alright, good luck with that, Uribe

President Uribe of Colombia is to visit congress in hopes to rekindle American aid to his country and salvage trade agreements with the United States. Although he has proven to be the most supportive of President Bush's actions of all South American leaders, he has proven not to be a favorite of the Democratic Party because of his open criticsm toward democrats.

Alright now with the Democrats now in power of congress, I still say that anything could happen. But with his history with dealing with insurgents and vigilantes, I wouldn't be suprised if even members of the GOP did not favor his wishes as well. It has been very interesting how Bush's mark on United States and Latin American relations has turned out. It also very interesting how the only guy from Latin America that supports Bush is also one of the most controversial leaders there now...hmm...sounds a little familiar there.

Putin apparently can't say goodbye to yesterday.

Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin announced today that Russia has decided to pull out of its agreements made with the nations that belong to NATO regarding convential arms. This is an angry reponse to the proposal made by the United States to create a missile system in Europe in order to defend against the Axis of Evil.

FRIGGIN PUTIN! once a KGB, always a KGB. really now, how much did you love those good ole days to make such a step back. i feel as if every move that Putin makes is to ensure that somehow, no democracy could be formed in the nation, or peace in terms of weaponry could be found. o Yeltsin, please come back, i miss you already.

if you give them an arm and a leg, the Chinese government will tell you the juicy stuff

The Chinese government has announced that new regulations are to be enforced that allow Chinese citizens to gain access to information on official information. However, because there are also may exceptions that come with these regulations, reformers continue the Chinese government for secrecy and a lack of transparency towards its citizens.

all i have to say is...WHAT DID YOU FRIGGIN EXPECT?! China has become an incredible power lately not because of democratic reformations, but because it has embraced capitalism and has banked on it! because they have successfully found a way to create a hybrid of socialist values, dictatorship, and capitalism, they have become a superpower in international policy. so i say good for them!

R.I.P. Boris Yeltsin

After years of heart problems, former Russian leader, Boris Yeltsin passed away today. Due to his drastic measures in reformation, Yeltsin was responsible for breaking up the USSR and introducing democratic values to the people of Russia. He was 76 years old.

Although he kinda left Russia in an economic meltdown, I truly admire Yeltsin's work, and the risk he allowed himeslf and his nation to take in order for democracy to be established. Unfortunately, Putin, his successor has been taking measures to ensure that Yeltsin's work toward democracy has come to a waste with his dictatorship styles, and power hungry ways. I hope that with Yeltsin's death, his ideals will be able to live on somehow.

Bush Tries to Save the World from Hunger

At the annual food aid conference, the Bush Administration once again pushed for its attempts in bettering food aid from the United States. The plan was first introduced at the same annual food aid conference in 2005, but now has been embraced fully. The plan has been a little controversial because it recommends that funds should be used not to buy domestic foods to aid other nations, but buy food from the nations suffering for their citizens. This way, they have the ability to start off with funds to support themselves while receiving foreign aid.

YAYUH!!! WOW honestly, as ideal as it sounds, i think this is the best idea that the Bush Administration has come up with. AND regarding international humanitarian funding policy! who would have thunk it?! i honestly just think it needs A LOT more focus and funding, but it is still feasible. but really though...do you think it could really happen? that Bush could pull it off? eh...theres still hope. maybe. i'm praying.

well..he wasn't supposed to have the gun.

According to federal law, anyone who is or has been previously declared as mentally unstable should not be able to obtain any type of fire arm. Thus, the shooter from the Virginia Tech massacre Seung-Hui Cho should not have been able to obtain the two guns he had used because he had been previously found mentally ill. Thus, attention on the ease that comes with purchasing firearms in the United States has strengthened.

OKAY. so we're not able to smoke, drink, or buy lotto by a certain age, while the rest of the world can at what seems like any time...BUT we could apparently buy guns more easily here in the United States than in any other country. i just hope that we really learn from this - 1. crime rates would drop if gun control was heightened - 2. more attention toward the mentally unstable is needed. if Cho would have gotten the help that he truly needed, this could have been prevented.

STOP THE GENOCIDE!

Today, President Bush called for the government of Sudan , particularly Sudan President Bashir to stop the violence occurring in Darfur. He has also made threats stating that if no action to stop the situation, U.S. sanctions against the country may be enstated. This comes after pressure from humanitarian agencies calling on Bush to draw more attention toward the situation in Darfur. The Bush Adminstration has refered to the killings in Darfur as "genocide", but no significant action has been made by the U.S. government.

Hmm..well this is a step. as a college student, i feel lucky enough to know that we might have the power to draw more and more attention toward this problem, which is genocide. but i still feel that more attention by the United States government is absolutely necessary. i am happy that President Bush has decided to take this step, but i just hope that he will be able to follow through.

Virginia Tech Shooting

well I know that this is not an internationally related story, but this does have a drastic effect on the international community. when i first saw this story online, i was so shocked...but the first thing that i noticed was that there was apparently a lag in warning the students about the intial shootings. as somone who works in housing...that is friggin shocking to the bone. here in irvine, there are warnings that occur for EVERYTHING as soon as possible.

so i write with great sadness and fear, but mostly with a hope that those that have been effected at Virginia Tech will be able to find peace and unity as a community.

Secret Prisons? What Secret Prisons?!

