British Press Uncovers Financial Scandal

By Jaya Spier

In a startling announcement in England today, the Speaker of the House of Commons, Michael Martin has stated that he will be stepping down next month and resigning from his position as MP. Martin is the first Speaker to quit in 300 years. The last time this happened “Sir John Trevor was found guilty by the House of a "high crime and misdemeanour" for accepting a bribe in 1695” (Birminghampost).

This announcement came after British Press discovered the recent scandal concerning many MPs expenses earlier this week. The Labour and Conservative Chiefs, Mr. Nick Brown and Mr. Patrick McLoughlin respectively, have been accumulating thousands of pounds over the year claiming the money was spent on food and other frivolous expenses. Neither one believes that they have done anything wrong. They are only two out of many who claimed similar expenses.

“The Telegraph says that Mr Brown's claims, which he made public himself a few days ago, totalled £87,708 between 2004 and 2008. This included £18,800 for food, with regular claims of £400 per month during the recess. Until recently, MPs were able to claim up to £400 a month for food without providing receipts.” (BBC)

Martin has claimed that he is stepping down to preserve unity in the government. “Since I came to this House 30 years ago, I have always felt that the House is at its best when it is united…In order that unity can be maintained, I have decided that I will relinquish the office of Speaker on Sunday June 21. This will allow the House to proceed to elect a new Speaker on Monday June 22.” (Telegraph)

Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, has also stated that no MP who has been found breaking the rules of the Commons expenses would be allowed to participate in elections for Labour Party candidate.

Soon after Mr. Martin’s announcment, Commons Leader Harriet Harman said in a written statement, "Michael Martin’s resignation today as Speaker is an act of great generosity to the House of Commons that Members of Parliament from all parties will respect.
"Michael Martin has served the House as Speaker with distinction. The House will have an opportunity to pay its own tribute to him before he leaves the Chair. As someone who has been in the House of Commons with him for over 25 years, I know that his passionate commitment to the House is beyond doubt. The House owes him a great debt of gratitude." (Timesonline)

This scandal has reached out and touched all corners of England’s population. During these hard economic times as the common mans’ lives are falling apart with the loss of jobs and homes such a betrayal is almost unbearable and the government must act competently so as not to further infuriate its fragile public.

Obama meets Israeli prime minister

By Ioana Botea

For the first time, Barack Obama presented a timeframe for pursuing a diplomatic solution to the Iranian nuclear crisis. At the end of his meeting at the White House with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the American president said on Monday 18 May, that by "the end of the year", he will reassess his strategy in light of the progress achieved so far.

In response to a question, Mr. Obama delivered the most detailed timetable of his intentions regarding Iran to date. After the presidential elections of June 12, he said, "we hope that dialogue will begin, first through a P5 +1 (the permanent members of Security Council plus Germany) process, and potentially through direct talks between the United States and Iran."

Israeli Prime Minister demanded a deadline, preferably in the fall, but Mr. Obama said that Washington will not add any artificial deadline. “We will not create a situation where the talks become excuses for inaction while Iran develops a nuclear weapon," he said. If negotiations start soon, "we should know before the end of the year if they are going in the right direction."

The talks, including a thirty-minute one-on-one, lasted an hour longer than planned, which caused Mr. Obama to postpone the appointment scheduled for the next NASA Administrator. Held in the Oval Office, the informal press conference reflected the desire to discuss differences amiably. On Iran, for example, Mr. Obama assured his visitor that he did not rule out "a number of measures, including much harsher sanctions." Mr. Netanyahu interpreted his declaration as a reaffirmation that "all options are on the table," coded language suggesting military action.

On the connection between Iran and the Palestinian problem, Mr. Netanyahu tried to make sure that the two men had a perfect identity of views, while Mr. Obama, contrary to his visitor, did not agree that the Iran issue should be the priority. Nevertheless, Mr. Obama reiterated his position on "two-state solution." He recalled that the commitments made by previous governments should be honored, but he also declared that forced colonization must be “stopped” – a term George W. Bush would never have used.

Mr. Netanyahu strongly emphasized the necessity of creating "two states". He reiterated his demand that the Palestinians recognize the Jewish state of Israel. "We do not want to govern the Palestinians," he assured. Every single concession has been to support the idea of "widening the circle of peace to include other (parts of) the Arab world."

