Uzbekistan Uses Location as Leverage

"Saying everything is O.K. in Uzbekistan is like saying it's peaceful in Baghdad," said Vasila Innoyatova, a human rights worker in Tashkent, Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan is attempting to cover for gunning down its own citizens exactly three years ago. The government is now allowing the International Committee of the Red Cross to survey its prisons, and has also released human rights advocates that were previously locked up. Changes also involve revisions of the judicial system; this includes eliminating the death penalty and including habeas corpus. Yet there is still denial of rights, the use of torture, and repression of government dissenters.

But western governments are arguing that Uzbekistan may have the political upper hand. When Washington harshly criticized the nation, the country immediately removed the United States from the military base, which was strategic in terms of the war in Afghanistan. Now, the Uzbeks are allowing limited access to a German base at Termez and NATO is allowed to use a railroad for endeavors in Afghanistan. But possible sanctions from the US are now threatening the agreements. The nation is essentially challenging the influence of the Washington, which feels threatened by the leniency of the West in dealing with Uzbekistan, particularly because of its strategic location. But other problems come up—can the US exercise jurisdiction when many of the offenses that Uzbekistan has been criticized for (indefinite detentions, torture, etc), and what the end result will be of sanctions given Uzbekistan’s ability to close of Western powers from strategic locations near Afghanistan. Wisest would be to use another European power to negotiate with Uzbekistan and intervene, rather than the over-stretched American hegemony with it's tarnished reputation.

Grandpa Wen is Hip

Facebook is now home to a figure nicknamed “Granpa Wen,” the Chinese Premier who has become the symbol of grief and relief as he has traveled to many disaster sights after China’s earthquake on May 12th left so many dead and displaced.

Both the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the State Council Press Office both claim they were unaware of the creation of Wen Jiabao’s page, which now has 14,000 supporters after only two weeks, in contrast to President Bush’s 11,700 and Senator Obama’s whopping 862,000 supporters.

Despite the usual appearance of Wen as being cold and distant, his appearance at the Sichuan province, which was severely affected by the earthquake, a rail road station that was disrupted after a storm in January leaving , among other places, has gained the leader a place in the hearts of the Chinese as well as his own facebook site—a tribute to his popularity among younger generations.

SG Ban Acknowledges Myanmar's "Cooperation"

It was with the main goal of speeding up humanitarian relief in Myanmar that United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon met with Myanmar’s junta leaders. Myanmar’s corruption on various levels escaped critique; discussions of the detainment of a pro-democracy leader, improper voting procedures during the latest election, and human rights abuses were not mentioned. This was a bargaining tactic that the Secretary General was ready to play as he ultimately concluded the talks with dozens of visas for UN relief workers.

It was with the with the two to three million displaced and now homeless individuals in Myanmar that Ban had in mind when he avoided talks on politics that he felt would only make the leader of Myanmar unwilling to communicate or accept aid. While some believe that this was an opportunity to put pressure on the government, others say it was a smart more. The Secretary General also left before the second round of voting on a constituional referendum that would give the military junta further control over he government and its people in order to avoid the image that he was in any way supportive. Although Ban expressed his disappointment at not being able to address other problems, he did ackowledge the “new spirit of cooperation.” It is indeed a rare showing of what is now considered “cooperation,” with at least some humanitarian aid trickling in. In my own opinion, it is absolutely necessary to cater to the needs of people, especially in such a dire situation. The government has been a source of problems for years, but it's time for the international community to be committed to the "now" when the people of Myanmar continue to suffer.

Lenience in Cluster Bomb Treaty

Diplomats from 100 nations assembled in Dublin, Ireland to agree upon the prohibition of clustorbombs and agreed upon the decision to call for the complete destruction of stockpiles within the next eight years. Despite the large number of nations represented at the talks, the six greatest producers and users of cluster bombs were not present; the United States, Russia, China, Israel, India, and Pakistan.

Despite the widely understood inhumane consequences of the use of cluster bombs, the remain an integral weapon to the United States. During operations, bombs are released in groups that are supposed to detonate simultaneously over a large area—yet some of the bombs do not detonate and are left for innocent by-passers—sometimes farmers or even curious children that get near enough and cause them to detonate. While the US strongly opposed the treaty, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown was strongly supportive and displayed Britain’s willingness to sacrifice its two cluster munitions.

The treaty further defined cluster bombs and set certain specifications on new designs that provided a certain amount of bomblets allotted and the minimum weight—this is in the hopes that new weaponry will detonate properly.

