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 59 8752

Articles from The Impudent Observer - Global Liberal Issues

Another MP Killed In Kenya- Chaos Continues 2008-01-31 12:19:23 Another member of the Kenya parliament was killed when a policeman shot David Kimtai of the Orange Democratic Movement. Kofi Annan, former head of the United Nations is trying to get all parties to sit, discuss, and come up with a compromise solution that will end violence which has engulfed a nation that up to this point had escaped such tribal conflicts. Military helicopters have been ordered to shoot and kill any gangs that are engaged in violence or setting up road blocks. They have identified four categories of people who will be shot on sight if they engage in criminal actions–those looting property, those burning houses, or those carrying weapons or trying to barricade roads to prevent free movement of people and goods. President Kibaki continues insisting he won the election that most observers believe was a fraudulent process in which Kibaki doctored vote totals. More than 800 people are dead and thousands forced into temporary refugee camps. For example, at the Naivasha ...

Poland, Russia, USA, And Missile Defense Systems 2008-01-31 11:06:54 The Polish government is engaged in a flurry of activity to cover all bases regarding the proposed installation on their territory of missiles by the United States government. Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski rushed to Moscow to reassure the Russians not to worry about having missiles a few hundred miles away. Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov assured him that Russia had no veto right over what Poland desired for its protection. Sikorski then turned his attention to negotiations with the United States over the missiles. The Polish government wants money and military equipment from the United States in order to modernize its air force and get some nice missiles of its own. In fact, Poland is so pleased to receive US military assistance, it even has agreed to increase the size of the Polish contingent in Iraq. Lost in this running back and forth to secure agreements on missiles in Poland is the question as to why the missiles are needed in the first place. Poland wants its own missiles, ...

Who Is Medvedev And What Does He Believe? 2008-01-31 10:42:45 Elections in democratic nations ordinarily offer candidates who announce their ideas in some type of platform statement. We know Dimitry Medvedev is a protege of President Putin, but does anyone have any notion as to his ideas or program other than continuing the present course of action? According to a recent poll, 65% of Russians know next to nothing about the man they will elect as their next president. His name appears on the ballot, Putin says vote for the name, and a majority will go ahead and do the right thing– vote for an unknown entity in the name of democracy. As of this point, Medvedev has yet to engage in a debate with an opponent, let alone announce his political agenda. It was no surprise that former Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov was disqualified from running for president despite obtaining nearly two million signatures for his candidacy. Putin doesn’t like individuals who are capable of challenging his one man authority so why not basically have a one man ...

Iran Bans Women Magazine For Reporting Crimes 2008-01-31 09:10:49 The Iranian government has taken action to silence a leading women’s magazine which has long fought to protect the rights of female members of the nation, an action which has infuriated many religious figures in the country. The magazine, Zanan, was banned due to articles it published about women issues. “The license of the magazine Zanan(Women) managed by Shahla Sherkt has been cancelled as the monthly published articles undermining public confidence in law and order by leading people to believe that the Islamic Republic was unsafe for women.” Zanan dared to publish monthly figures on the number of crimes committed against women in Iran. This type of factual data is undoubtedly the type of evidence which would infuriate those who believe that facts, in themselves, are a threat to law and order. The religious fanatics who presently govern Iran know that facts lie. Instead of facts, they believe honest people should publish fantasy since it is preferable to live in an ...

Battle Goes On About Headscarf Ban In Turkey 2008-01-31 08:59:55 Turkey’s top generals signaled the military is opposed to lifting the ban on women wearing a headscarf in university settings. Chief of General Staff General Yasar Buyukant told reporters that “All segments of Turkish society know what the military thinks about the headscarf issue. To say anything would be nothing more than stating the obvious. This is why I do not want to say anything.” The military regards itself as the protector of the secular state that has endured for most of the past 100 years. General Buyukant reaffirmed he would not meet with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani when he visits Turkey. The Turkish military is not satisfied with efforts by Iraq to take effective action against Kurdish rebels who operate on Iraqi soil. The ever present danger in Turkey is potential military action if the current religious Muslim Justice and Development leaders continue efforts to bring a greater religious sense to government. The military opossed the election of Gul a ...