After the interview, the National Security Adviser, James Jones, was immediately dispatched to pursue talks with his Israeli counterpart, Uzi Arad. According to ABC, Barack Obama asked that the Israelis make a statement before the speech he is giving in Cairo on June 4.

"The moment of truth is not yet ripe," said Robert Malley, a former negotiator for Bill Clinton who was rejected by the circle of informal advisers to Mr. Obama for having met with Hamas elements. According to Malley, there is no need to attach great importance to the fact that "two-state solution" was not made by Mr. Netanyahu. "He can not use it for domestic political reasons,” he said. “His predecessor (Ehud Olmert) was in favor and we still had two wars and the continuation of colonization," he declared on PBS .

Civil War Ceases in Sri Lanka

By Alyssa Landers

The Sri Lankan government declared today that a civil war lasting for nearly three decades is finally put to rest, announcing the defeat of minority rebel group, the Tamil Tigers. Even the rebels, who had been forced onto a mere sliver of land near the coast, agreed that the war has reached “its bitter end.”

Despite the general consensus that the war is over, there is no such consistency on the number of casualties. While the Tigers contend that almost 3,000 were killed in the past day of conflict leading up to the war’s end, the government maintains that no civilians were harmed. Aid groups abroad estimate that at least 7,000 people have died in 2009 alone.

Since the end of a 2002 moratorium on fighting in the region the violence has increased exponentially in recent years, with both sides accusing each other of taking civilians as hostages. And because the Sri Lankan government bars all independent media, any objective information remains impossible to obtain. Currently, an estimated 120,000 Sri Lankan civilians have been pushed into makeshift refugee camps in the hot, dry region of Vavundiya.

While the war seems to be over, there is no guarantee that Sri Lankans have seen the end of the fighting. With impressive guerrilla military tactics—suicide bombing—coupled with a fierce dedication to the cause of Tamil independence within Sri Lanka, the Tigers do not appear to be giving up altogether. The global war on terror has hindered their ability to procure funding and maintain a certain cohesiveness; yet even though they remain a minority, the Tigers remain a substantial presence in the region.

Now the major challenge for the current president, Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa, is to adequately incorporate the Tamil minority voice into the majority Sinhalese government. This will be no easy task considering that civil war has been raging for decades with no end in sight.

Democratic Coalition Sweeps Congressional Elections in India

By Michael Burgevin

The democratic coalition led by the Indian National Congress cruised into victory yesterday during India’s parliamentary elections, catapulting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh into his second term in office during the world’s largest democratic elections. India’s 714 million eligible voters sent a strong message of party trust says Manmohan Singh, the country’s first full-term Prime Minister to be reelected in over 40 years. “The people of India have spoken with great clarity. They've expressed their support for Congress's visionary leadership. We have given this country a strong, stable government at a time when the world is danger. Today, we stand as one nation.”

Having won 260 of the 541 lower house seats, Singh will need to recruit only 12 allies outside his party in order to obtain a parliamentary majority. The news comes as a hard blow to the opposing Bharatiya Janata Party. The BJP won only 160 seats, far below most expectations. “[We] accept the mandate of the people of India with all humility,” announced senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley. “Something certainly did go wrong.” The communist coalition suffered an even greater loss, losing many seats and its position as a Congress Party ally.

A driving force behind the Congress Party’s triumph was Rahul Ghandi, son of party leader Sonia Ghandi. Rahul was influential in winning over the youth vote, flying 54,000 miles and addressing 120 rallies around the country during the campaign. “My job as I see it now is changing the politics of the country through the youngsters,” Gandhi, 38, told reporters amid victory celebrations. “We need organization of young people. That’s what we’re going to build in the next 3 to 5 years.” Singh has publically asked Rahul to sit on his cabinet. Ghandi has not yet responded to the offer.

