Don't have kids.

So might be off the political topic but this does deal with the media. Teen queen Miley Cyrus, of Disney's Hanna Montana fame, recently posed for the fashion/politics magazine Vanity Fair. The photos which linked at the bottom show a 15 year old in very artful, tasteful, picture photo. Her shoulders and back being the most exposed part of the girls body are not remotely vulgar. All these helicopter parents that allow their kids to watch her show on Disney are flipping out over the exploitation of this "little girl", piss off you idiots. First the photos are in Vanity Fair, how many kids watch Hanna Montana and read Vanity Fair, none, the only way kids are going to see these pictures is from their parents, either reading the magazine, or looking for the pictures on the Internet. A journalist for gwaker.com even went as far as comparing the 58 year old lesbian photographer (Annie Lebivoitz) who took the photos as a pedophile, allow the she is renowned for her artful pictures, I can't believe this hate monger didn't caller her "child touching Jew". These over bearing parents that try to filter everything out of their children's lives need to step back and let the world happen. Let their kids get into trouble, bullied...live! Babying these kids step by step through life will not lead to a strong adult.

http://gawker.com/384694/how-vanity-fair-groomed-miley-cyrus Homophob wacko.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24357541/ Overbearing adults.

Thanks for the bones W.

Most of Americans already know if they are recieving the 600 bones that King George is handing out in an effort to stimluate the US economy and steer it away from recession. The BBC asked Americans who were recieving the money to discuss what they were going to do with their new found riches, most are planning on saving it or putting it towards bills, neither of which will save us from recession. I'm sure their are plenty of conservatives (uneducated people) just raving about how great of a president Bush is just giving them money. Two of the people who discussed spending their money spoke of traveling, yet both were abroad, and depedning on which airline they use, will not help the States. Great idea Georgie, I just love it as a poor college kid, mine will pay two months rent, which will go to my landlord and hopefully he can spend it on some wondeful things to help boost the economy.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7371815.stm BBC Asks Yankees.

Christian Terrorists.

Recently a town formed mainly by a group of fundamentalist Christians was raided by law enforcement for alleged child abuse. Almost 500 children have been removed from the Christian compound and put in to social services to determine if they were sexually abused, which in many cases girls under the age of 18 were pregnant or already mothers. In the media the church is more commonly referred to as a Mormon Church, or the Fundamentalist Church of Latter Day-Saints, which is the technical term. But it seems the media doesn't want to acknowledge that this is a christian church, the fourth largest denomination of Christianity to be exact. We continually hear of fundamentalist Muslims "terrorising" the world, yet here in the US we seem to ignore this fundamentalist sect of Christians terrorising American kids. I understand that they are Mormons and they are recognized as Mormons, but how often does the media say a group of Shia, Sunni, Kharijite, Sufi Muslims participated in terrorism, never, simply Muslims. The dominate religion in the US is Christianity, no secret, and the majority of Mormons are separated from the FDLS, the majority of Muslims are separate from the fundamentalist Muslims of the world. I realize that the general public is uneducated and to ignorant to realize that it's a extreme group of Muslims, not all Muslims, it's just easier to believe all Muslims are bad. People not believe in religious tolerance are the uneducated believing that the US is founded on Christianity so it makes it a christian country. These people are morons, not Mormons, yet both Christians.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7372485.stm Nutty Right-Wing Mormons.

Bad Bad Barbie.

Through-out my posts I have continually bashed American foreign policy, and defended numerous nations pursuit of individuality, specifically Iran. As much as this may seem to be unpatriotic, I just feel the US is able to better the world in better ways than enforcing it's will and flexing it's muscles towards other nations that don't agree with it. With that said I do applaud the US on their continual support of freedom of speech, press, everything that allows politics and individuality to challenge the state by the people. Iran recently banned toys such as Barbie, Harry Potter, Batman, saying these toys reflect poorly on the Muslim beliefs, for example Barbie's lack of clothes and Iran's law requiring women to be completely covered. The cleric ruled state should be pushed on allowing freedom of dress to the people, specifically women. I often wonder what quartering is like for young college aged students like myself in the female repressive country. We live in socially conservative South Dakota, the women are still very strong willed and dress in a way to reflect their physical attributes, I wouldn't know how to go about strikingup conversation, or quartering an Iranian girl, it seems they would all be the same subordinate women in public fearful of the repercussions of speaking to a man. Lets stop forcing people to adopt nuclear conssesions and focus more on what people are wearing, consumerism after all is America's gift to the world.