UN Chief Says Global Warming Reduction Is Expensive 2008-01-31 08:41:13 Global warming could cost the world up to $20 trillion over the coming decades in the effort to develop cleaner energy sources according to a new report issues by UN Secretary General, Ban ki-moon. The report will be a major topic of discussion at the upcoming two day climate meeting in Febrary which is intended to help shape the direction of UN policy on climate control. A new climate control treaty is expected by 2009 that will replace the existing Kyoto Agreement. The Kyoto pact requires the 37 industrial nations to reuce greenhouse gases by a relatively modest 5% on average. Much of the focus on climate control debate revolves around the United States which simply has refused to cooperate with nations of the world and the emerging industrial giants of China and India which are and increasingly will become major sources of pollution. The 52 page report by Ban argues that a global investment of betwen $15 to $20 trillion will be required “to place the world on a markedly diffe ...

Mubarak To Israel– It’s Your Gaza Problem! 2008-01-31 08:28:13 President Mubarak of Egypt in an interview with the Italian newspaper, La Republica, made clear that Israel’s dream of “throwing the Strip” at the Egyptians was “only a dream” and would not be achieved. The Egyptian president insisted the Gaza Strip was an Israeli problem and the government of Israel had continually made mistakes in dealing with Hamas. He believes its policy of strangling the Gaza area in order to weaken Hamas has backfired resulting in the present chaotic situation. Hamas leader, Khaled Mashaal, was in Cairo discussing with Egyptian security officials ways in which to restore some semblance of law and order in the area. Al-Jazeera denied a Reuters report of a massive explosion in the Gaza area saying somehow a reporter transformed a policeman firing of a bullet into the air as being a major incident. At some point, Israeli officials have to make contact with reality in its efforts to isolate and marginalize Hamas. These strategies simply ...

China Offers New Programs For Rural Areas 2008-01-31 08:12:23 China issued the first document this year which focuses on needs of rural areas of the country. This year’s theme is “consolidating the foundation of agricultture.” Recent figures indicate while China’s population increased by 90 million over the past decade, per capital grain production froll from 412 kg in 1996 to 378 kg in 2006. Meanwhile, 220 million of the 990 million rural population began to work in urban and township enterprises. This resulted in a significant decline in the number of people available to harvest crops. The new document ensures more funding will go to rural areas in an effort to raise the level of crop harvests. There will be an emphasis on improving roads, water supplies and providing electricity. An important neglected aspect of China’s dramatic rise to industrial and economic prominence has been failure to bring along rural people on this rise in income. The new document seeks to improve the quality of rural schools and work to ...

Bush Returns National Guard To Control Of Governors 2008-01-31 07:53:21 President Bush signed http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/01/gns_guardcontrol_080130/n which was pushed through by Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont that repealed a controversial law which made easier for the White House to take control over America’s National Guard. The Bush administration even used National Guard units to patrol the border with Mexico as well as employing them in the ongoing war in Iraq. The nation’s governors had complained that the Insurrection Act, passed as part of the 2006 defense bill hurt the ability of states to use the National Guard in responding to state disasters. The bill also increases the clout of the National Guard in the Pentagon when decisions are made about the guard’s mission and staffing. Thge change elevates the chief of the National guard from the rank of Lieutenant General to the rank of General and makes that person the main adviser on guard maters to the defense secretary. It will allow leaders of the National Gua ...

Edwards Drops Out–Who Can Catch His Followers? 2008-01-31 06:40:00 John Edwads dropped out of the Democratic contest for the nomination as candidate for the presidency but left in his wake uncertainty as to who would capture the voters he was attracting. His departure places new pressure on Clinton and Obama to address his issues of poverty and concern for the underclass of America. Edwards refused to indicate who was his choice for the presidency, but undoubtedly his exit requires Clinton and Obama to come up with ideas that would capture the support of those who were voting for the fromer senator. Barack Obama continues making a connection to the legacy of John F. Kennedy, a figure who is in the minds of Baby Boomers. However, Obama fails to realize for the elderly of this nation, the legacy of Franklin Roosevelt and Harry Truman is much more significant than the brief interlude when Kennedy was president. Edwards understood union people connect with New Deal legislation which finally gave freedom for unions to organize workers against the power of ...