Singh’s reelection comes as welcome news to President Obama, who is expected to rely upon Indian support in the fight against rising militancy in Pakistan and Afghanistan. "By successfully completing the largest exercise of popular voting in the world, the elections have strengthened India’s vibrant democracy and upheld the values of freedom and pluralism that make India an example for us all," said Press Secretary Robert Gates in a statement yesterday. Gates went on to stress the importance of maintaining a strong relationship between the U.S. and India, and congratulated the Prime Minister in his reelection.

Burmese Democratic Leader Convicted

By Michael Burgevin

Myanmar’s pro-democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was convicted yesterday for violating the conditions of her house arrest in a political move that could tighten the military junta’s control over dissidence ahead of next year’s elections. Mrs. Aung San Suu Kyi’s arrest took place after an American traveler swam across a lake and broke into her residence. The man, Mr. John William Yettaw of Falcon, Montana, was supposedly attempting to meet her to discuss a psychology paper he was writing on forgiveness. Police took Mrs. Aung San Suu Kyi and two of her companions into custody for allegedly hosting an individual not approved by the government, which violates the stipulations of her house arrest. She could receive up to five years’ imprisonment.

Many political analysts have stated that the sentence is both unfair and politically motivated. Mrs. Aung San Suu Kyi, who has spent 13 of the last 20 years under house arrest, would have been free at the end of this month. “The Burmese regime is clearly intent on finding any pretext, no matter how tenuous, to extend her unlawful detention,” said British Prime Minister Gordon Brown earlier on Tuesday. U Soe Aung, a representative for the Bangkok-based Forum for Democracy in Burma, agreed with the Prime Minister. “It is ridiculously obvious that they are trying to put her away from any involvement in the upcoming election.”

The government of Myanmar has tightened national security in the run-up to the country’s first open elections in almost three decades, scheduled to take place next year. During the last national elections in 1990, Mrs. Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy party won a landslide victory. However, the results were rejected by the military regime, which has controlled the country since 1962. Mrs. Aung San Suu Kyi has continued to spearhead the democratic movement while imprisoned in her home. In 1991, she received the Nobel Peace Prize for her work in Myanmar.

Many foreign organizations and governments have called on the junta to stop harassing Mrs. Aung San Suu Kyi. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton condemned the arrest, stating that “We oppose the regime’s efforts to use this incident as a pretext to place further restrictions on her, and therefore we call on the Burmese authorities to release her immediately and unconditionally.” Senior General Than Shwe has not yet made any official responce.

Rising Pakistani Conflict creates Humanitarian Crisis

By Michael Burgevin

Officials announced that over 200 Taliban militants were killed yesterday in the Northwestern Pakistani region of Swat after the government launched a military offensive against the fundamentalist organization early last week. The Taliban already controls much of Northwestern Pakistan including the Buner Valley, located just 60 miles away from the capitol city of Islamabad. The Pakistani government believes that an estimated 4,000 militants are currently stationed in Swat. Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani announced on May 7 that the military would begin an “all-out assault” to defeat the rebels.

The intensified fighting came just after the Pakistani government relaxed a military curfew for a second time this week, giving civilians time to flee the region. The U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees estimates that over half a million citizens have already fled the region or are attempting to leave. The influx of refugees has created a state of humanitarian emergency in southern Pakistan. A number of accounts indicate that many civilians have been unable to leave the region due to fighting. The Taliban is allegedly using residents as human shields.

Many civilians have already been killed. Riaz Kahn, a 36-year-old school teacher, and his family have not been able to escape Mingora, Swat’s central town. They have taken shelter in the hospital. Shrapnel wounds cover their bodies, and two of the daughters have already been killed. “We buried our daughters on Thursday when the army relaxed the curfew,” Kahn told the Associated Press. “We reached the hospital only with great difficulty.”

In his visit to the United States last week, Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari attempted to assure Capital Hill that his government is capable of suppressing the Taliban forces. The United States has annually donated over one billion dollars to the Pakistani military since 2001. Special Envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke announced to the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Tuesday that President Zardari has the support of the White House. However, many senior administrators have been reluctant to continue granting aid a foreign government they believe to be incompetent and corrupt.

Many are calling for opposition leader and former Primer Minister Nawaz Sharif to join President Zardari, his rival, in a unified front against the Taliban. As of this time, Sharif, who was exiled after the 1999 coup, has shown no willingness to side with Zardari.

