A few tidbits of news that had the nerve to occur while we were focused on Hillary and Barack.
Two Sudanese nationals are dead and a French soldier is missing after the European Union Force exchanged gunfire with Sudan’s military. According to the EU Force, they crossed the shakey border from Chad into Dafur to recover a vehicle. In addition to the missing solider, another EU solider was injured. The border was unmarked and vehicle was only 1.86 miles into Dafur.
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Condi Rice was shipped back to the Middle East to exhibit the Bush Administration’s (that means us) inability to secure sustained or even sporadic “peace in the Middle East”. According to our Secretary of State, Hamas is the true culprit in stalling peace talks because they fired rockets on Israel.
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By the way, Israel pulled out of the Gaza Strip on Monday, March 3rd. While doing what some would consider more groundbreaking than deciding a Democratic nominee, Israel was ending a multi-day assault on Hamas fighters, which destroyed not only “peace”, but several Palestinian homes in the process. Nearly 120 Palestinian residents of Gaza have been killed by Israeli troops, prompting protestors to stage mock funerals. One interesting note, the protestors are children.
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The price of oil topped $103 per barrel. That’s setting a new record! Let’s celebrate! Just wait for your local gas station to give you the new higher prices. What? They did already. Somebody is ON TOP of their game!
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Russia already had their presidential elections. Now they’re on to protesting the results! Tell us if this sounds familiar. The former President, Vladimir Putin is being accused of manipulating the elections to secure a victory for his puppet of choice, Dmitry Medvedev. (But they aren’t related or anything.) Like a Washington politician who leaves office only to become a more influential lobbyist, Putin is going to become the Prime Minister and as Russians on the street assert, continue to rule the country with a different title.
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California’s Supreme Court heard arguments defending and dismissing the constitutionality of the state’s current ban on same-sex marriage. For voters who thought they had put this to rest (and those hoping that they had not), the court has 90 days to make a final decision on whether or not gay couples can compete with heterosexual couples for tax breaks and enhanced health benefits. Ooops, we mean “marriage.”
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Remember how well enforced sanctions worked to make the Iraqi people and government fans of the United States and other Western powers? Yeah, us neither. On Monday, the UN looked to Iran and issued another round of economic and trade sanctions on President Ahmadinejad’s country. The idea is that the sanctions will be lifted when Iran ceases its nuclear activities. The U.S. and the U.N. also enforced sanctions on North Korea for the same reason (SYYYYYKE!!!!!!!!!!) I think we all know how improbable that is. Sanctions, oddly enough, are reserved for the moderately sane.
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On Monday, the U.S. attacked the town of Dhoble. Where’s that you ask? Somalia. According to Democracy Now, at least three tomahawk cruise missiles were fired into southern Somalia near Kenya’s border. Four civilians died, but this isn’t anything new. The U.S. has attacked the region multiple times since Ethiopian troops (that we’re backing) invaded the country in December (OF 2006). Without claiming sides (which the U.S. already has), we just felt you should know a little somethin’ about one of the many situations in which we maintain military action without calling it a “war”.
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On the South American front, Ecuador is pissed since the Columbian military killed some Farc resistance members on their soil (Ecuador’s, not Columbia’s). Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is pissing off various authorities involved. What we should know? Our current president (the one who will hold office through January 2009), is backing the Columbian military government. Shouldn’t be surprised, as he (and by default, we) have up to this point.
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Finally, the Vatican, the one run by the German Pope, says it will talk with Muslim leaders in a historic meeting aimed at progress, mutual respect and love. You have plenty of time to get tickets (though we think this will be closed-door). Talks are scheduled for November. Assuming the talks aren’t cancelled, let’s try to remember them as we make it rain “red” and “blue” on the U.S. map.
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Just a little somethin’ that will eventually play into the political, social and economic landscape to be inherited by the first black president, first female president or 44th white male president.
DEMOCRACY RULES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Two Sudanese nationals are dead and a French soldier is missing after the European Union Force exchanged gunfire with Sudan’s military. According to the EU Force, they crossed the shakey border from Chad into Dafur to recover a vehicle. In addition to the missing solider, another EU solider was injured. The border was unmarked and vehicle was only 1.86 miles into Dafur.
--
Condi Rice was shipped back to the Middle East to exhibit the Bush Administration’s (that means us) inability to secure sustained or even sporadic “peace in the Middle East”. According to our Secretary of State, Hamas is the true culprit in stalling peace talks because they fired rockets on Israel.
--
By the way, Israel pulled out of the Gaza Strip on Monday, March 3rd. While doing what some would consider more groundbreaking than deciding a Democratic nominee, Israel was ending a multi-day assault on Hamas fighters, which destroyed not only “peace”, but several Palestinian homes in the process. Nearly 120 Palestinian residents of Gaza have been killed by Israeli troops, prompting protestors to stage mock funerals. One interesting note, the protestors are children.
--
The price of oil topped $103 per barrel. That’s setting a new record! Let’s celebrate! Just wait for your local gas station to give you the new higher prices. What? They did already. Somebody is ON TOP of their game!
--
Russia already had their presidential elections. Now they’re on to protesting the results! Tell us if this sounds familiar. The former President, Vladimir Putin is being accused of manipulating the elections to secure a victory for his puppet of choice, Dmitry Medvedev. (But they aren’t related or anything.) Like a Washington politician who leaves office only to become a more influential lobbyist, Putin is going to become the Prime Minister and as Russians on the street assert, continue to rule the country with a different title.
--
California’s Supreme Court heard arguments defending and dismissing the constitutionality of the state’s current ban on same-sex marriage. For voters who thought they had put this to rest (and those hoping that they had not), the court has 90 days to make a final decision on whether or not gay couples can compete with heterosexual couples for tax breaks and enhanced health benefits. Ooops, we mean “marriage.”
--
Remember how well enforced sanctions worked to make the Iraqi people and government fans of the United States and other Western powers? Yeah, us neither. On Monday, the UN looked to Iran and issued another round of economic and trade sanctions on President Ahmadinejad’s country. The idea is that the sanctions will be lifted when Iran ceases its nuclear activities. The U.S. and the U.N. also enforced sanctions on North Korea for the same reason (SYYYYYKE!!!!!!!!!!) I think we all know how improbable that is. Sanctions, oddly enough, are reserved for the moderately sane.
--
On Monday, the U.S. attacked the town of Dhoble. Where’s that you ask? Somalia. According to Democracy Now, at least three tomahawk cruise missiles were fired into southern Somalia near Kenya’s border. Four civilians died, but this isn’t anything new. The U.S. has attacked the region multiple times since Ethiopian troops (that we’re backing) invaded the country in December (OF 2006). Without claiming sides (which the U.S. already has), we just felt you should know a little somethin’ about one of the many situations in which we maintain military action without calling it a “war”.
--
On the South American front, Ecuador is pissed since the Columbian military killed some Farc resistance members on their soil (Ecuador’s, not Columbia’s). Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is pissing off various authorities involved. What we should know? Our current president (the one who will hold office through January 2009), is backing the Columbian military government. Shouldn’t be surprised, as he (and by default, we) have up to this point.
--
Finally, the Vatican, the one run by the German Pope, says it will talk with Muslim leaders in a historic meeting aimed at progress, mutual respect and love. You have plenty of time to get tickets (though we think this will be closed-door). Talks are scheduled for November. Assuming the talks aren’t cancelled, let’s try to remember them as we make it rain “red” and “blue” on the U.S. map.
--
Just a little somethin’ that will eventually play into the political, social and economic landscape to be inherited by the first black president, first female president or 44th white male president.
DEMOCRACY RULES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
