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

Finnish Court Blocks Deportation of Iranian Woman 2007-09-10 19:39:24 A Finnish court has blocked a decision of the Directorate of Immigration to deport an Iranian woman of Kurdish descent. The Directorate argued there was no threat to the life of the woman if she was returned to Iran. Nazi Aghai said: “I will commit suicide if I am put on a plane” headed [...] ...

US Holds 22,000 Iraqi Prisoners 2007-09-10 19:20:35 An Iraqi official, speaking anonymously, told the newspaper Azzaman that over 22,000 Iraqis are being held as prisoners in detention camps by the United States. The overwhelming majority of them have never been charged with anything nor have they been tried. Some have been in jail for years. Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi, is leading the [...] ...

Setback for Moderate Muslims In Morocco 2007-09-10 18:05:46 In elections held last week in Morocco, the Justice and Development Party did not attain the number of seats he expected to win coming in with 47 compared to the Old Guard Nationalist Istiqlal party which obtained 52. The Istiqlal will continue old parties rather than seeking to reform the economy and stimulate economic development. [...] ...

Iraqi Leader Urges New Approaches to Reconciliation 2007-09-10 13:39:38 Former Prime Minister Ayad Allawi told Der Spiegel there is need for dramatic changes in dealing with Iraq. He talked with General Petraeus and asked what would happen after the surge is completed and was told, “that is your responsibility.” The assumption being Iraq leaders could handle their nation at the completion of the surge. [...] ...

Military Blogs Increasingly Anti-War 2007-09-10 11:37:25 The Marine Corps Times reports there is evidence that more members of the military are questioning the legitimacy of the war in Iraq. As some return for second or third or even fourth deployments some are now expressing deep reservations on their blogs about Iraq. Technically speaking, a member of the military who openly expresses [...] ...

Rumsfeld Blames Iraqi Politicians and Turkey for Iraq Problems 2007-09-10 11:22:59 In an interview appearing in the October GQ magazine, former Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld casts blame for the current situation in Iraq on Iraqi politicians. He pointed to the success in Afghanistan where “28 million people are free” and live in a stable society where democracy rules the land. I suspect Mr. Rumsfeld [...] ...

Musharraf Deports Opponent 2007-09-10 10:41:32 Within hours after arriving home in Pakistan, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif was charged with corruption by the Musharraf government and then placed on a plane and forced to leave Pakistan. The pakistan Supreme Court had ruled Shaif was entitled to return home to Pakistan, but Musharraf fears that Sharif will enter the race for [...] ...

If One Goes, Another Goes In Afghanistan 2007-09-09 19:31:53 Brendan Nelson, Australia’s Defense Minister said if Dutch troops are pulled out of Afghanistan in the coming months it would cause Australia to reconsider its position. “If the Dutch do pull out completely and another partner country is not found, we will not be able to responsibly and safely continue in Oruzgan as we [...] ...

Iranian Leader Denies Intention For Atomic Bomb 2007-09-09 19:11:36 The duel of words about Iran’s drive for an atomic bomb continues with its leader, Seyyed, Ali Khamenei, declaring his nation has not intention of going down the path of atomic weapons. “Although the Iranian nation possesses no atom bomb, nor has any intention to gain access to the deadly weapon, it is a [...] ...

Which Way Russia? 2007-09-09 18:58:06 The looming departure of Putin from the presidency of his country raises questions as to the conduct of relations with Russia. Putin has shown an aggressive stance in retaliation for placement of American missiles in the Czech Republic by resuming flights of long range bomber patrols and he has refused to go along with America’s [...] ...

Right To Privacy Raised In Sweden 2007-09-09 18:39:15 Jan Bjorklund, head of Sweden’s Liberal Party, raised questions as to the amount of knowledge a government should be able to obtain regarding the private lives of its citizens. “the liberal position must be that the individual’s right to a private sphere should be protected.” He agreed there is extensive difficulty in modern society protecting [...] ...

Prime Minister Gordon Brown Wants Immigrant Control 2007-09-09 18:31:17 Prime Minister Gordon Brown promised to tighten controls over immigrants with new requirements for knowing the English language in order to be admitted. His goal is creating 500,000 British jobs for British citizens by reducing the number of immigrants allowed to enter. Currently, only those seeking “high skill” jobs must be conversant in English while [...] ...

Serbia Challenges US Over Kosovo Independence 2007-09-09 18:20:16 The Serbian government issues a strong statement warning the United States that its plan to grant immediate independence to Kosovo could wreck plans for a peaceful solution of the problem. The Serbian government is backed by Russia and argues the United Nations Security Council never insisted on complete independence. Support for Kosovo independence has differing [...] ...

Which Numbers Should Be Counted? 2007-09-09 18:11:00 Rep. Ike Shelton, Chair of the House Armed Services Committee, raised a good question about the upcoming recommendations to be submitted by Petraeus–”What standards should we look at?” In the past week several studies have identified results and made recommendations ranging from remain on course to make changes. The White House claims a decline in [...] ...

General Petraeus– “Dead Flat Wrong” Says Biden 2007-09-09 17:54:42 Senator Joseph Biden, Chair of Foreign Relations Committee, termed the expected recommendations of General Petraeus to maintain current military strategy as “dead flat wrong.” Biden agreed there was some mild change in further security in Baghdad, but the remainder of the nation still witnesses violence and chaos. Senator Kerry joined Biden in arguing the need [...] ...