Sri Lankan Death Toll Skyrockets

By Alyssa Landers

Almost 400 Sri Lankan civilians were reported dead—in addition to over 1,000 injured—as the result of a military bombing that took place yesterday. The government denies any affiliation with the bombing of the supposed “safety zone.” The minority rebel group, the Tamil Tigers, claim that the really number of injured approaches 2,000.

Yet it is impossible to verify who did what in this raging civil war, as journalists are not allowed into the actual war zone and the only sources of information are the government, and pro-Tiger resources.

After almost 30 years of civil war raging between the Sri Lankan government and the militant Tamil group, civilians have been forced to migrate to government-established refugee camps under impossible circumstances. As of now, the government has succeeded in pushing the guerillas onto a small strip of land along the northern coast, accusing the Tigers of “causing a humanitarian disaster.”

Whether or not this accusation rings true, the Tigers have been fighting for an independent homeland within Sri Lankan borders since the early 1980s, when the minority Tamil group was condemned by the government.

But the test of government efficacy will be how it deals with the growing IDP (internally displaced persons) population. It is estimated that close to 100,000 civilians have recently fled the guerrilla-controlled area for refugee camps in the Vavinuya region, with many traveling far distances. The government and the Tigers continually accuse one other of holding civilians “hostage.”

Refugees fleeing the rebel area have trudged through miles of dangerous swampland, with many arriving at government operated checkpoints by boat. And with this large an influx, there is no doubt among aid agencies that the result will be disaster. The government has vowed to protect all incoming refugees but in the extreme heat of the camps there is little hope of finding adequate resources for so many people.

Currently, agencies like Oxfam and Habitat for Humanity are working to build shelters (which now consist of makeshift tents made of tarpaulin and plastic) and provide potable drinking water, of which there is a severe lack in the dry, hot region in the north.

With little access to either civilian testimony or other reliable sources of information, one significant difficulty in putting an end to the bloody and long-standing civil war remains how to assess the current situation objectively. For now, the situation continues to be most deadly for civilians, caught in a raging battle between a militant government and a staunchly opposed rebel group.

The H1N1 epidemic in Mexico

By Ioana Botea

The epidemic of influenza A (H1N1) receded in Mexico after having perturbed the daily lives of 106 million people for over two weeks. Like all crises, it tested the solidarity of the people and the ability of authorities, and revealed the flaws of the system. It also left a fundamental question unanswered: why has the same infectious agent, now affecting twenty-six countries, caused more hospitalizations and deaths in Mexico than anywhere else? So far, the H1N1 caused 56 deaths in Mexico, as opposed to 3 in the United States (including a Mexican child treated in Texas), 1 in Canada, and none in Europe.

A thorough investigation is necessary to determine whether the high incidence of deaths was caused by biological reasons, as suggested by the scientist Antonio Lazcano, an evolution of life specialist. According to Lazcano, the new virus is more inclined than others to rapid changes, and it is very aggressive in its initial outbreak before weakening as its genetic message is transmitted.

Another explanation, perhaps equally important, is social. Mexico has undoubtedly reached a first world status. In terms of purchasing power parity it has overtaken Spain, and according to IMF’s 2008 chart, it is now the 11th largest economy in the world. Nevertheless, it retains in many respects the features of a third world country, where the poor have little access to information and health care.

Additional interpretations varied from divine warnings to conspiracy theories. When the Mexican government declared the health emergency on April 23, fervent followers of the Catholic Church formed a procession to the cathedral of Mexico City for the first time since the last plague. According to conservatives, the new disease is a sign of divine wrath two years after the law legalizing abortion was passed.

Conversely, the extreme left propagated rumors that influenza A (H1N1) was the product of manipulation of pharmaceutical companies, or even an accident in their laboratories, revealing plans for a “bacteriologic war” plotted, of course, by the United States.

Scientists, including the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), a bastion of the Left, have defended the "medical rationality," and cooperated with President Felipe Calderon. Mr. Calderon has consulted with several former ministers of health, including Juan Ramon de la Fuente, chief of the UNAM until 2007, and Julio Frenk, director of the Harvard Medical School, who believes that the plan of epidemiological alert has worked rather well.

