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

Iraqis Sue Blackwater For Wrongful Deaths 2007-10-12 08:11:59 Families of Iraqis who died in a shooting involving Blackwater USA sued the company charging it violated US law and encouraged a culture of lawlessness among its employees. The Center for Constitutional Rights which brought the suit on behalf of the families charged, “Blackwater has turned lawlessness into profit at the expense of the lives of innocent civilians.” Seventeen Iraqis died in the September 16th shooting. The lawsuit charges Blackwater should be held responsible for assault and battery, wrongful death, intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress, and negligent hiring, training and supervision of its personnel. The FBI is currently conducting an investigation of the shooting. Iraqi officials claim Blackwater’s license to operate in iraq expired on June 2, 2006 and therefore it no longer has immunity against lawsuits. There is something wrong with an American military operation in which private companies can operate with impunity against law. ...

Jaw Jaw, Not War, War, Urge Officials On Mideast Talks 2007-10-12 07:56:50 The European Union Parliament reinforced its support for President Mahmoud Abbas, leader of Fatah, but also urged that he work toward reconciliation with Hamas. EU Foreign Policy Chief Javier Solann, said: “What we tell him(Abbas) is that he is the one we recognize, the one we support.” But, the EU hopes Abbas can find ways in which Hamas can be brought into the peace process. A senior Fatah official told the Jerusalem Post: “Hamas is a terror organization and any connection of any type whatsoever to Hamas will not bring peace.” However, a bipartisan group of former US officials and congressmen offered contradictory advice to President Bush in a letter sent to him. “We believe that a genuine dialogue with the organization (Hamas) is preferable to isolation.” It was signed by individuals such as former Bush I national security advisor, Brent Scocroft and former Carter national security advisor, Zbigniew Bzezinski. The old adage made famous by Winston ...

Turkish Business Leaving Northern Iraq Fearing War 2007-10-12 07:12:21 As rumors continue circulating about a potential armed thrust into the Kurdish region by Turkish troops in hot pursuit of Kurdish rebels, Turkish businessmen are packing up to go home. There are extensive projects in Kurdistan that are operated by Turkish businessmen, but according to Ahamd Ajar, head of the Turkish Businessmen Society, “Major companies are ending their work in northern Iraq on the way to return home.” This ending of business follows on the heels of Iranian businessmen being forced to halt activities due to American pressure and closing of border crossings from Kurdistan to Iran. Kurds estimate they are losing at least a $1,000,000 a day because of American actions against Iran. There is apparent need for the United States and representatives of the Kurdish semi-independent government to reach some agreement that would end attacks by Kurdish rebels in Turkey. These continued attacks which result in death of Turkish soldiers and civilians only serves to he ...

Al Gore Wins Nobel Prize! 2007-10-12 06:57:27 Former Vice President Al Gore will share the Nobel prize with the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change for his outstanding efforts to alert the world to dangers of changes in the environment. “His strong commitment reflective in political activities, films, and books has strengthened the struggle against climate change” was stated as main reasons for winning the prize. Perhaps, winning this prize can persuade Gore to take one further step in dealing with climate change by placing his name into the ring for the presidential nomination. A group of his supporters in the past few days have placed on ad in The New York Times urging him to take a shot at the nomination. At this critical time in the world’s struggle to control devastating effects of climate change, the voice of Al Gore is vitally needed. ...

Bush Might Appease Turkey To Soften Resolution Bite 2007-10-11 21:57:13 The Foreign Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives passed by a 27-21 vote the resolution which condemns Turkey for its genocidal policies toward Armenians in the early years of the 20th century. The vote came amidst growing tension inside Turkey over murder of 15 soldiers by Kurdish soldiers who retreated into the sanctuary of Iraq after the attack. Pesident Abdullah Gul of Turkey said the vote “ignored appeals for commen sense and once again moved to sacrifice big issues to petty games of domestic politics.” There is talk of Turkish retaliation such as expelling thousands of Armenians who work in Turkey or impairing American military over flights of Turkey. Turkish politicians are also hinting at retaliating against Israel which for some reason is being blamed despite opposition to the resolution by prominent Jewish organizations like the Anti-Defamation League. There are reports President Bush, who opposed the resolution, might try some way to appease Turkish ...

