploying to Iraq. Marine units are designed to be self-sustaining for up to 30 days in case of a Marine expeditionary unit, and 60 days in case of a Marine expeditionary brigade. Longer deployments, “by law” require the Army to provide logistical support. If Marines redeployed to Afghanistan, ...

Ecological Disaster Possible In Three Gorges Area Of China 2007-10-12 09:58:00 There is increasing evidence of potential serious ecological problems caused by construction of the Three Gorges Reservoir which is the largest dam in the world. Over 1.4 million people have already been displaced by its construction and it now appears an additional 4 million will have to be moved. According to experts, there is serious “ecological deterioration caused by irrational developments” which has resulted in the shores of the reservoir collapsing in 91 places with a total of 36 kilometers caving in. The presence of people only adds to environmental problems created by construction of the dam. Prior to building the Three Gorges Dam, many environmental experts warned of potential dangers but the Chinese government was determined to have a massive dam. The results are evident in landslides and damage to the local ecology of the area around the dam. ...