The current incumbent, Jose Angel Cordova, however, has difficulties verifying the information collected from states in the country, which explains the confusion between the deaths due to influenza A and those caused by other types of 'respiratory infections. The viruses have caused 14 575 deaths in Mexico in 2007 – too many, even if reduced to half from 1985.

For the scientific community, the new flu episode has highlighted the dependence on foreign assistance in both study for the virus and analysis of samples in the manufacture of vaccines. Mexico will take years to recover production capacity, due the agreement signed in March with Sanofi. It also pays the price of constant erosion over the past decade, since the budget allocated for research is 0.33% of GDP, by comparison to 4% in the United States.

Although the vast majority of the population has good hygiene practices despite the lack of water, sanitary precautions imposed on the reopening of schools became puzzling for more than 26 000 primary and secondary schools that do not have running water. But the crisis has particularly revealed the two-tier health care – even three-tier, if you consider that indigenous people are still using herbs and Temazcal, a sort of sauna, to treat themselves. It is in the big cities that access to health services is most unequal. While the wealthy are entitled to five-star clinics under their private health insurances, the average Mexican spends long hours in hospital waiting rooms or must resort to expeditious consultations offered by some pharmacy chains. Self-medication is also widespread, especially among women who do not have time to go see a doctor. This may explain why two thirds of patients who succumbed to influenza A are women, mostly young and previously healthy.

Iceland on its way to joining the EU

By Jaya Spier

Iceland is trying to pick itself back up after the devastating economic circumstances have severely crippled the country in every possible way. Johanna Sigurdardottir, the new Icelandic Prime Minister stated today that she is hoping for a positive parliamentary outcome as a vote takes place on whether or not Iceland should seek to join the European Union.

Previously, the government was highly against the prospect of joining the EU, however after last year’s giant losses it would seem much of the population is reconsidering the idea as it is seen as a way out of the crisis.

Mrs. Sigurdardottir’s Social Democratic Alliance supports the idea of Iceland joining the EU but the Left Green Movement who are her coalition partners disagrees. “Finance Minister Steingrimur Sigfusson said the two parties had "agreed to disagree" on the membership issue. "This is a compromise," he said. "When it comes to voting on the resolution, the members of parliament will only be bound by their own conscience" (BBC).

The government has said its goal is to have the state back to normal by 2013 and that it will continue to cooperate with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on the recovery program that has been laid out. "I have very high hopes for this government," said Mrs Sigurdardottir. "We are taking office in extraordinary circumstances and have immense tasks ahead of us" (BBC).

The government has said “a final decision on EU membership would be put to Icelanders in a referendum” (AP).

Biyana Raeva who chairs the European Parliament’s delegation with the West Nordic Council has said, "Iceland would be one of the best members of the European Union. It would be one of the best contributors in terms of knowledge and new technology. It has one of the best fisheries management in the world and is advanced in the use of geothermal energy." Raeva went on to say that they are part of Europe and share resources, climate change issues and economic interests; they would be perfect for the EU. (Europarl)

The European commissioner who is in charge of enlargement, Olli Rehn, has echoed Raeva’s feelings on Iceland joining the EU, “it is one of the oldest democracies in the world and its strategic and economic positions would be an asset to the EU” (Guardian).

It sounds like Iceland is on the fast track to joining the EU and if all goes well they could become the 29th member by 2011. Hopefully the new membership would aid Iceland in getting back on its feet by its goal of 2013.

Karzai wants end, US won't budge

By Rachel Oppenheimer

Local officials and the Red Cross announced that US airstrikes killed dozens of Afghan civilians – including women and children – during a battle in Western Afghanistan last Monday and Tuesday. As concerns mount over noncombatant casualties in the war against the Taliban, the top US commander in Afghanistan said the US military suspects the incident started when Taliban militants entered the area and beheaded three civilians.

Afghan officials see things quite differently. Afghanistan's leading human rights organization is investigating claims that US forces used white phosphorous – a chemical which causes severe burns – in the firefight in Bala Baluk, a district in the Western Province of Farah. Dr. Mohammed Aref Jalali, the head of an internationally-funded burns hospital in Herat, said villagers taken to the hospital after the incident had “highly unusual burns” on their hands and feet.