The ban is considerably lenient for political reason—while such treaties often require that signatories not cooperate with non-signatories, NATO felt that this would make peacekeeping operations too complicated. It is a beautiful example of realism at its best, it is evident that nations are really acting in their own interest and sometimes this does not take into consideration civilian lives. It is also an example of the short-comings of international order; some things just can't be done without the super powers.
[treaty text available here]

Candidates Agree On One Thing

All three potential candidates for the presidency have been able to agree on one thing—accusing the Sudanese government of “atrocities against civilians in Darfur.” Senator Barack Obama, Senator Hillary Clinton, and Senator John McCain signed a statement by the Save Darfur Coalition that was showing the New York Times this week. The ad in the NTY recognizes the ongoing conflict in Sudan as”genocide” and calls for an end to the violence.

Yet the statement is currently merely symbolic, as none of the candidates are yet in the position to make a decision regarding any sort of intervention or aid. The purpose is arguably to pressure the Sudanese government of Omar Hassan el-Bashir to make a visible effort to end the conflict. Yet while much of the violence is generated and perpetuated by the government, mere pressure may make no difference at this point.

So who will take care of this violence? Mr. McCaine with his plan of staying in Iraq for the next 100 years may not have the resources with a perpetuated was to be probing in Africa. I think we can have some hope for Obama, who is hoping to end the disastrous war in Iraq and then put in some time to save Darfur. But the question is exactly why Iraq was put higher on the priority list than Sudan in the first place.

Taiwan and China Agree to Meetings

After almost sixty years, China is still unable to let go of Taiwan despite overwhelming international recognition of Taiwan’s sovereignty. Yet after ongoing clashes, the Chinese government has now opened up talks with Taiwan. Although dialogue is no yet set, the Chinese President Hu Jintao has expressed his interest in holding talks “as early as possible,” a sign that China and Taiwan could at least have a healthier relationship. Many feel that these talks should address the topic of commute between Taiwan and China, in light of current restrictions on travel that require office approval for traveling to Taiwan from China.

In a gesture of good will, President Hu offered Tawian ruling Kuamintang Party Chairan Wu Poh-hsiung the opportunity to attend the upcoming Beijing Olympics, which Wu accepted. This controversial offer now involves a Taiwanese government official attending an event that caused protests around the world in relation to China’s controversial treatment of Taiwan.

The meeting between Hu and Wu comes soon after the May 20th inauguration of Ma Yin-jeou as Taiwan’s new president, who is being more cautious about perusing independence than the previous president, Chen Shui-bian. While he does not seek complete independence, he is pushing for closer economic ties—particularly smart in a time where China’s economy is booming and there is more to be gained than lost.

IAEA/Security Council Still Suspicious of Iran

Despite current charges of non-cooperation, Iran was originally cooperative with the IAEA and weapons inspectors, even past the requirements of the non-proliferation treaty in allowing inspectors to go to military sites and take snap inspections. It is not as though Iran has completely eliminated access to its facilities, but while it allowed short-notice intrusive inspections of the facilities prior to 2006 (which is not required under the NPT) after being reported to the Security Council in 2006 it only cooperates in regards to its obligations.

Yet after harsh sanctions imposed by the Security Council, Iran has less incentive to allow inspectors into the country. "We recommend them not to clandestinely keep passing Iran's nuclear dossier between the IAEA and 5-plus-1 group. This parliament won't allow such deception," said Ali Larjiani, chief Iran negotiator that was recently appointed to be parliament speaker. The 5-plus-1 group is a reference to the Security Council plus Germany, which has taken upon itself the task of punishing Iran from noncompliance. The Security Council generally creates resolutions that can be implemented and deals with issues of global security and pressing regional concerns. Iran, however, feels that the secret information passed between the IAEA and the Security Council lacks substance and that the conjoining of the two organizations is an unfair treatment of Iran.

Iran has been engaged in enriching uranium, a process that can either be used for electricity and general energy or for the production of nuclear weapons. While the international community continues to inspect and research into the possibility of nuclear weapons in Iran, the nation is becoming more hostile to foreign intrusion.


The threat of sanctions in 2008

Sectarian Rivalry in Iraqi Government

While Sunni Muslims previously dominated the government in Iraq in governing over a largely Shiite population, the government is now overwhelmingly Shiite due to the intervention the United States. While the government is perhaps more representative than it was previously, the Shiite government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki is now refusing to give the Sunni political bloc any of the requested positions in cabinet.