Allies of the Bush administration blocked a bill that would allow for the disclosure of the locations of CIA run secret prisons all around the world. The bill would also allow for the disclosure of information on the amount of funding spent by American secret agencies like the CIA. This is a major blow to the Democratic Party in congress because they have long been attempting to find out the work done by American agencies in terms of post-September 11 operations.

Very interesting...the Bush adminstration must have something to hide if its pushing so hard against the work of the Democrats. I feel as if the Democrats feel they are trying to unveil an "evil plan" like in a spy movie or something, and good ol' dubya would be right under the credits for "evil villain". I'm sure now that this will place the United States as a nation with more concern over humanitarian problems, especially from Amnesty International. What happened to international cooperation and transparancy? O well...I guess the CIA is doing their job just as they should!

Iran and their friggin nuclear program...again.

Despite international pressure, Iran has announced that it is searching for two more bidders to build two more nuclear power plants. The nation's nuclear agency has apparently already made contact with firms from Russia and other European firms, but they fear that because of sanctions and threats of sanctions made by the UN Security Council, there will be no response. This comes during the same month in which Iran had announced that they have also started a large scale uranium production project.

...alright really. Talk about and against the nuclear project in Iran has gone on for what seems like forever. Iran pushing so much to continue their program not only gives the United States and the rest of the world a reason to worry, but also undermines the work of the United Nations and the IAEA. How sad, how much crap can the United Nations handle? REALLY NOW! It truly seems as if the Security Council and the UN cannot show its international power in terms of security, only in humanitarian efforts.

US tries to free Jersey man...supposedly.

In December, Ethiopian officials detained Amir Mohammed Meshal, a man from New Jersey who traveled to Ethiopia to help with the Islamist movement. His was arrested for suspicions of terrorism. Human rights groups are now using his case as an example of a supposed secret detention program created by the US and Ethiopian governments. In response, the American officials insist that they are doing everything possible to ensure Meshal's freedom, and that there is no such thing as a secret detention program under their power.

well i've never heard of the conspiracy about a secret detention program under the collaboration of Ethiopia and the US. i doubt that it's true...but this is the last thing that the US needs, especially with the controversy surrounding the inhumane treatment of the prisoners in Guantanamo Bay. i pray that the US is not lying about their attempt to free Meshal. it could show that our government has a fair policy in terms of cruel and unusual punishment.

Big Bad Wolfowitz

Paul Wolfowitz, the former US deputy secretary of defense and current President of the World Bank has recently been faced with threats of dismissal because of the promotion and raise given to his employee, who was also romantically tied to him. He has since made a public apology, stating that he is willing to take full responsibility for his mistakes. Unfortunately, the scandal has drawn focus away from his work against global poverty with the World Bank.

wow, when will politicians just remember NOT to sleep with anyone that works under them?! it really takes everything they have worked for in politics and erases its relevance. hopefully soon this will be forgotten, and MAYBE his popularity because of this scandal will draw more attention to his global poverty campaign. my fingers stay crossed.

Bodies from Korean War recovered by US

The governor of New Mexico, Bill Richardson led a delegation to retrieve the remains of US soldiers from the Korean War. There has been great difficulty in attaining the bodies because of their location in North Korea and the tensions that have escalated between the US and North Korea due to talks of nuclear weapons and struggles in relations between North and South Korea. Now after 2 years of negotiations, the bodies have been finally be retrieved. The delegation proudly crossed the borders from North Korea to South Korea today.

i honestly love this story - it doesn't focus on the US' dealings with North Korea in terms of nuclear weapons, but instead shows that we show interest in bringing the separated states together, and how there is a possibility that after using diplomatic measures, goals could be achieved peacefully.

US gives millions to Palestine...you mean Israel right?! no really. Palestine!

well not to Palestine directly. The State Department has just announced that the United States is cleared to transfer almost $60 million to Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian Authority President. The funds are to be used for equipment and training for Abbas' security forces. They have done so making sure to keep funding away from Hamas, which they have done in accordance with the European Union because of their refusal to recognize Israel and terrorist attacks related to the group.


wow. when i first read this i almost went into shock. but- then i read that they are doing so without connection to Hamas. let's see how this goes, maybe it will lead to better relations with Palestine. but i'm not sure if this will be fine with or just anger Hamas.

US vs China- the piracy wars

In its most recent report to Congress, the US trade representative announced that there was growing concerns over intellectual property rights and foreign trade - most focus was placed upon violations done by China. SO the US has filed a piracy complaint to the WTO - stating that because China is not enforcing copyright laws, businesses have been able to prosper. China has made a statement in response to the complaint, stating that their government is disappointed in the US's decision to make a complaint.

hmm. well this shows that we really love picking on the big guys - especially if they prove to be a huge threat to our status as the international trading power. i mean yah, it is true that the likelihood of me going to China and buying a beautiful fake Chanel purse is much higher than me spending way too much money on the real thing here in the US- but i don't know if we gotta file a complaint about it. i mean i'm pretty sure that bill gates isn't crying his eyes out cause some lucky people were able to obtain a cheap pirated copy of windows vista in southeast asia. how bout we focus on other more pressing problems regarding intellectual property rights and the WTO - how bout generic pharmaceutical drug treatments for HIV/AIDS victims? that might be nice.