In an interview with NBC's “Meet the Press,” President Hamid Karzai said that the US risked losing a “moral” fight against the Taliban if too many civilians died in American attacks. On Friday, Karzai told CNN that “airstrikes are not acceptable,” adding that they had killed nearly 125 to 130 civilians in the past week. But the US military called the figure of over 100 people killed “exaggerated.”

Six days after Afghans blame United States airstrikes for the deaths of hundreds of civilians, President Obama's top national security advisor, General James L. Jones, apologized for the civilian casualties and said that American officials are investigating the incident. Jones then went on to announce that the United States would likely continue airstrikes against Afghanistan extremists despite a warning from Mr. Karzai that civilian casualties have an increasingly negative effect on US-Afghanistan relations. U.S. officials say that an end to airstrikes in Afghanistan would deprive Afghan troops of vital protection.

In the midst of decreased trust and increased violence, can the Obama administration still make progress in regional peace-making? Washington may want to listen more carefully.

“We demand an end to these operations,” Mr. Karzai said. “The air strikes, especially, and sudden bursts into homes at night are not in any way good for this war.”

The Battle of Influence between the E.U. and Russia

By Ioana Botea

The European Union is set to launch the “Eastern Partnership” on May 7 in Prague in an attempt to reach out to six countries of the former USSR – Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan – without offering them the prospect of accession. The treaty facilitates the movement of people to the E.U. and greater incentives for free trade. The Europeans decided to accelerate the implementation of the program in the aftermath of the war in Georgia in the summer of 2008.

The E.U. is steadily engaging in a struggle against Russia for influence at its periphery. It has sought to deploy in these areas its “soft power” by contrast to Russia, which has been eager to use a range of attack to assert its authority over what the Kremlin called in 2008 its “zone of privileged interests.” The "Eastern Partnership" is materializing in a moment where challenges have accumulated. With the exception of Azerbaijan which has large oil reserves, all countries have been hit very hard by the economic crisis. Ukraine’s GDP, the largest of the six countries, has been plummeting despite assistance from the IMF.

Political obstacles in the region have often been in favor of Russia. Echoes of the Georgian war are still perceivable, with a creeping annexation by Moscow of the separatist regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. In Ukraine, the gas crisis in January has aggravated political tensions, and allowed Moscow to slip in its men in the country's energy sector. In Moldova, the riots in Chisinau on April 7 have highlighted the vulnerability of the country in the face of Russian actions, and made dialogue with Europeans even more problematic.

Russia has denounced the "partnership" offered by the E.U. and described it as an intrusion into its natural sphere of influence. It continues to exerts enormous pressure on countries in its "near abroad" in order to obstruct the process. In Azerbaijan for example it is seeking preemption on all gas reserves.

The Europeans have responded by relaxing their demands vis-à-vis these regimes in which respect for democratic standards is inadequate (only two of them, Ukraine and Georgia, hold elections in standards acceptable to the European observers). The issue of values has been sidelined in favor of geopolitical interests. Belarus, an authoritarian state, has been invited into the partnership, provided that its president, Alexander Lukashenko, does not recognize the "independence" of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, as Russia has prompted him to do.

The institutional weakness of all the six states makes them vulnerable to Russian influence, who overtly exploits the risk of internal instability. Russia simultaneously flashes its military capacity and makes promises of financial support. Nevertheless, it seems that its ability to pull these countries is based more on intimidation than attraction.

The EU on the other hand suffers from internal divisions. Germany, propped up by France, wants to preserve a strategy of "engagement" with the Russian regime, in which confrontation remains sterile. Paris has also had major reservations regarding the "Eastern Partnership", seeing it as a competition with its project "Union for the Mediterranean” it is trying to promote. It is Poland and Sweden that proposed and pushed for a more coherent strategy towards the neighbors to the east.

A crucial actor that is missing from the discussion is the United States. The Obama administration has not yet developed a strategy for the Eastern European countries and the Caucasus. Instead, attempts to revive the bilateral relationship with Moscow have been focused around nuclear disarmament, Afghanistan and Iran. Russia is taking advantage of America’s detachment with the issue, and it is developing its "new security architecture” in Europe as a strategy for challenging the status quo on the continent. The power struggle has just begun.