This new polar shift in governing has put the Shiite majority, which was suppressed under the rule of Saddam Hussein, in a very powerful position. A position that the Sunni party Tawafiq claims is now responsible for the killing of thousands of Sunnis in Baghdad.

With the recent refusal of political seats, the Sunni party is now in limbo and reconsidering negotiations, with a possibility of continuing the yearlong boycott. As in any democracy, it can be very useful to have a coalition government of sorts, especially when governing over a people that have previously been susceptible to sectarian violence. While we have previously seen an unfairly Sunni dominated government, the current government is overwhelmingly Shiite and seemingly unwilling to offer seats to a Sunni party. While on governmental problem has been solved, it has created another because of a backlash of historical persecution. The "exportation" of democracy has not been as successful as it would seem. You cannot simply remove a traditionally ruling group from government without ensuring their own representation.

Former Spokesman Accuses Admin of Propaganda

“One of these days, he and I are going to be rocking in chairs in Texas talking about the good old days of his time as the press secretary. And I can assure you, I will feel the same way then that I feel now, that I can say to Scott, job well done.” President Bush

An invitation to the Bush farm is the kindest reward a president can offer a past employee. But this chair-rocking can now be converted into bitter memories, as the very same individual that comment was directed at has decided to reveal his experiences with the government.

Once a spokesman for the Bush administration, Scott McClellan is now dishing out the behind the scenes facts on government propaganda during times of mobilizing the American people for war. In his 341 page book, soon to be released, McClellan claims he will reveal inside details on the inner workings of the government, including foul-play in the case of CIA agent Valerie Plame and her identity leakage to the media.

Critics are beginning to attack the book and it’s credibility before it has been published; CNN contributer Frances Townsend first critized McClellan for not being more vocal about his opinions on policies while working for the administration. He also said the book sounded like it was written by a “left-wing blogger” rather than a former colleague—ouch, as a blogger, I’m hurt. But anything left-wing would be criticized simply because the current administration is right-wing. And any government official would dismiss the book as incredible. It is therefore up to political analysts, and ultimately the readers, to distinguish between truth and lies.
It is a recurring theme that many individuals on the political scene are discrediting McClellan before critiquing the information, just this should make the public suspicious--if politicians are unwilling to address the information provided McClellan and more willing to tear him up, we should be worried.

Missing the Point Again

While Hillary has mistakenly claimed she dodged sniper bullets during a visit to a turbulent part of Europe, Obama claimed that his uncle (veteran of World War II) had liberated the Auschwitz concentration camp during service. What Obama did indeed mean was that his great uncle liberated concentration camps at Buchenwald, as it was the Soviets that liberated Auschwitz in 1945, not the Americans. This was, however, mentioned in the context of aiding veterans. Apparently this mistake is enough to solicit the following comment from Republican National Committee spokesman Alex Conant; Obama’s comments "raise questions about his judgment and his readiness to lead as commander in chief." Personally, I see no “judgment” problems, but rather a case of severe pressure on a democratic nominee at the end of a bitter democratic battle—pressure, which the McCain campaign has not needed to withstand.

Flukes aside, Obama meant to address the lack of proper care for veterans, particularly in reference to his great uncle who suffered from post-traumatic stress syndrome upon returning from service after World War II. Memorial Day became an opportunity for Obama to share his family’s service in the American military, even if this did mistake one concentration camp for another—point one: the veterans need to be better taken care of, point two: there is a history of honorable service.

American Hegemony Under Amnesty Criticism

In a 300-page critic of human rights violations across the globe (view full report here), the United States gained considerable space, specifically in regards to the detention of suspected terrorists. In a time when the US attempts to assert its hegemony, Amnesty International argues that it is not setting an appropriate example—the indefinite detention of detainees, the use of torture, and the inhumane living conditions in Guantanamo gained the US a lot of attention this year. The report also took note of the abnormally high civilian deaths in both Iraq and Afghanistan and the high level of displacement as a result of the ongoing conflicts. While the US has argued it would close Guantanamo, the findings of Amnesty show that the US has not yet responded to international criticism in regards to human rights abuses, and while the US continues to advocate human rights and liberty abroad, it is unable to set an example domestically.