Not over til it's over.

It's been months since we've been blogging on politics and media, and I am still blogging about the same thing, even in a presidentail election year. I'm so sick of hearing why Obama can't "close the deal", I'm not sure if I will vote for Obama or Hilary, I just want a democrat that can beat out McCain and Hilary has been taking the important states needed to win during the general election. Yet this continualy gets ingnored in favor of how many states the candidates have won in each respected primary. We all see how strong Obama has been in rural REPUBLICAN states, yet he wont win these come election time so all the delegates he has recieved from this states are pretty worthless. The fact is the "deal" shouldn't be closed, I want them to settle this so they can focus on brining down McCain but I don't think throwing in the towel and then losing the general election. Now we are coming to North Carolina and Indiana, which, again, they are callin it a "must win" for Clinton, if she doesn't she's done...please shut up.

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/04/27/950217.aspx Must Win for HRC.

I thought he died.

Serfing one of Prof. Cecils hailed sites, politico.com, I found some wonderfuly interesting news about American politics, because honestly it's been very difficult finding something worth writing about. Today is differnt though because Texas congressman Ron Paul has released a new campaing add supporting his intentions for the United State presidency. Just when you thought Huck was gone and you wouldn't here anything out of the republican corner for months Ron Paul throws a right hook into the fight. I can't wait to see his numbers in Pennslyvania tomorrow, i'm sure they'll be just through the roof. As it's clear from my other posts that i'm a liberal I do enjoy Pauls complete non-partisan voting and approach to political issues. Paul voted for the Afghan war yet against the Iraqi war, is against the war on drugs and the no child left behind act. Something many house republicans would be appauled at, but I do feel Paul does what he believes is best for the people and no whatever it takes to get elected.

http://www.politico.com/blogs/jonathanmartin/0408/Ron_Paul_is_still_in_race_and_attacking_McCain.html He's alive.

Carter: The Real Great Communicator.

I blog recently about former president Jimmy Carter visiting the mid-east and holding talks with the DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED Palestine political party Hamas. I was very critical of Israel and the US state departments not encouraging Carter. It's been only a few days and there is already the possibility of progress coming out. Hamas said they felt they could reach an agreement with exiled president Mahmoud Abbas, if the people of Palestine approved the result in a referendum. Hamas has stated that they might not accept the referendum if it doesn't meet demands they believe necessary, but the point is they are willing to compromise. This is something that would not have been brought to the attention of Israel or the US because their approach to Hamas is complete isolation, or complete retardation. Whatever you want to call it all sides need to be in talks to resolve this ongoing conflict, and not by sending messages attached to bombs!

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/903C819B-A3F9-4D3A-80F2-EA2A0B9DE632.htm Go Carter.

Barry Obama?

My homepage is set to the BBC, be it the British culture that I so very love or it has live scores of my beloved Manchester United FC. It's not often though you find very interesting stories covering the US political race, although not in its infant stages anymore the candidates, and pundits still acting like infants has been a bore for the world media to cover. Earlier though I found a nice little piece on Mr. Obama, or Barry as he was known when he attended school in Indonesia. After all the swirling crap of "is he a secret muslim" I don't remember anyone discussing that he lived in Indoensia, and thank god for that as it is the largest muslim country in the world. I hate the fact that he has to defend that hes not a muslim, yes this isn't a theocracy but people would simply not vote for him because he believes in Islam, really how far have we come? Yes we are teetering on the idea of electing a black man, but we're not ready for a muslim man yet? Or Hilary for that matter people still don't know if this country is ready for a women president?! To all those people I would just say MARGRET THATCHER. ANGELA MERKEL.VIGDIS FINNBOADOTTIR. And to these people none of these names would probably ring a bell. BLAH!!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7350775.stm Barry Obama.

4/20

I felt today would be a good day to discuss the American governments war on drugs with all the attention that "4/20" seems to be getting this year. An ongoing war that has cost millions of dollars, and enriched drug cartels across the world. This "holiday" or whatever you may call it has been around for years, I remember it form my highschool days and the numerous reasosons for it's exsistence. The amount of chemicals that go into pot, something to do with the time it takes to make good pot, endless amounts of dumb crap, just like the day itself. Obviously I feel that stopping people from the use of herion, cociane, crank, the extremly deadly drugs is necessary, I don't know that allowing cigarettes and liquor sales to continue agree with the war itself. I do not recall anyone dieing from pot, really I don't know of any aggressive potheads or psychotic potheads, just laid back hippies. People die from pot when it comes down to the selling,producing, and trafficking of it. If we looked at the possabilities of legalizing pot then taxing it, we could really take care of some much needed issues in the US, education, health, even freeing up some of our massive jail populations. I am also unaware of anyone that has never at least tried smoking pot, they may not do it on a regular basis but they have tried it. That fact alone that people don't take this law serious, or this drug as a serious threat is nearly enough reason to belive people would be for it's legalization.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24036484/page/2/

Carter, Jews, and terror.