Obama’s Prosecution Drama

By Alyssa Landers

Following the hotly debated release of confidential CIA memos outlining torture strategies used on high level detainees in American off-shore, black site prisons, President Obama has taken a shaky stance on whether or not prosecution is in store for those responsible.

The president has officially stated that those who physically committed atrocities such as waterboarding, or simulated drowning, would be exonerated, his language surrounding the decision to hold the Bush administration accountable is decidedly opaque. While Mr. Obama has openly condemned the “enhanced interrogation techniques” (which have since been officially classified as “torture” by the International Committee of the Red Cross), he also turned up his nose at Senator Patrick Leahy’s proposal to form a Truth and Reconciliation Committee. Earlier this year, when asked about his position on the prosecution of Bush administration officials, he stated that he “doesn’t believe that anybody is above the law. On the other hand, I also have a belief that we need to look forward, as opposed to looking backwards."

This kind of stance may be diplomatic, but sends an unclear message to American constituents who feel both angry and deceived by the notoriously shady antics of the previous administration. There are also many in Congress, including Representative John McCain, who feel that Obama’s decision to release the torture memos was not only unscrupulous, but unpatriotic.

But regardless of what may happen at home, nations like Spain are not sparing any time in issuing a public indictment of the actions of Bush administration officials. After reviewing the memos, Judge Baltasar Garzon said that the actions of the United States were clearly in violation of the principles of universal justice and were obviously carefully pre-meditated. It is unclear at this time as to whether the U.S. will cooperate with Spain’s investigation.

Regardless of harsh criticism from Republicans, president Obama has stood by his banning of waterboarding and other methods of interrogation deemed “torturous” and maintained that he has “no regrets” about releasing the memos. And while the reliability of information obtained through torture remains a topic of debate, the president has taken a clear stance that cruel and inhumane methods of obtaining information are unnecessary and damaging to the reputation of the U.S. as a champion of human rights.

Interest in Israel: the US and the UN

By Jaya Spier

An inquiry released by the United Nations today has stated that Israel was negligent in its conduct during the war with Gaza earlier this year. The Israeli army was criticized for the way in which its actions affected citizens and UN property and employees.

The Israeli Defense Force (IDF) has commented that it was never irresponsible in its conduct and that in some situations members of Hamas hid amongst civilians and near UN property and shot at soldiers. The IDF was just defending itself and the resulting casualties and property damages were not Israel’s problem.

“The UN report, commissioned by Ban Ki-Moon, the UN secretary-general, said the Israeli military intentionally fired at UN facilities and civilians hiding in them during the war and used disproportionate force.” (AJE) However, Ban Ki-Moon did not publish the completed document but instead released his own summary of the report.

Former head of Amnesty International, Ian Martin, led the inquiry. He looked specifically at situations where death, injury, and damage to UN property and staff was involved. However the report concluded that Israel made many mistakes during the war in January and “should be investigated under the rules of international humanitarian law"(Guardian). An estimated total of $11 million in damages to UN property occurred during the fighting.

This inquiry has been released just as the United States is calling for a crackdown on Israeli behavior. Joe Biden, today, stated at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) annual conference that "Israel has to work toward a two-state solution. You're not going to like my saying this, but not build more settlements, dismantle existing outposts and allow the Palestinians freedom of movement" (CNN).
However, this statement does not mean that the United States is wavering on its support of Israel. Biden also said at the AIPAC conference, “With all the change you will hear about, there is one enduring, essential principle that will not change; and that is our commitment to the peace and security of the state of Israel,” Biden said to several thousand attendees of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee’s (AIPAC) annual policy conference in Washington. “That is not negotiable. That is not a matter of change. That is something to be reinforced and made clear" (ABC).

President Obama and Vice-President Joe Biden met with Israeli President Shimon Peres at the White House today to discuss U.S. participation on supporting peace in this region. We will have to see if Israel takes any action based on the recent UN report and how much involvement the Obama administration will be allowed to have in future Israeli-Palestine talks.