Along with the US, China and Russia also received strong criticism. China was criticized for media censorship and specifically it’s inappropriate dealings and repression of the Tibetan population that is protesting for its own independence. Additionally, in 2007 a large number of human rights activists were either imprisoned or harassed in China. Russia’s repression of it’s own political dissenters was not overlooked either as Amnesty commented on the regime’s intolerance and dubbing of dissenters as “unpatriotic.”

Overall statistics showed that 81 countries subjected prisoners to torture, 54 countries practiced unfair trials, and 77 countries did not allow proper freedom of expression.

Sarcotoxication Makes the French Swoon

“I'm very worried. Sunday, at the Louvre, I asked a guard where to find the room of Egyptian Sarkozycophages.”

As the French continue to document every fluctuation of his private and public life, an unhealthy obsession with the current French President Nicolas Sarkozy has developed. The condition has been dubbed “obsessive Sarkosis” by practicing psychiatrist Serge Hefez after so many of his patients spoke of Sarkozy during consultations. It is a manifestation of a citizen’s own persona, a reflection of the individual because Sarkozy represents things that many people identify with—narcissism, self-obsession, and a love for the finer things in life.

Yet these are negative enough to deflect the love of his citizens. While the French were initially infatuated with the stylish Sarkozy when he took office, his recent marriage to model/pop star Carla has made the French feel abandoned, neglected. Carla herself is a mirror image of her husband—self-obsessed and chic. The passion that once made him loved has now made him look informal, flaky and in love with a woman other than the general French public. The president is now resorting to toning down the blingage and appearing more formally and less frequently. Translated into politics, the revelation of the president’s private life as he cavorts around the French countryside with his new love is causing a distrust of the head politician and brings up questions of professionalism as the very same person that is featured on the front page of newspapers is also featured in the tabloids.

Everyone's Talkin About It

"We all remember Bobby Kennedy was assassinated in June in California."

Clinton’s refusal to drop out of the race is now bordering on embarrassment. Her excuse? "We all remember Bobby Kennedy was assassinated in June in California." … Is she equating this fate with that of Obama? Some commentators have labeled the assassination comment as “tasteless” and “ghoulish,” but Clinton aides claim that the point was still legitimate in referring to the lengths of past campaigns and criticized the New York Times article on Saturday “She Said WHAT?” for blowing the comment out of proportion. Clinton also added that her husband did not win the nomination until mid-June. But still, come on now, did she really have to refer to an assassination to make a point? It's the end of the line, she put a good fight, but Obama's chance at winning the race against McCain is being damaged by another Democrat--not a Republican.

Although polls taken of white voters and their preference between Obama or Clinton v. McCain showed that Obama lagged behind Clinton, overall voting polls showed that Obama would tie with McCain. In terms of wrapping up the democratic nomination, Obama currently has 1,974 super-delegates and pledged delegates to Clinton’s 1,799 with a goal of 2,026 to win the nomination. That said, Obama’s chief strategist has predicted that Obama will be nominated as the democratic presidential contestant by the first week of June.

Gujjar Protest for Lower Caste

The caste system of India orders individuals according to social class—and sometimes moving down on the ladder is more beneficial than moving up. For the nomadic shepherds (the Gujjar), being classified lower on the list by the government means additional benefits, yet the government is stalling on classifying this group of people as a lower-caste group, causing riots to break out in Rajasthan. As a result, tourists in the city of Jaipur and Agra are trapped because of blocked roads as part of the protests. Access to the city is also being curbed, as protesters have sabotaged the railroad tracks.

The Gujjar-led protests began a year ago and resulted in the deaths of 20 individuals during the first round of demonstrations. In the past 48 hours an addition 20 individuals have been killed as police have fired into protesting crowds. The protests reveal serious political issues; the refusal of the government to address the caste system and the inability of the government to devise a system in which groups do not strive to be of the lower-caste, but to improve their status. While the world swears that India's economy is booming, no one can overlook the reality that a vast portion of the population is not benefitting from the generation of wealth. Not everyone in India is dancing in Bollywood.

McCain Accuses Obama of Diplomacy...An Insult?

Senator McCain’s policy of no-negotiation, no-communication with Iran is contrasted with Senator Obama’s affinity towards negotiation and communication. McCain has therefore blasted Obama for his willingness to hold talks with Iran, saying, “Such a statement betrays the depth of Senator Obama’s inexperience and reckless judgment” and calling his stance on diplomatic communication “serious deficiencies for an American president to posses.”