Musharraf Popularity Hits New Low 2007-10-11 21:33:34 A recent poll of Pakistanis revealed President Musharraf’s popularity had sunk to a new low with only 21% of respondents supporting him. In September, 2006, over 60% of the people of Pakistan were in favor of their president, but violence and his maneuvering to maintain power has resulted in a massive deflection of support. Over half the population rejects his plan to share power with former president Benazi Bhutto and 70% believe he should step down as head of the armed forces if he wishes to be president. Musharraf is trapped in a double bind. If he displays a strong pro-American stance, he loses a segment of the population, but if he abandons American support, he is unable to accomplish certain military goals. At the core of this dilemma is the need for Pakistan to become a vibrant democracy and have economic development that will provide jobs and hopes to millions. ...

Poppies Blooming In Burma Thanks To Military Junta 2007-10-11 14:47:32 After a six year decline in opium cultivation, the amount of opium being grown in Burma shot up by at least 46%. Burma, Thailand, and Laos constitute the Golden Triangle of opium production in Asia although Afghanistan remains the main center of opium cultivation in the world. Most opium in Myanmar comes from the southern part of the Shan state which borders on Thailand. According to Shariq Bin Raza of the UN office in Burma, “it’s a combination of corruption, law enforcement and border control.” Recent protests against the military junta mainly focused on political issues, but economic issues are equally of concern for the Burmese people. The military junta has failed to develop Burma’s potential and most probably are engaged in collusion with criminal gangs in order to use opium as a source of wealth. Most experts believe Myanmar has tremendous natural resources which could be channeled into creating a vibrant economy that would benefit the entire nation. The ...

Myanmar Protests– As Explained By Military Junta 2007-10-11 14:18:08 The official newspaper of the Myanmar military junta, the New Light, offered the world a rather unusual explanation regarding recent events in Burma. According to New Light, “People in Katha and Mutinmi townships held mass rallies on 7 and 9 October with the concept that recent protests staged by some monks and NLD member had undermined the community peace and stability.” Unlike those terrorists monks and protestors for democracy, these decent people made certain to get “permission from the authorities concerned in accord with law.” As over 15,000 marched they waved banners announcing, “We oppose violence,” and “ward off the danger of internal and external destructive elements.” They also strongly believe “We don’t want terrorists.” The military junta of Myanmar undoubtedly is familiar with George Orwell’s “doublespeak” in which one uses correct words for incorrect ideas. Burmese troops fired into peace ...

Egypt And Iran–Cooperate For Peace In Middle East? 2007-10-11 13:25:08 Diplomatic relations between Egypt and Iran were broken when President Sadat of Egypt in 1979 offered refuge to the deposed Shah of Iran. Since then, the two nations have stood on the edges of the Middle East as hostile forces, one leaning closely to the United States while the other detests America. Mohamed Sadek Al-Husseini, Secretary General of the Iranian Egyptian Friendship Association, believes the two nations can play important roles in fostering peace in the Middle East. At present, Iran and the US are in an angry confrontation mode while Egypt is a member of the “6+2+1″ group composed of six members from the Gulf Cooperation Council, Egypt and Iran, and the United States whose goal is containing Iranian influence within the region. “Al Husseini points out that Egypt and Iran “are very influential countries. If Egypt and Iran were to work together to address hot spots of contention in the Arab-Muslim region, much can be done.” Egypt presently has ...

New Breed Computer Games Deal With Political Issues 2007-10-11 12:55:46 A group of men sit on board an airplane with their hands and feet restrained. Their heads are covered by black hoods. Guards push them around and finally force them into a dog like pound surrounded by barbed wire. “Gone Gitmo” is a digital recreation of life in the U.S. prison camp at Guantanamo. It is one of several of a new breed of computer games which will hit computer stores this fall that are designed to engage people in confronting social and human right issues. The creative talents of social activists are now directed towards expanding awareness of world conflicts by using games to interest people. In “Global Conflict” a player assumes the role of a journalist who is studying the Israel/Palestinian conflict. One of the tasks is to determine if Israel security forces are acting appropriately in dealing with terror attacks. A few months ago in June, a “Games for Change” conference was held in New York and attracted political science professors, ... Games

