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

Needed: A New International New Deal! 2007-09-13 19:44:40 Nicole Bacharan, writing in Le Figaro, argues America has been so focused on September 11th that it has failed to grasp what emerged from that tragedy. Bacharan argues, “Contrary to what George W. Bush thought, the world is not divided into two camps, the good and the evil, nor are terrorists the soldiers of any [...] ...

Egypt Continues Crackdown On Muslim Brotherhood 2007-09-13 18:45:43 Four students who are members of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood were arrested and charged with being terrorists. The arrests coincided with placing over 500 members of the Brotherhood in state custody. Amr Elshobky of the Center for Political and Strategic Studies said: “The students are members of the Muslim Brotherhood. That ends any possibility [...] ...

Israel Coordinated Syrian Attack With Turkey 2007-09-13 18:24:52 There are reports Israel coordinated its recent attack on Syria with Turkish military officials. The Turkish military provided Israel with specific information regarding the location of weapon depots in Syria and also allowed Israel planes to use Turkish air space in carrying out the attack. Turkey and Israel for years have carried out joint military [...] ...

Sarkozy And Merkel Clash 2007-09-13 12:30:23 There are increasing reports of a drift between President Nicolas Sarkozy and Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany. Merkel was upset at Sarkozy’s apparent arrogant manner of speaking to her and Germany about the need to accept nuclear energy. She also clashed with Sarkozy over the future of Airbus, a joint German-French company. Sarkozy’s popularity appears [...] ...

Serbian Government Urges Serbs Not To Participate in Kosovo Election 2007-09-13 12:15:02 President Boris Tadic of Serbia urged those Serbians still living in Kosovo to refuse any participation in upcoming local elections. He noted “elementary conditions for a safe and free existence of the serbs and other non-Albanians in the province are still lacking.” He pointed out nearly two-thirds of Serbs who were living in Kosovo had [...] ...

Greek Conservatives Crack Down On Immigrants 2007-09-13 12:03:17 The Greek conservative party, New Democracy, has pushed through laws making if difficult for immigrants to attain legal residency in the nation. It now takes five to ten years to secure a permanent residency and there are restrictions on immigrants who attempt to establish a business. An immigrant must wait three years before switching from [...] ...

Osama Bin Laden More Popular Than Musharraf 2007-09-13 08:27:06 A poll taken in late August by Terror Free Tomorrow, an American based organization, indicates that Osama bin Laden is more popular in Pakistan than President Musharraf. Of those polled, 46% favor bin Laden while only 38% favor their president. There was overwhelming consensus against military action in tribal areas of Pakistan against insurgents with [...] ...

Putin Appoints Unknown As Prime Minister 2007-09-13 08:10:24 Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov of Russia unexpectedly resigned and was replaced by a relatively unknown Vitkor Zubkov. The new prime minister goes back in time to St. Petersburg where he worked closely with Putin and most probably taught him many bureaucratic skills. He is also unusual in not having KGB credentials which are common among [...] ...

China Creates New Anti-Corruption Body 2007-09-13 07:58:13 The Chinese government has established a new National Bureau of Corruption Prevention and Supervision. There are widespread reports that local officials in China have used their power to force payments in return for normal government services. As China rapidly expands opportunities for civil servants to make money have expanded. In the absence of democratic elections, [...] ...

British Troops Move To Iranian Border 2007-09-13 07:42:53 A British contingent has been transferred from duty in Basra and assigned positions on the border of Iran. This has sparked anger among many members of England’s parliament. Peter Kilfoyle, former armed forces minister commented: “This is alarming because it is a new role for our troops who already have a difficult peace-keeping role in [...] ...

Lebanon Daily Star - Fanaticism On Both Sides 2007-09-12 21:54:51 Rami Khouri, in a powerful editorial appearing in the Lebanon Daily Star, condemned fanaticism on all sides for current problems in the Middle East. He points out that six years ago a handful of al-Qaeda militants attacked America and today there are 160,000 US troops in Iraq. The main mistake being made he says, [...] ...

George Bush — The Turk’s 3% Man 2007-09-12 19:47:53 Popularity ratings of the United States dropped from 20% to 11% in Turkey according to Germany’s Marshall Plan International Trends. George Bush’s rating among Turks fell to a new low of 3%. No one recalls any American political leader ever obtaining such a low rating among the Turkish population which historically has been friendly towards [...] ...

Bahrain Seeks Friendship With Iran 2007-09-12 19:08:19 Sallah Ali, a leading member of the Bahrain parliament told Iranian officials that his nation had no animosity toward Iran. “bahrain is wishing to strengthen brotherly relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran.” America continues attacking Iran as a threat to the Middle East, but there is little indication they are being heard by Arab [...] ...

General Petraeus Rejects Quick Wihdrawal Of Forces 2007-09-12 17:48:08 General Petraeus told Congress in his second day of testimony that”A premature withdrawal of our forces would likely have devastating consequences.” He discussed the possibility of withdrawing fifteen to twenty combat brigades by next summer. However, he did not really get into reality of what happens when fifteen or twenty combat brigades are no longer [...] ...

Jakarta Bans Begging Or Street Vending 2007-09-12 08:59:58 Jakarta’s 200,000 street vendors face an uncertain future if the new city ordinance is enforced. The bylaw says no “individual or institution may trade with street vendors, give money or goods to beggars, buskers or car windshield cleaners.” It makes all street business illegal. It is estimated the 200,000 street vendors each month pay out [...] ...