In contrast, Obama has likened his will to communicate with Iran to Ronald Reagan and John F. Kennedy’s move to communicate with the Soviet Union during the Cold War, and at the same time expressed his opinion that Iran does not currently pose as big of a threat as the Soviet Union did during that period of time. Obama also warned that the Bush-McCain war policy in Iraq would eventually make Iran stronger, not weaker. Earlier, McCain had accused Obama of supporting unconditional talks with Hamas, while Obama says he would be open towards communication if Hamas stops calling for Israel’s destruction.

In terms of foreign policy, the American population will likely have to choose between a candidate that is willing to diplomatically engage in solving conflict through communication, and one that does not believe in diplomacy as a way of solving conflict. The American public will essentially have to decide whether they want a continuation of the Bush administration or a new administration that has the potential to resolve foreign problems comprehensively.

Venezuela Calls U.S. Mishap a “Provocation”

On a counter-narcotics mission, the Navy S-3 Viking was detected by the Venezuelan crossing into Venezuelan airspace. The United States has dismissed this as a mere accident due to “intermittent navigational problems” during a training mission and claimed that there were alleged communication problems during the radio conversation between the crew and Venezuelan officials. The Venezuelan government is inclined to suspect more political reasons and view the incident as a provocation.

Tensions between Venezuela and the United states are long standing and intensifying as only days ago Foreign Minister Maduro accused Colombian troops of crossing the border into Venezuela on Friday until they were asked to leave by Venezuelan troops—the incident occurred again on Monday. Despite claims by the government that the mishap was a result of a navigational error, the Venezuelan Foreign Minister Maduro is calling for a talk with US Ambassador Patrick Duddy in which they will “ask for an explanations,” on more serious terms.

Gay Marriage Legalized-Dissenters Plot and Plan

Straying from its reputation of being cautious and conservative, the predominantly Republican court did something slightly out of character and made history. The California Supreme Court declared any laws that discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation equal to discrimination based on race or gender.

But the issue has a chance of being overturned in a predicted November ballot that would allow voting for amending the state Constitution to prohibit same-sex marriages, and thus annul the court’s decision. It took mere minutes after the decision for the campaigners to become vocal about the November ballot. But even California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger did not denounce the court ruling, he even went as far as saying he “will not support an amendment to the constitution that would overturn” the ruling, despite the fact that he had earlier vetoed two bills that would legalize gay marriage.

The question is now whether California voters are willing to vote for such an amendment to the Constitution—in 2000 61% of voters supported Proposition 22, in which California only recognized marriage between a man and a woman. Another issue that is raised is the question of a family and a gay couple’s right to “enjoy dignity equal to that of opposite-sex couples” as Chief Justice Ronald M. George stated and this court ruling may provide precedent for such a plea.

Loses Making Republicans Desperate

A congressional contest in Missisipi resulted in a loss for the Republicans and sent then on a new route to take distance from the current president. The winner, Travis Childers a conservative Democrat had earlier been linked to an Obama add, and Republicans are now desperate to try to link their own congressional candidates to John McCain rather than President Bush. The Republicans currently have much at risk—as much as 20 seats in the House and six in the Senate. While many say that Missisipi was running critiques of Obama, the Republicans are trying to blame the win on an unfair link of the conservative Democrats to Obama as well as a high turn-out in African American votes.

With three consecutive Republican losses, Republicans are foreshadowing that this will hurt McCain’s chances in the upcoming election. Advisors of McCain are now saying that he will attempt to distinguish himself from both the President and the Congress in which he has served since 1983. It is likely that he will instead focus on criticizing the very same Congress and its excessive spending and resort to diverting the attention to environmental solutions.

Kenyan Farmers Return With Minimal Governmental Aid

The Kenyan government is urging hundreds of thousands of farmers to return to their land—from which militias initially drove them. But now there are other worries; all their belongings are gone and the government has left them with only a few blankets, temporary armed escorts, and seeds—but no fertilizer, which has recently tripled in price. The global food crisis has resulted in a 30 percent increase in the cost of corn, and with the high cost of fertilizer, farmers are, on average, only able to use approximately half of the land. In total, at least a third of Kenya’s available farmland remains unused.