Former US president Jimmy Carter has been refused protection by Israeli secret service (Mossad) while he visits the region. Seems akward that such a staunch allie would refuse to assist in the protection of a former leader, their reason why? Carter is planning a visit with a leader of the Hamas party in Syria while hes in the region. Carter is more known for his humanitarian work than for his presidency yet the Isrealis turn their back to because he is going to have dialogue with a group they oppose. Carters obvious goal is to corral non-violent relations between the two hated groups, yet the Isrealis don't seem to want to talk at all (quite like the US's stance on groups it opposes). The US has even said it doesn't believe that Carter should be holding talks with Hamas, yet the US remains isolated from the group but continually issues statements against this "terrorist" group. I appreciate the medias ability to quote only the leaders of the Jewish nation and have no quotes or descusion with leaders of Hamas or even Palestine. I'm not in any way a supporter for Hamas but don't believe that simply labeling them terrorist and then refusing to speak to them will not lead to a peaceful resolution.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006_Lebanon_War Lebanon V Israel

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24107417/ Carters goal.

Absolutley Nothing.

The recent Senate committe hearings involving General Petraeus and Ambassador Cocker have given the three remaning presidential hopefuls a stage to voice their approach to the war. Although i'm a democrat, I don't believe that either Obama or Clintons goal of pulling out are right, nor do I believe McCains "stay untilt he jobs done" philosophy should be considered either. Nor do I think many of the questions being asked are right, for example the question of why are we in Iraq instead of Pakistan or Afghanistan beacuse of the hire threat of al Qaeda should be asked to Bush 43 and his cronies, not the people who are appointed to these positions. I'm sure both of these men are smart enough to know that terrorism thrives in those two countries but they can not just up and choose to move the US Army through-out the middle east. Senators are also continually asking the same question, is it too late, when can we pull out, how long do we stay, etc. Historically the US has never left areas where it has been involved in combat. Bases are still scattered alllllll over the world do a quick google image seach for "us military bases around world". WOW. Troops and bases have been in these areas forever, we are never really going to leave Iraq and no one seems to want to discuss that. While we should be encouraging the surrounding Arab ( and secular Turkey) countries to step in and help their neighbor, we just continue to alienate them and call them "grounds to breed terror" (Syria,Lebanon,Iran). Why is the media not showing these figures, discussing the US foregin policy against asking for assistance from neghboring countries, why are they just simply repeating what is being said!?!?! This is why I am not a PolySci/History major and no longer a journalism major!!!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kelly-nuxoll/obamas-star-turn-at-the-p_b_95711.html One of the many sites currently discussing the Senate Hearings.

Porque!?

The story of Puerto Rico holding a primary might not be new as it was announced at the begining of March that instead of a caucus the semi-autonomous territory of the US would be holding a primary. The news was that they were switching from a caucus to primary, and I couldn't understand why the country was holding a caucus or a primary, or why it was going to be able to award delegates to the winner. I'm not trying to be nationalistic and deny Puerto Ricans a the right to choose who governs their commonwealth, but they are not aloud to vote in the general election for who becomes the official president, why would they be allowed to vote in an election that will determine who will run for president?? In the current democratic race where it's coming down to the delegates and superdelegates, it's possible that the Obama or Clinton could win based on delegates received from a area that doesn't really count?! Watching this story unfold, all the pundits and reporters could only say " Ha, it's kind of funny that they vote in the primary but not in the general election." No its not funny, its ridiculous, it makes NO SENSE! I sat waiting for anyone to come on, Wolf Blitzer, Anderson Cooper, shit even Shawn Hannity to come on and tell agree with me that either the Puerto Ricans vote in the general election or don't have a primary/caucus. But again, I was left disappointed, by the media, my party, my country.