Suge II Proposed For Afghanistan By Think Tank 2008-01-30 16:52:51 The American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think tank, is urging adaptation of the surge notion as a remedy for dealing with problems in Afghanistan. Resident scholar Fred Kagan said the AEI study was not initiated by the Bush administration even though the think tank has close working relations with many Republican leadeers. The AEI group is concerned about continuing Taliban growth in power and control over many areas in Afghanistan. Among recommendations of the group were: * Deploy an extra brigade into Khandahar and a Marine batalion into Helmand. * Deploy an extra 3,000 Marines into Afghanistan. * Accelerate development of an Afghan armed force. * Construct more forward bases. The Planning Group also had recommendations for Pakistan: * Threaten the Pakistanis with unilateral strikes into Pakistani territory unless more effective action is taken against militants. * Make US aid dependent upon changes in Pakistan’s military strategy. Bush oriented policy g ...

US Tries Selling Radar Station To Dubious Czechs 2008-01-30 16:35:52 After two days of robustly selling the virtues of having a radar station on Czech Republic soil, Geneal Henry Obering, head of the U.S. Missile Defense Agency, still had failed to completely obtain support from Czech officials. He insisted myths the missile system was not an effective protective device were downgraded by the American military leader. General Obering raised the fear of Iran by warning “I believe that the day is coming for Europe with respect to threats from Iran specifically.” However, his fearmongering failed to persuade the Social Democratic Party and the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia(KSCM) that a real threat existed and it could be met by the American missile defense system. Hassa Charfo of KSCM commented the government is “trying to find any reason to avoid a vote by the people” and there is fear if the radar is placed on Czech soil, “we will be targets.” During his talk, Obering raised the bloody flag of 9/11 to stir fea ...

Key Kenya Issues Outlined By Kofi Annan 2008-01-30 16:20:30 Former UN chief, Kofi Annan, listed four key issues that were central to restoring peace in Kenya. First, is an immediate halt to violence and the restoration of fundamental rights and liberties. Second, is promotion of reconciliation between tribes presently engaged in brutal action against one another. Third, resolve the current political crisis that began when President Kibai literally stole the election. Fourth, investigation of long term issues that will prevent future outbreaks of such virulent hatred between tribal groups in Kenya. Annan titled his proposals: “Suggested Agenda for the National Dialogue on the Resolution of the Political Crisis in Kenya.” ODM leader, Raila Odinga asked for the word “mediation” to be substituted for “dialogue.” It is expected that Annan would chair mediation procedures but will be assisted by other leading African figures like the former president of Tanzania, Benjamin Mkapa and by Ms. Graca Machel. President K ...

Musharraf “Foreign Hand” Ploy 2008-01-30 09:57:59 An editorial in the Lahore Daily Times criticised the Musharraf government for explaining away problems by casting blame on a “foreign hand” as being behind those forces causing problems. It quoted federal interior secretary, Syed Kamal Shah, as asserting the government had “cedible evidence” that “hostile foreign intelligence agencies” were fanning terrorism in Pakistan. Although no names were mentioned, it is assumed the foreign sources are from India. “We can recall the number of times the government and its senior bureuacrats have relied on it to explain acts of terrorism in the past.” Musharraf is continually blaming America or Great Britain or India for his own failures. The Taliban was created by Pakistan’s ISI and tribal unrest in northwest regions is the result of local groups expressing anger toward the government. Musharraf, not foreign hands, instituted a state of emergency, it was Musharraf, not outsiders, who sacked m ...

Iran Supports Hamas And Anti-Israel Activities 2008-01-30 09:39:11 A senior member of Hamas, Abu Marzouk, chair of its political bureau, told a Tehran-based Arabic langauge newspaper, al-Wafaq, that Iran is a major supporter of his organization as well as aiding other groups that are fighting against Israel. He expressed the appreciation of Hamas for assistance received and emphasized Israel was not interested in establishing relations with Muslim nations but its only goal is “to deceive them.” He claimed the fighting in Gaza over the past week has resulted in at least 50 Palestinian “youth” killed and 80 wounded. Doctors at al-Shifta Hospital in Gaza City claimed that all 50 women, children, and youth admitted to the hopsital on January 16 had lost limbs. One can argue against Israel’s actions in Gaza on severa levels ranging from human rights to practicality, but when Hamas makes outrageous claims that all 50 patients “lost limbs” it is indicative of what is wrong with that organization. Hamas believes exagg ...