There is a conflicting concept in the idea of farmers returning—on the one hand, the community understands that the reconciliation process will take longer than expected, on the other, it is necessary to get these farmers back onto their farms in order to have food for the coming year. In addition, it is now late in the season to plant many of the popular crops, and even so, many have no homes to return to, as they were burned down by the militia and hostile neighbors. Furthermore, those returning with some government aid are being perceived as favored by the government, yet another reason for the attackers to incite more hostility. Despite returning to their homelands and familiar neighborhoods, many farmers are not being greeted as neighbors, but rather, as ethnic rivals.

Pakistan: Instability May Lead to Power Seizure

Barely three months after rival factions formed a coalition to oust President Pervez Musharraf from office, the Pakistan Muslim League-N party has left the cabinet and all federal posts due to disputes over the 60 judges who were fired under the military rule of Musharraf in November. The leader of League-N, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, has declared that his party will stay in Parliament because they “do not want to destabilize the democratic process” despite their protests. Sharif’s party has strong popular support, as many of the Pakistani people have demonstrated their wish for the re-reinstatement of the judges through public protests.

Yet many view this judicial question as rather trivial, given the other political battles that the government is fighting—including battling extremists and boosting the declining economy. Yet the split has helped to outline the corruption of state officials—while some are calling for the restoration of the original judicial line-up, those who support Musharraf are favoring the new judge line-up. And the political break-down is possibly giving leeway for the unpopular president to reassert his power, as he did in November when a court threatened his rule in a case that was to decide the legality of his presidency.

Millions Suffer Under Global Food Crisis

Approximately 100 million people are currently afflicted by the heightening food prices—even those that would have gotten by the crisis six months ago, are now in fear of starvation. The prices are now at their highest levels since 1945 and are causing turmoil throughout the world—mass starvation and rioting are causing global instability. As it stands, at least 25,000 people die per day from hunger, and as prices for basic foods, such as rice, wheat, and corn continue to increase, there seems to be no end in sight.

The increase is being caused by the a combination of factors; an increase in fuel prices, droughts in main food-producing countries, increasing dependency on China and India as food sources (among other things) and the use of some crops to produce biofuels.

As an effort to reach out to developing countries, Prime Minister Gordon Brown has pledged $60 million to the World Food Program in the form of emergency aid. The United States, which accounts for half of the world’s food donations, has promised $200 million. At the moment, $755 million is needed to meet the needs of the WFP. Despite the large amount of foreign aid needed, it remains to be seen how a sustainable difference can be made.

Serbs Choose the West

The idea of “past versus future” has resonated amongst the Serbs, as they recently chose President Boris Tadic’s pro-Western party in parliamentary elections—indicating a wish to move forward, rather than backward. Even nationalistic Serbs that many expected to vote for Kostunica’s radical party, mainly in favor of looking towards Russia as an ally, voted in favor of a pro-western party in order to increase connections with the European Union. Although there is still a chance that the nationalists (at 28% of votes) could cooperate in a coalition with Kostunica’s Democratic Party (at 11%) to form a majority, it is more likely that Tadic’s Western party (39%) will create a minority administration or a coalition with other minor parties.

Since Tadic came into presidential office in January, he has worked with the EU to reduce restrictions on Serbs wishing to travel to EU countries. But the oppositional Kostunica party has labeled Tadic a “traitor” in not holding on to Kosovo more tightly—a condition that Tadic does not feel is worth forfeiting closer ties with the EU. Yet in reference to keeping Kosovo as part of Serbia, Tadic maintains “We will continue to fight that diplomatically.”

Elections in the Midst of a Humanitarian Crisis

An estimated 1.5 million victims of the May 3rd cyclone in Myanmar are being denied relief by the government, which has up till recently been denying any foreign in combating a catastrophe that the government clearly has no resources, or will, to resolve. The problem begins with recognition of the gravity of the situation; the UN is estimating that deaths could range from 64,000 to 220,000, while state-run Myanmar TV is claiming that approximately 28,500 individuals had died and that 33,400 were missing. And while countries and non-state organizations are offering aid, the government is barely letting any of the donations reach the victims of the storm.

While Myanmar is letting humanitarian aid trickle in, the government’s focuses are elsewhere—on a constitutional referendum that would allow the reigning government to lengthen its rule. But many Myanmar residents are saying that the military junta is using propaganda to coax its citizens to vote. Elections are primarily being held in non-affected areas of Myanmar, and refugees from the storm are even being evacuated from shelter areas such as schools in order to use them as polling places.