The link below leads you to a video of a puppet orphan boy killing a puppet president Bush on a Gaza TV show. The idea of the video is serious and a little bit disturbing, not Bush going down, but how little we hear in the media of the atrocities going on against the Palestinians, and rarely, the Israelis. I wish the video, and the station would leave out the religious aspect (and obviously the killing as it will not help their cause). Don't slay him at all, but defiantly not with "the sword of Islam". It will just be fuel for the right wing fire, FoxNews would grab this story and run with it; "Palestinians Muslims teaching their kids to hate the US with puppets". Do discuss the aggression of Israel, the constent bombings of refugee camps, US and Israeli state departments refusal to recognize a DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED government in Hamas. I mean wasn't that the whole goal of our tenure in the Mideast, to spread "democracy", or was it for WMD's I simply can not remember anymore and constantly grow suspicious of what the State Department releases as to whats going on in the world. Even on the MSNBC page that I found this on is says;
"used puppets and cartoon characters in the past to illustrate the Islamist movement's battle against Israel"

Why is it the Islamist movements battle against Israel and not the Palestinian battle against Israel, or if its the Islamist why not against the Jewish movement? American News can not separate themselves from the fact that they are Muslims and that they are against Israel, and the massive support that the US gives them. Not just a country against Israel but Muslims against Israel, it's ridiculous. I doubt the general public has any idea of the division of Palestine for a Israel state and why their is so much hatred, the media does nothing to educated them on this either!!


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23903128/ Bush V Puppet

Flip Floping Voters.

We recently (not so recent maybe) discussed the news that 20% of each democrat supporters ( Clinton.Obama) would switch their party affiliation and vote McCain if their candidate does not receive the nomination to compete in the general election. I can not see a serious liberal having so much hatred for a fellow liberal that they don't simply abandon ship but sink it themselves. It's worse than mutiny, it's not betrayal it's Judas. I do hope that it's none sense, people speaking passionately and without thinking because if they do in fact intend to do this they aren't thinking at all. I do like McCain, for a REPUBLICAN, he's not a complete right wing nut job. He goes against the party if it's the betterment of his state, he has different ideals than fellow republicans but still is their fellow. Most liberals I do believe are against the war in such weight that they would not be able to bring themselves to elect a president in favor of it. Until the recent Bosnian story by Hilary (cause it was just a story) I have gone neutral on who I will vote for, because I'm a liberal, and not an idiot.

Why do politicians lie?

Blogging in regards to the question posted in class of why do politicians lie, I think we covered most of the reasons, power, the idea of appealing to voters they don't usually connect with by making up stories, or possibly just human nature. As I stated in previous blogs I was a John Edwards fan, when he fell out I started supporting Hilary because I like her experience, well it turned out her experience paid off in the form of her being more of a "politician". The story of her in Bosnia was ridiculous, I hate it, I can't stand the thought of her concisely lying. This question and the questions around it, who is uncovering these lies, the public or media made me think about my generation becoming presidential age. Image the type of things people are going to have to just be comfortable with their presidential candidate doing in their past. Facebook alone has enough to sink my ship, add to that my myspace profile and these sporadically updated blogs and there is enough hate that my family wouldn't consider me a good candidate for the White House janitor position. The boozing and fraternizing will prevail through candidates, image Bush's facebook profile, the picture, what hes doing, his name, "George "Bad Ass" Bush". I am ending this blog immediately because I could go on for pages about what his facebook profile would contain!!

Senator Stuart Smiley!?

I remember the first time I read about liberals and conservatives. I remember what book I read it in. I of course, remember the name of the author who wrote that book. This book is what turned me onto politics, gave me the urge to understand more about what was going on in our countries government. The book was "Lies and the lieing liars who tell them." by Al Franken. Probably not the best book as an introduction into politics, but it worked. It is openly liberal, which of course influenced how I viewed republicans versus democrats. But I agreed with nearly all the liberal ideals that I found inside and outside of this book. And many of the those I still do, Rush Limbaugh is a big fat idiot, Bill O'Reilly is a giant dueschbag, Ann Coulter, might be an alien, and if not she is certainly mental.

This of course is coming from Mr. Frankens bid for Minnesota state senator, which he will probably win. Following in the footsteps of other great entertainers turned politicians (Arnie in Cali) though for the most part bad politcians ( Ventura was wondeful in Predator but horrible in Minnesota, Regan sucked on camera, in Cali and in Washington). I do feel that Franken is very well versued in politics, but maybe not so much in law and governing, but hey look where that got Little Bush!!

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23114959/ Funny man putting his money where is mouth is.

Give or take a few votes.