Hamas Leader Indicates Willingness to Dialogue With Fatah 2007-10-11 08:00:53 Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, leader of the Hamas party which currently is in control of Gaza indicated he is willing to sit down and discuss issues with President Abbas, the leader of Fatah. Several months ago, Hamas overthrew the Fatah led government in Gaza causing a break between the two Palestinian groups. Haniyeh said: “There is a serious improvement in Palestinian dialogue and we have agreed to hold talks with Fatah in one of the Arab capitals.” He also indicated Hamas control over Gaza was a “temporary” one and there was possibility of restoration of Fatah power. A key aspect of any Palestinian-Israel agreement is engaging Hamas in dialogue and negotiation. For the first time in months, Hamas is ready to talk which presents an important opportunity for America to urge Israel to end its opposition towards interaction with Hamas until certain preconditions are met. The upcoming Bush sponsored Middle Eastern conference can only benefit by having Hamas in a ...

Bush Confronts Congress On Armenian Resolution 2007-10-11 07:47:06 The United States Congress and President Bush are on a collision course over the proposed resolution known as “Affirmation of the United States Recording the armenian Genocide” which expresses the feeling of the American people toward Turkey’s genocidal policies against Armenians at the beginning of the twentieth century. As the resolution is being discussed, relations between the United States and Turkey are tense. The Turkish government is preparing possible military action against Kurdish rebels who operate from the sanctuary of Iraq. Bush expressed his opposition to the resolution which he claimed would inflict “a great harm o our relations with a key ally in NATO in the global war on terror.” Democratic Congressman Tom Lantos who has personal connections with the Holocaust argued “this is a choice between condemning genocide and endangering our troops in Iraq.” The Turkish government continues to fight against any mention of its historic g ...

Spain Will Officially Recognize Franco’s Evil Dictatorship 2007-10-10 16:29:30 For the first time since the Spanish Civil War in the 1930s, a bill will be introduced by members of the Spanish Socialist party to condemn the evil dictatorship of Francisco Franco. The “Law of Memory” will state for the first time that Franco committed atrocities and killed thousands of people without fair trials. The opposition conservative Popular Party opposes the bill because it reopens old wounds and will divide Spanish people. Socialist MP Diego Lopez Garrido noted: “The law will provide a definitive reparation and recognition for those who suffered in the civil war.” In declaring actions of military courts which condemned thousands to death and prisons as “unjust” and “illegitimate,” the law will allow family members to sue for reparations. For many of us raised in the thirties and forties who hated fascism and Nazism, this law is a long overdue action. Conservatives are correct in stating the law will divide people, but so did A ...

Turkish Soldiers Ready To Enter Iraq 2007-10-10 16:12:30 Turkish top civilian and military leaders have met over the past twenty-four hours to discuss possible retaliatory measures in dealing with Kurdish rebels who killed 15 people over the past few days. Turkey has been placed on the highest state of mobilization as the government prepares plans to deal with Kurdish rebels who attacked inside Turkey and then fled to sanctuary areas in Iraq. After Prime Minister Erdogan met with the Supreme Anti-Terrorr Board, the government issued a statement authorizing “the necessary orders and instructions to take all kinds of legal, economic, and political measures to end the presence of the terrorist organization in a neighboring country in the upcoming period, including, if necessary, a cross-border operation.” Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul noted “there is no need for parliamentary authorization for a hot pursuit operation.” President Bush was so absorbed in plans to end the reign of Saddam Hussein he ignored political conside ...

Is Marwan Barghouti A Possible Palestinian Mandela? 2007-10-10 11:45:04 In an interview with Egyptian Daily Star reporter, Mazai Mualen, the Israeli Minister of National Infrastructure, Benjamin Ben-Eliezer, raised the dramatic question of whether or not it was time for Israel to consider releasing from jail Marwan Barghouti, the popular leader of Palestinians. Barghouti has been held in jail for several years due to his participation in several murders of Israeli civilians. “I say,” said Eliezer, “there is no need to be alarmed and that it is possible to talk about the possibility of releasing him.” He added that Barghouti may well be the only leader who is respected by both Hamas and Fatah supporters. He argued, “if talking with Barghouti results in him leading the Palestinians tin the direction of making Hamas knuckle under, then that is what counts.” Minister Eliezer is raising an issue that must be asked, who is the best person to assume the role played by Nelson Mandela in getting two angry opposing sides to barg ...