I know right now everybody's mind is on the death of Osama Bin Laden and what it may mean to the war on terror. I'm currently trying to work on a piece on it that will most likely be in the next print issue. However, the world doesn't revolve on one topic alone.
I was looking around online and came across this video from the Guttmacher Institute on the topic of abortion in the U.S. Rather than comment on it, I'll let the video make its own case.
I know this is a polarizing topic and, thus, will moderate comments if I feel it is necessary to do so.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Monday, May 2, 2011
The Death of Osama Bin Laden
Late on Sunday May 1, 2011 President Obama announced that Osama Bin Laden was killed by the U.S. With this act, our reported reason for this country entering into war with Afghanistan has been realized. .
And now the question that I'm sure at lot of people, regardless of political views, are asking tonight. Does this mean that the troops can come home? Remember that the reason Obama's predecessor George W. Bush (a/k/a: Dubya, Shrub, etc) for the war on terror was to get Bin Laden, dead or alive. If Bin Laden is dead, this has been accomplished. However, the government has also shifted rationale for the numerous wars a number of times since 2001 as well as using fear as a selling point. So, while many of us would like this to be the point when the troops can come home, I have a sad feeling that we're going to get another answer to that question.
And now the question that I'm sure at lot of people, regardless of political views, are asking tonight. Does this mean that the troops can come home? Remember that the reason Obama's predecessor George W. Bush (a/k/a: Dubya, Shrub, etc) for the war on terror was to get Bin Laden, dead or alive. If Bin Laden is dead, this has been accomplished. However, the government has also shifted rationale for the numerous wars a number of times since 2001 as well as using fear as a selling point. So, while many of us would like this to be the point when the troops can come home, I have a sad feeling that we're going to get another answer to that question.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
It's Been Awhile
Hey! Sorry I haven't been on here for a while. I've been working a temp job that required temporary relocation. Trying to adjust and the hours et al have meant that I haven't been on here as often as I'd like. I'll try to get back on here more in the future.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Update on Egypt
So far the protests in Egypt have reached their 17th day, going on nearly three weeks in a country ruled for 30 years under emergency laws and fear. While on Monday Vice President Suleiman offered some concessions that seemed to meet the protesters demands, protesters rejected them in part sine it left Mubarak in power and probably more likely because a dictator can change their mind at anytime. Suleiman would also insist that protests must stop even though the regime would continue to rule with Mubarak until September when he claimed he would step down.
This was intended to divide the opponents to Mubarak and try to dilute the protests. Instead, the protests in Tahir Square actually grew with the largest crowd in two weeks taking part. In addition, the country went on strike as workers joined in the protests. Today we hear that the military may be asking Mubarak to step aside and assuming an administrative role.
The question here if Mubarak does step down is what will happen next? The protesters have already worked on some blueprint for a constitution post Mubarak. Whether the military is willing to cede control if they take it remains a question to be asked. Given reports that some in the military have tortured those who protested it's hard to say what will happen next. At this point it's up to the Egyptian people to create a new country after 30 years of a dictatorship. What happens at the protests tomorrow might be a sign of things to come here.
It will be interesting to see how things unfold.
This was intended to divide the opponents to Mubarak and try to dilute the protests. Instead, the protests in Tahir Square actually grew with the largest crowd in two weeks taking part. In addition, the country went on strike as workers joined in the protests. Today we hear that the military may be asking Mubarak to step aside and assuming an administrative role.
The question here if Mubarak does step down is what will happen next? The protesters have already worked on some blueprint for a constitution post Mubarak. Whether the military is willing to cede control if they take it remains a question to be asked. Given reports that some in the military have tortured those who protested it's hard to say what will happen next. At this point it's up to the Egyptian people to create a new country after 30 years of a dictatorship. What happens at the protests tomorrow might be a sign of things to come here.
It will be interesting to see how things unfold.
Saturday, February 5, 2011
DN Special on Egypt
Today Democracy Now broadcast a special two hour show on the uprising/revolution in Egypt. Originally just a stream, it's finally become downloadable. We'll let the program speak for itself. Has a lot of insight here that should be heard.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Egypt, Unrest, Crackdowns, and Possible Blowback
Like many in the Western World I was surprised by the recent uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt. I say Western World mainly because I have a feeling people in those countries had been seeing the signs and the tension building for a long time now. However, given that international news events aren't often covered all that much in the U.S., for many people what has gone down in less than a month comes completely out of left field.
As I said things have likely been building up for a while so imagine the effect that one person vocalizing what a lot of people have felt can have when it goes viral, like this blog did.
Today pro Mubarak forces decided to attack the demonstrators who have been largely nonviolent for the past week since the demonstrations have happened. While there have been some interesting points made about the protestors such as the relatively secular nature of many of them and the increased role of women amongst them (at least before things got violent), the counter protesters and the attackers have had one thing amongst them: they seem to be connected to Mubarak's government in some form.
Sadly this shouldn't be surprising. It has been common in a lot of countries for people to either infiltrate protesters to push people towards violence (or at least have them painted as violent in the media) or act as goon squads to terrorize people into submission. In Egypt some of the arrested looters were found to have police ID cards on them, for example. Granted some people could say said police were simply trying to help themselves given their poverty. However, in a context like this, it's more likely they were intended to give the impression that the protesters were doing all the looting and that Mubarak needed to restore order. In addition, several of the people in today's attacks on the demonstrators were found to have Interior Ministry IDs on them.
At this point it's too early to tell what will happen to Egypt. The simmering unrest has now exploded. Mubarak unleashing force against the demonstrators has pretty much backfired in terms of world opinion. Tensions are high right now and its hard to see what will happen. Mubarak has claimed he intends to stay in power until the September elections but the backlash he faces as a result of the crackdown could possibly speed up the timetable for him to leave the country (even Sen. John McCain has said "Mubarak must go". What does seem apparent is that things have reached a breaking point as the Egyptian people, struggling with high poverty and years of repression, had finally had enough and want an actual role in election and choosing a government that actually represents their interests.
As I said things have likely been building up for a while so imagine the effect that one person vocalizing what a lot of people have felt can have when it goes viral, like this blog did.
Today pro Mubarak forces decided to attack the demonstrators who have been largely nonviolent for the past week since the demonstrations have happened. While there have been some interesting points made about the protestors such as the relatively secular nature of many of them and the increased role of women amongst them (at least before things got violent), the counter protesters and the attackers have had one thing amongst them: they seem to be connected to Mubarak's government in some form.
Sadly this shouldn't be surprising. It has been common in a lot of countries for people to either infiltrate protesters to push people towards violence (or at least have them painted as violent in the media) or act as goon squads to terrorize people into submission. In Egypt some of the arrested looters were found to have police ID cards on them, for example. Granted some people could say said police were simply trying to help themselves given their poverty. However, in a context like this, it's more likely they were intended to give the impression that the protesters were doing all the looting and that Mubarak needed to restore order. In addition, several of the people in today's attacks on the demonstrators were found to have Interior Ministry IDs on them.
At this point it's too early to tell what will happen to Egypt. The simmering unrest has now exploded. Mubarak unleashing force against the demonstrators has pretty much backfired in terms of world opinion. Tensions are high right now and its hard to see what will happen. Mubarak has claimed he intends to stay in power until the September elections but the backlash he faces as a result of the crackdown could possibly speed up the timetable for him to leave the country (even Sen. John McCain has said "Mubarak must go". What does seem apparent is that things have reached a breaking point as the Egyptian people, struggling with high poverty and years of repression, had finally had enough and want an actual role in election and choosing a government that actually represents their interests.
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