As I sit in my room save from the cold, harsh temperatures outside in SD, I try to find comfort in my comfort zone, on my couch. I flip through channels while pittling around on my laptop, the brightest noise or loudest color grabbing all of my attention. It could be the Britney Spears most reccent accent, or monster trucks, but no, no its not. It's the idiots of the media, those idols of mine that I embraced so much as a journalist major. It seems every week there is a new front runner for the RNC and the DNC, Barraks back on top this week for the Dems. while Huckabee...haha...yes Mr. Huckabee is stealing McCains thunder.

Articles about how Obamas recent victories in Maine, Washington, Kansas and Lousiana have put Clinton in the corner, in dire need of victories apparently the pundits are saying she must win Texas and Ohio to stay in the race. This, this entire thing, is a popularity contest, they are only looking to who wins the most states, not which states they are winning. Winning Texas always looks good as it holds the second most electoral votes but also a very difficult state for democrats to win so you can not bank on that one giving Obama any help. Ohio could go either way, both candidates home state is only one state over so their influence could play equaly as strong.

Lets pretend Obama recieved the nod from the DNC. Those before mentioned wins (Maine,Washington,Kansas,Lousiana) add up to 29 electoral votes. But we can take out Kansas and Lousiana, Kanasa a republican stronghold and the biggest victims of Katrina, poor, black people living in the inner city of New Orleans. The biggest victims have not and might not return to Lousiana, leaving behind a large republican base for the Elephants to stampede through.

Now with all the states BO has won, and for fun we will give him Ohio, he has around 180 electoral votes to date. Then we go back and subtract the states we know he's not going to pull ( Idaho, Utah, North Dakota, and Alabama, Alaska) he loses around 70, brining him around 100. Clinton will not win those states either though, but she has won California in the primaries, and Flordia was being naughty and didn't have a primary, but did vote infavor of Clinton for show. Thats over 80, plus 84 others shes won, equals 164 and around 53 electoral votes have not been counted from states who have yet to hold primaries.

And after all that math, all that research all that bullshit. It doesn't matter because John McCain is going to win. I'm a John fan, John Edwards, but I am not an idiot. Democrats are running each other down, by election time McCain's just going to step in and push over the candidate.

I do hope I'm wrong!!

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23119050/ Hilary down for the count?

http://www.electoral-vote.com/ Electoral state breakdown.

Down go the Dems.

My blog previous to this concerned Republican Presidential nominee John McCains alliance with moderate conservatives and how this would strengthen his bid for the whitehouse. Following "Super Tuesdays" results i've only drawn one conclusion, the republican party is going to unite and form while the deomcratic party seperates and bickers.

Senator Obama winning more states than Senator Clinton, which gave him more delegates, but delegates in realativley useless states to a democrat. Clinton won New York and California, the DNC will definatly want the candidate than can pick up these two large states no matter how well the republican fared here. Obama took Alaska, North Dakota, Minnesota, Kansas, Idaho, Alabama. The last time the big northern state of AK voted for a democratic president, 1964, the same year that SD supported it's last democrat for oval office. Minnesota is consider a swing state, Alabama voted for Bush 43 in 2000 and 2004. Only four Dems. have ever won our Dakota brother, the last being...you guessed it LBJ, also the last time Idaho supported a Dem for president, and for the sake of saying it, democrats last go-round in Kansas was LBJ.

So all the hoopla about how great Obama did, is just that pla, crap, junk. The DNC will not choose him if he only wins democratic votes in republican states. They need big wins in big states, which Clinton is delivering.

Now whats this going to lead to, August. Yes it leads to a month, the month that the DNC will choose who gets to run for the Democratic party. While O and C ar fighting it out with eachother, annoying everyone and driving moderates away from their voice and their face McCain will be their with open arms and no opponets. Face plastered under a "For President" months before the Dems even know whos going to be running under the flag of the ass, their ass, losing ass.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7231731.stm Barack VS Hillary!!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/629/629/7223461.stm Poll Tracker

Vietnam Hero+Last Action Hero!!