So what exactly does this important referendum entail? Although it stipulates that it would allow for mulitparty elections and civilian-led government, the military would gain 25 percent of the parliamentary seats, control of vital governmental ministries and the ability to seize control in case of “emergency” situations…such as a massive storm claiming the lives of thousands of its citizens? Hopefully so.

Flaws or Wiseness in European Security?

As German Prime-Minister Angela Merkel presents her proposal for a national security doctrine, the rest of Europe, even her very own coalition partners, are rather reluctant. The fear is that the chancellery would come to resemble the White House: where national security overrides and undermines institutions and individual rights.

Simultaneously, the European Union is whipping out its old 2003 collective security doctrine for some revamping. While the EU was said to be created after the Second World War to prevent European states from fighting each other, the idea of collective security was put on the sidelines during the Cold War, in which the United States dominated the security scene. With that historical background, the EU is trying to distinguish itself from the US, which uses its military might as a representation for power status. Instead, the EU is satisfied with providing money to under-poverished nations, providing soldiers to protect refugees, and overseeing elections.

While the EU attempts to set itself apart from the US, the US is pressing Europe to become ‘stronger.’ In light of the lengthening endeavors in Afghanistan and Iraq, the US is in need of a stronger network of nations in Europe to compensate for the reconstruction that is still necessary in those regions.

East v. West: Serbia's Radical Divide

"They are asking us to give up Kosovo. They are asking us to give up what we are. They say it is good for Serbia, but it is a lie."
-Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica

Serbian voters are facing a tough decision in the upcoming presidential elections—the theme: the west versus the east. While Prime Minister Kostunica was the leader in overthrowing the infamous Slobodan Milosovec in 2000, his national rhetoric is now becoming edgier, forcing Serbs to choose between Kostunica, with his pro-east alliances and isolation from the west, and current President Boris Tadic’s wish to have friendly relations with the west and the EU.

Running off the idea of retaining Kosovo within the Serbian state, Kostunica is emphasizing nationalism and opposing the integration of Serbia into the European Union if Kosovo is allowed to legally secede. Using this tactic, Kostunica is appealing to those with strong feelings for the Kosovo, which has historical and emotional value for many in the country. But many feel this strong affinity towards Kosovo could result in isolation and a regression of Serbia into the past in a time where many nations recognize the sovereignty of Kosovo. The Liberal Serbs now fear a coalition developing between Kostunica’s party and the far-right Radical Party—whose founder is presently facing trail in The Hague for war crimes.

Civil-Disobedience in Beirut

Hezbollah has changed its role from purely political in combating Israel occupation, to rather social in arguing for the rights of workers in Beirut. Despite an increase by the Lebanese Cabinet from $200 to $330 a month, workers are still unhappy with the surge in light of the rising food prices. Through an alliance between Labor union members and anti-government Hezbollah supporters, all activity in Beirut was dedicated to avoiding the chaos in the streets. After rising violence, the General Labor Confederation managed to call off and reschedule the strike.

Relating Hezbollah supporters to gangs, Sheikh Mohammed Rashid Qabbani, Lebanon’s highest Sunni spiritual authority said the following “"This strike is turning into a [civil] disobedience and an invasion to the streets of Beirut, carried out by militant gangs.” Lebanon has faced enduring struggles between the Shiite and Sunni factions, manifested in sectarian violence that has now taken on a political undertone.

The country is currently in political limbo after Lebanese President Emil Lahoud resigned from his position without a successor. Instead, Prime Minister Fouad Siniora has been leading the country. With the backing of the US, the Prime Minister sets the scene for hostility between the Iran and Syria backed Hezbollah political organization, which is currently manifesting itself in the current wage protests.

Putin Scratches Medvedev’s Back, Medvedev Scratches His.

The annual May 9th Russian military parade held particular symbolic weight this year as it seemed to point to Putin’s revival of the Russian Armed Forces and an increase in general Russian nationalism from his eight years in office as president. This year, however, it was Dmitry Medvedev who took over the office of President, as Putin switched roles to become Prime Minister. While initially Putin intiatilly supported Medvedev while he served as Deputy Prime Minister (not to mention that he served as Putin’s Chief of Staff), Medvedev in turn nominated Putin as Prime Minister.

The Red Square was flooded with people and colors and heavy armor and missiles paraded through the streets of Moscow at a cost that was estimated by the Moscow daily Moskovsi Komsomolets to be able to pay for 25 new nursery schools. Yet despite the fact that the parade was an opportunity to show the presence of the new president, it was Putin who dominated camera time—perhaps a habit from the past three years, or maybe a tribute to the belief that Putin will continue to be the driving force behind government policy.

