Month: April 2005

Rumblings in South Ossetia

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There were more protests in South Ossetia earlier today:The authorities of the self-proclaimed republic of South Ossetia on Thursday protested against the continued operation of a Georgian reservist training camp in the community of Dzevera in the Gori district, which is located within the Georgian-South Ossetian conflict zone.

Hopeful Signs in Violent Sudan

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Opposition Leader James Wani Thousands of cheering southern Sudanese staged a boisterous political rally in Khartoum to honour senior former rebel leaders on Monday.Some southerners in traditional dress carried shields and wore ostrich feathers, but most wore urban attire – jeans and T-shirts – at their first rally in the capital in more than two decades.

US May Cut UN Funds

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US votes to reduce UN funding:Reflecting frustration over allegations of UN mismanagement and corruption, the Senate on Wednesday agreed to a Republican-backed measure to reduce the cap on the US share of UN peacekeeping costs to 25% from the current 27.1%.

Viktor!

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A Hero in CongressUkraine President Viktor Yushchenko addresses a joint session of the US Congress at the US Capitol in Washington, DC.

Political Trial in Belarus

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Klimov On Trial for Insulting Remarks Interfax is reporting that the prominent Opposition Leader in Belarus, Andrei Klimov, who is believed to be behind the March 25th protest in Minsk, was put on trial today:Prominent Belarussian opposition member Andrei Klimov has been put on trial for insulting the country’s president.

Poor Little Nazi

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Davids Medienkritik posts an article about “Germany’s Grand Strategy” to repaint themselves as “victims” rather than “oppressors”:Germany has drawn two lessons from its history.

SS Personal Account Advocates

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Supporting Social Security Reform A number of diverse conservative groups ranging from the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council, The Indian American Republican Council, and the Log Cabin Republicans joined together to support “GW” on his Social Security Personal Accounts Initiative:In a joint letter to the U.S.

Hostage Market Arrest

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Romanian-Syrian Businessman Omar Hayssam Authorities have arrested a Romanian-Syrian businessman in connection with the capture of three Romanian journalists:Romanian authorities have arrested a Romanian-Syrian businessman in connection with the kidnapping of three Romanian reporters in Iraq eight days ago.It was not immediately clear if he would face charges or how he was connected to the March 28 abduction of the three journalists, who official sources said were still alive.”Romanian citizen Omar Hayssam was detained,” presidency spokeswoman Adriana Saftoiu told reporters on Tuesday.

Reward for Iraqi WTC Bomber

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World Trade Center Bomber Still Hiding in Iraq This must be a mistake, I thought that there were no terrorists in Iraq?The United States is offering a five-million-dollar reward for a suspected bomb-maker in the 1993 World Trade Center attack who is believed to be hiding out in Iraq, its embassy here said.Abdul Rahman Yasin, a 45-year-old American born to Iraqi parents, is thought to have helped build the bomb that killed six people and injured many more in the February 1993 attack in New York, the embassy said in a statement.

More Than an Actor

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Denzel Takes Some Time with the Troops Here is a great story sent to me about a Hollywood Star and American Hero who is making a difference:Denzel Washington was visiting BAMC (Brooke Army Medical Center, in San Antonio,Texas) the other day.

Major Crisis Over in Kyrgyzstan

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Russian Minister is convinced the crisis is over in Kyrgyzstan: Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said the political crisis is nearly over in Kyrgyzstan, but elements of instability may remain.

MSM Attacks John Paul II's Policy

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The MSM couldn’t hold back after a few days lapsed after Ronald Reagan passed last year, so it is no surprise that they are now starting their attacks on Pope John Paul II and his conservative policy.

Foreign Terrorists Convicted in Iraq

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Five foreign terrorists were convicted in Iraq as reported by Aljazeera (note: they are reported to be “foreign fighters” in this Aljazeera article):Five foreign fighters have been convicted by Iraq’s central criminal court for participating in the armed opposition to the US and its allies in the country.Syrian Anas Muhammad Khalid was sentenced to life in prison after being arrested in Falluja and being convicted of planning to lead attacks against security forces.Another man captured in Falluja, Saudi-born Abd al-Majid Fayad al-Nizza was also given a life term on charges of crossing into Iraq from Syria to fight against the Iraqi government.Syrian citizen Issam Anas Mahmud received a six-year jail sentence for entering Iraq illegally to join the armed fighters.A Libyan, Fath Allah Abd al-Aati al-Rabati, also arrested in Falluja, was sentenced to 15 years in prison for entering Iraq illegally from Syria and having conducted “terrorist actions” against Iraqi security forces.Egyptian Muhammad Hasan Abd al-Aal was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment for having an expired entry visa after he was found with three other fighters in a house with weapons and ammunition.

Dangerous Period in Zimbabwe

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Fears and concerns are mounting in Africa after the Zimbabwe election last week: EVEN if half the allegations made by the MDC of the 31 March elections not being free and fair are true, Zimbabweans must know they are entering a very dangerous period of political instability.The MDC Opposition Party is claiming it won 91 seats instead of the announced 41: The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), Zimbabwe’s main opposition party, has demanded fresh elections under a new constitution saying voting can never be free and fair under the current legislative framework.The MDC said on Sunday it had won 94 seats, rather than the 41 announced by the electoral commission.”As long as we run elections under the same set of conditions, there is no way that elections will be free and fair,” MDC presidential spokesperson William Bango said.”For a new constitutional dispensation to emerge, we require discussions that would get us to arrive at the type of laws that can govern a free and fair playing field.

How to Win Friends

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My guess is that Michael Shiavo did not read the best selling classic, “How to Win Friends and Influence People”.

Saudis Continue to Hold Activists

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Soldiers Prevent an Opposition Rally Saudi officials continue to hold the three imprisoned democracy activists for another 20 days so that the prosecuting attorney’s can continue to work on their case against the three.The trial of Ali al-Dimaini, Abd Allah al-Hamid and Matruk al-Falih, who have been held for more than a year, has been adjourned twice following a similar request by the prosecutor……Dimaini, Hamid and Falih were arrested on 16 March, 2004 on charges of demanding a constitutional monarchy in the ultra-conservative kingdom.The three, whose trial opened last August, are also accused of “using Western terminology” in demanding political reforms.

Pakistan Riot Against Women Runners

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MMA Workers Riot Against Women Racers The men from the political party MMA in Pakistan riot because men are running in the same race as women:A clash between Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) workers and police injured about 25 people including MMA MNA Qazi Hameedullah and several police personnel after MMA workers attacked a mini-marathon organised by the Gujranwala administration on Sunday morning.The clash happened after about 900 MMA workers attacked the participants of the race in protest against women running with men.

Jewish Holy Site Vandalized

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“Allah” on the ‘Wailing Wall’ One of Judaism’s Holiest Sites found vandalized:It is suspected that Arab workers brought in by the Waqf Islamic authority, which controls the Temple Mount, are the culprits.

Akayev to Resign

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Kyrgyzstan Leader to Step DownThe exiled president agrees to exit the office:Askar Akayev has been in exile in Moscow since opponents stormed his offices last month.

NYT Blues

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Forgetting the Other View Powerline notes that the New York Times forgot to call anyone outside of their immediate circle who might like Pope John Paul II before they put this article in print.

Reading the Polls

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Lorie Byrd from Polipundit has a must read post on “how to interpret polls”.

Farewell, El Papa

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A Man for All Seasons In 1979, Pope John Paul II came to the United States.

Gone Fishing

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I will be away for the weekend for a retreat of sorts.