2008 Woodie Awards
News From Around the World
Christina Bergonzo
Issue date: 3/30/05 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
| |
|
British forces are expected to remain in Iraq until 2006, according to a parliamentary committee. This announcement came last Thursday, and was part of a report on post-war expectations.
The report continues on to accuse the US and UK with failing to plan for insurgent attacks. Tony Blair, UK Prime Minister, has come under scrutiny from his fellow Labour Party members as well as the public for not having already set a date for the return of British soldiers. The committee also reported that the borders with Syria and Iran have been neglected, which lead to foreign insurgents entering Iraq, as well as failing to reform Iraq's army and police service.
On the second anniversary of the US led war in Iraq, thousands of protestors marched through London, calling the Prime Minister to bring the British troops home.
With the upcoming British elections in May, this report has been under scrutiny by the candidates as well as the public. While Prime Minister Blair is expected to win, the current Labour Party majority could be the ones to suffer.
KYRGYZSTAN SUPREME COURT DECLARES ELECTION INVALID
In response to the protestors of the controversial Kyrgystan election seizing the office and forcing the president to flee, the Supreme Court of the central Asian country has declared the recent elections invalid. The court's decision was to recognize the former parliament as the legitimate one.
The demonstrators were upset with the election results, and demanded the resignation of President Askar Akayev. On Thursday, they marched on Bishkek, the capital of the former Soviet republic. Akayev had ordered troops not to use force, as himself, his family and other government officials escaped the government compound before opposition protestors were able to enter. Security and Defense ministers who remained were forced to write letters of resignation before being released by the protestors.
Protestors accused Akayev of stacking the Parliament with representatives that would favor amending the current law allowing a president only two terms, so that he could then be elected to a third term. Protestors also are angry about the poverty and corruption in the region, which also houses a militant Islamic movement.
This rally and government take over coincides with the release of opposition leader and former Vice President Felix Kulov from prison, where he had been serving time under embezzlement charges.
DEFENSE SECRETARY CRITICIZES VENEZUELA
Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is criticizing the efforts of Venezuela to purchase 100,000 AK-47 assault rifles from Russia. Rumsfeld says that the Venezuelan possession of this many weapons would endanger the hemisphere. Since the 1980s, Latin American countries have vastly reduced their militaries, and the US fears that this act by Venezuela could lead to the next arms race.
In response to these new criticisms, and prior insinuations that the US will support attempts to force him from office, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is threatening the discontinuation of oil shipments to the Untied States. These shipments make up roughly 13% of the US oil imports. Chavez is also insisting that the Venezuelan government poses no real threat to Latin America, and that the AK-47s would be necessary replacements for current outdated weapons.
The problem with the AK-47 rifles is that they are small and therefore difficult to track. This makes it simple for them to fall into guerilla or criminal hands, exactly where the US does not want them to be.
Rumsfeld raised these concerns last Wednesday, while on a four day junket to Latin America. While making these remarks, Rumsfeld appeared with Brazil's vice president and defense minister, who did not share the defense secretary's opinions of Venezuelan president Chavez, but commented that they respect the rights of other countries.
Facts taken from cnn.com