With over 70%, Medvedev won a clear majority and was inaugurated on Wednesday, but outside monitors have criticized the election as unfair, criticizing the Kremlin of intimidating any opposition. But despite the fact that presidential power in Russia has expanded drastically in recent years under Putin, the new Prime Minister Putin himself recently said, “The Cabinet, headed by the Prime Minister, is the highest executive authority in the country.” While there may be a new leader, the power shifts with the individual, not with the office.

Malaysia Attempts to Codify Gender Discrimination

Women traveling from Malaysia must now carry documents, approved by their parents or employers, stipulating reasons for travel. In response to the overseas arrest of several women over the years for drug smuggling, the Malaysian government has crafted a rule that applies specifically to women.

This new proposal seems to have taken its inspiration from statistics that say 90% of the 119 Malaysians in prisons worldwide were incarcerated for drug-related crimes. Under the pretext of attending conferences or studying abroad, some women have taken to the drug trade as a source of income. In response, this form of ‘Big Brother’ government oversight will make sure that the government knows where and why females are leaving the country.

The proposal seems to lack criticism or measures for men, who are also susceptible to being duped. Instead, the proposal is being questioned as being indicative of a mistrust of women in making their own decisions. Council Deputy President Farideh Khalid of the National Council for Women’s Organizations was quoted as saying “It is totally ridiculous and it’s a totally regressive proposal with regards to women’s right to movement.”

The government is defending the legislation by calling it an anti-crime measure that starts in the home-land and serves of protect women, but many feel that this form of documentation and approval for adult women will simply be an infringement of rights and not an effective measure against over-seas drug crime.

Cracking Crack Cocaine Laws

Under a new law that amends the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986, crack cocaine criminals are to get more lenient sentences. After over twenty years of criticism, the law, which has largely hurt African Americans, is to decrease the disparity between crack cocaine sentencing and powder cocaine sentencing from a 100:1 ratio to a 20:1 ratio. Approximately 20,000 crack convicts nationwide are to be affected by the new change, but not all petitioners have been granted legal council.

While the Central District of California is making sure each individual affected by the change in law knows about their rights, other districts are less generous in affording legal council. District Judges, who are the only authority for granting a defense attorney to convicts, are saying ‘no’ to some or all of their petitioners. They feel that a retrial or reconsideration of the case is so straightforward that legal council for the defense is not required. Instead, convicts with minimal education are left to argue their own cases against prosecution attorney with long and meticulous briefs. While the government automatically has the right to counsel, some convicts are being denied their own right to defenders in cases that can take years off their sentences.

Opposition to the new decrease in sentences for crack cocaine convicts is coming from the Bush Administration, which claims that the law will allow for “violent criminals” to escape onto the streets, while in reality, the law first allows for retrial and new sentencing at the discretion of certified judges—which in most cases can merely shorten, not eliminate sentencing. This comment can indicate nothing other than distrust of the judicial system. These "violent criminals" are indeed not violent at all, they are just victims of a law that has had unfair consequences, a law which many legal experts have been calling racist for years.

Iran Warns Population Against Barbies

In an attempt to curb what is considered a western cultural influence, Prosecutor General Ghorban Ali Dori Najafabadi strongly criticized the Barbie as an immoral western influence on the minds of Iranian children. Although not outlawed, the government is strongly urging Iranians not to invest in the toy. The initial problems with the mini-skirt sporting Barbie began in 2002, when Iran created a new version of Barbie and Ken; Sara and Dara, wearing modest clothing and promoting family ideas. But the new and improved Iranian version has been unable to curb the influx of the original Barbie.

For similar reasons, Saudi Arabia banned the sale of Barbies in the kingdom in 2003. For other Middle Eastern countries, the “Fulla” was crafted as an alternative, instead wearing culturally acceptable clothing and advising culturally acceptable morals specific to the countries it was sold in.

The Barbie, which in past years (even in the United States) has been seen as an influential toy on the development of young girl’s perceptions of the perfect individual as tall, skinny, and pretty, has in Iran become a symbol of Western influence. As Najafabadi explains "Undoubtedly, the personality and identity of the new generation and our children, as a result of unrestricted importation of toys, has been put at risk and caused irreparable damages," as the toy, among others, brings Western culture to a country which struggles to hold on to its own cultural and religious identity during a period of globalization.