Fight Against Taliban Runs High Cost For Pakistani Civilians

By Alyssa Landers

Earlier today, Pakistani military officials issued a stringent warning advising residents of the notoriously turbulent north-west region of the Swat valley to vacate their homes and flee to nearby refugee camps. The call for sudden evacuation of the area was apparently prompted by rising tensions between the Pakistani government and the Taliban. The terrorist group has reportedly expanded its operations in the area, putting strain on a tenuous peace agreement with the government.

The agreement calls for complete disarmament—a condition to which the Taliban are clearly reluctant to fulfill. Not only have they not disarmed, but refuse to do so unless Shari’a (the Islamic code of law) is fully implemented in the region. Consequently, Pakistani officers are readying themselves to respond with military force.

And while President Obama is currently planning to send a surge of American troops to fight the Taliban in Afghanistan, there is not enough of a military presence in Pakistan to effectively halt the Taliban, who use the porous border controls to its strategic advantage, recruiting willing Pakistanis and sidling up to well-wishing Afghanis. In other words, the American military has a much harder time winning true allegiance and forming trustworthy bonds with native villagers sympathetic to the Taliban’s cause. It is also significant to note that while Pakistan remains an ally of the United States, it does not allow unprecedented access to American troops whose activity is often inhibited by limited border access.

Yet for Pakistani civilians-turned-refugees, the picture looks decidedly bleaker. Forced from their homes into tents once occupied by neighboring Afghan refugees, the camps are being reopened not for outsiders but legitimate citizens. The current refugee toll stands at half a million Pakistani villagers, and the future does not look promising. As the government strains to fight the elusive yet cohesive Taliban, civilian property is destroyed, leaving little hope a return home.

Not only are jilted Pakistanis angrily demanding compensation, but many are perplexed by how they factor in to a dispute between the government and the Taliban. The main concern among refugees is procurement of peace, whether it comes about through the appeasement of the Taliban or an expedient ousting of American troops.

One thing is for certain: refugee camps in the northwest region are expected to expand considerably, and with a disproportionate level of resources, they might not be able to hold out as long as they need to. The high level of terrorism has prompted President Obama to call it “the most dangerous place in the world,” and the prospects for civilian relocation remain uncertain.

Pandemic?!

By Rachel Oppenheimer

A week after Mexico alerted the world to a potential flu pandemic, the virus proves relatively mild and the response quite extensive. Some international organizations have shown weaknesses, but a divergence in governments' reactions demonstrates the greatest challenge. The World Health Organisation (WHO) deserves credit for raising international awareness, urging countries to expand their own preparations, and preparing technical advice. But the fact that it ultimately serves its member states limits its powers. As countries ignore the WHO's scientific advice, international consensus and cooperation start to fall apart in a way that will only exacerbate the flu's impact.

The swine flu spread to more countries today and world health officials cautioned against panic. They announced the preparation of a vaccine, though it will not be available until late summer or early fall.

But Asia struck panic mode: The Hong Kong government confirmed Asia's first case of swine flu today. Apparently, a Mexican citizen flew into the territory yesterday, subsequently developed a fever, and has now been isolated in a hospital. Mask- and glove-wearing police officers guarded the hotel where he had been staying. The government will quarantine the hotel for a week and treat all guests with the antiviral drug Tamiflu.

Mexico realized it can leverage swine flu for athletic prowess: The swine flu panic reached an all-time high this morning when a Mexican soccer player threatened a Chilean rival with the virus. In the 88th minute of a tied match in Latin America's annual tournament for soccer clubs, Chivas player Hector Reynosa coughed and launched mucus into the face of Sebastian Penco, a forward on Chile's Everton team. A Chilean media outlet immediately tied the event to swine flu fears, titling its fight story “Mexican spat at Everton player in midst of swine flu panic.”

And Israel nit-picked over religion and linguistics: An Israeli official urged a swine flu name change because the disease name offends Jewish and Muslim sensitivities over pork. At a news conference last Monday, Deputy Health Minister Yakov Litzman said “we should call this Mexican flu and not swine flu.”

The virus has caused global terror – but I am more terrified of the mask-wearing subway zombies than all the Mexican travelers, soccer affronts, and anti-semitic names combined.