It has been 16 years since the blockbuster sequel Terminator 2 was released, yet with California Govenor Arnold Schwarzenger officially supporting GOP hopeful John McCain, I feel like my liberal ideals are going to get their ass beat like the T1000! McCain is receiving tons of support from moderate conservatives, which could easily swing many moderates and not-so-far-to-the-left liberals to vote for him. Arnie is pretty loved in California, the worlds 8th largest economy, and I feel that many people will follow his lead, which could give McCain a huge boost, winning California is equal to Senator Clinton taking her home state of New York. When I think of the liberal ideals of Hollywood or the laid back life of Cali it's hard to really believe that they would support a man who won his post by winning less than 20% of the vote knocking out incumbent Gray Davis, who was elected by over 50%. But Conan the Governor is on such a roll in that state that I often believe the people would secede from the Union if he told them too. This along with Rudy giving his liberal (I know he was running for the republican party but 3 times divorced, pro-gay rights, supports immigration, hes liberal!) support is huge for McCain. Sure McCain is alienating the far right, but why not!? He is still anti-gay, anti-abortion, and a war hero, this election is going to be won by the person that swings the moderates and that pulls a few fans from the opposing team, and I fear The End of Days is near with McCains new Running Man!

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/01/31/626600.aspx McCain's new muscle.

Why don't people vote?

Why don't people vote was the question posed in class this week. I large reason I feel that people don't vote is because they still believe it will not make a difference, and in many cases, my case of living in South Dakota, I don't feel me voting makes a difference. Given the fact that our "progressive country" (bullllshit) still uses an ancient out-dated system known as the electoral college, which gives the great state of SD 3 electoral votes. The president is not elected by a direct vote!! How does this make sense!?! That is a downer to both republicans (the uneducated) and the democrats (educated) public.
I consider myslef a more moderate liberal so SD's wonderful history of voting for a republican president every year since 1964, really doesn't interest me in wasting my time to go to the ballot box. 3 electoral votes!! The presidential hopeful doesn't give a rats ass about winning SD, why would he!! 3 Votes will make no difference, you'll never hear Wolf Blitzer say: "It's a tight race here folks, it's neck and neck, coming down to that last state, the next US President will be decided by the people of South Dakota."
That though is only for South Dakota, which has a fair share of people turning out to vote for republicans, or I mean for elections. Other states I feel don't do enough to get people informed and registered, along with many polling offices being difficult to either get to or get to in a certain amount of time. I remember reading about former US representative Charlie Wilson winning elections by giving rides to the poor rural people who didn't have cars to get them registered then picking them up on election day and driving them to the polls. Thats genius, I'm not that familiar with his politics or what, if anything he did to help the poor that elected him but he got people to vote!!

Kosovoians, Kosovians, Kosovovos, Kosovars!?

The Serbian province of Kosovo is hoping for an independence day parade sometime in the next few weeks, and why would they do this?! I recall the autocities placed on the Albanian majority living in the province by former nutjob Slobadan Milosoviec, and how a deep resentment for being part of the country that is, but totally forming your own country? Over a decade after NATO bombed Kosovo and sent UN troops there they want to break away and struggle to become a country. Which in turn is strongly backed and supported by the EU and the US, I don't know if its beacuse of the USA's own history of revolting against a "tyrant" or just that it will piss off Russia but it seems like a second Kosovo War waiting to happen. The Serbs are going to be real pleased to give up a third of their country, yeah right! They have no economy, they have been governed by a UN administered mission since 1999 so they use the Euro already but I just don't know where they are planning to take their independence, it was the poorest province in the former Yugoslav republic. The best outcome I see of this is assimilation into Albania, which would also upset the Serbs, reducing their country to increase a unfriendly neighbors?!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kosovo Brief History.

http://www.voanews.com/english/2008-01-28-voa32.cfm EU, US support.

Lions and Tigers and Muslims. OH MY!

It seems everytime you turn on the news, any Western news that is, there is a story about the "terrible Iranians" trying to make nukes. Yet over, and over again the country of Iran has defended itself in it's pursuit for nuclear energy. Just last month a report was released by the "wonderful U.S." confirming that Iran halted their nuclear weapons program in 2003! I seem to be having a flashback:

U.S.: "Iraq has weapons of mass destruction for a fact."
Iraq: "Ummm, no, no we don't sorry."
US: "Yes, you do you liars...KABOOOOM!!!"
Iraq:"...."
US: "Whoops, our bad."

Yet even following the report the US and the five other permanent memebers of the UN (plus the Deutschlanders) are drafting new sanctions against Iran. Last month though Iran and Russia (one of those five permenant members) announced that the co-construction on a nuclear facility would begin.

I do not feel that Iran should be allowed to have nuclear weapons or that any other country should for that matter and until we start scaleing down our massive nuclear arsenal it won't prove to other countries that we are serious about riding the world of WMDs.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7142117.stm Russia Iran Construction.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7205285.stm New UN sanctions.