Libertarian Presidential Candidate
Topic: Politics
Barr is forming an exploratory committee to run for president... not sure if he actually believes he can win or not, but interesting news nonetheless.

Kofi Konclusions
Topic: Politics
Examples of further irresponsibility by the United Nations.

An Israeli airstrike hit a United Nations post in southern Lebanon late Tuesday, killing at least two of the agency's observers, according to the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon. The U.N. initially reported that four peacekeepers were dead, but later said there were two dead and two missing. U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said he was "deeply distressed" by the "apparently deliberate" strike.

From CNN

In its unwavering concern to protect the "bad guys", the U.N. has been busy spreading slanderous filth about Israel. It is common practice to presume people are missing - not dead, when there's reasonable doubt that they are still alive (i.e. no body has been found). Don't assume that Frank and Fred are dead because you've found remains of their iPods, of which they would never leave behind.

While Kofi Annan is asking for a full investigation into the incident, he shouldn't be passing judgement until the investigation is over. How foolish it is for him to claim that the IDF's strike was "apparently deliberate" in hitting the U.N. post, while still looking for information to back his statement. To be deliberate, the IDF would need a motive for hitting the post. In what way could it benefit ANYONE to hit a U.N. post? Sorry Kofi, but it was likely an accident.

On the same day, the IDF was hit by friendly fire (fire upon itself). To continue with Kofi's thought process, it is reasonable to konclude that they must have deliberately hit themselves.

Iran's Change of Heart
Topic: Politics

Iran's ambassador to the United Nations said Tehran wants to work directly with the United States on an "easily attainable" resolution, if Washington drops "the intimidation tactics." - CNN

A new position has now taken from the government in Tehran. Iran now wants to work out their nuclear situation? I would attribute this sudden change of heart to those very "intimidation tactics". Not to mention that Iran sounds like their nuclear weapon isn't going exactly as planned. Good.

Iran ended its voluntary cooperation with the IAEA in February, which included ending surprise inspections of its nuclear facilities. Iran has maintained that its nuclear program is solely for peaceful purposes.

This is almost laughable. Solely peaceful purposes? Who are the Iranian regime trying to kid here? The only reason they've stopped allowing surprise inspections of their nuclear facilities is because they are trying to develop nuclear weapons. Common sense will tell you that another country having nuclear arms is a bad idea. What makes this so much more frightening is that "Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has repeatedly said that the Holocaust is a myth and that Israel should be destroyed." (Source: CNN) [excerpt] "UNITED NATIONS (CNN) -- Iran's ambassador to the United Nations said Tehran wants to work directly with the United States on an "easily attainable" resolution, if Washington drops "the intimidation tactics." Ambassador Mohammad Javad Zarif's statement came the day after the International Atomic Energy Agency pleaded with Iran to continue talks with European nations that want to offer it incentives in exchange for ending its nuclear-enrichment program."

The Massacre at Tiananmen Square
Topic: Politics
June 4th, 2006 marks the 17th anniversary of the Massacre at Tiananmen Square. Students and intellectuals held demonstrations at Tiananmen Square in Beijing on June 4th, 1989, protesting (and rightly so) that the Communist Party of China (CPC) was too corrupt and repressive. The Chinese government reported only 23 civilians casualties, although local hospitals reported an initial casualty number of 2000. The Chinese Red Cross estimated civillian deaths at 2600. Injuries from the massacre range between 7,000 - 10,000. From Wikipedia:

Following the violence, the government conducted widespread arrests to suppress the remaining supporters of the movement, banned the foreign press and strictly controlled coverage of the events in the Chinese press. The violent suppression of the Tiananmen Square protest caused widespread international condemnation of the PRC government.

Sadly, even today the Chinese government falls just short of completely denying that this incident ever occurred. Public commemorations and observances of the incident are forbidden everywhere in China, except for in Hong Kong. Despite the rain, tens of thousands of pro-democracy supporters held a candlelight vigil covering four soccer fields. I took a screenshot of today's homepage of the People's Daily, the main government-run newspaper agency. You will notice that there is no mention of Tiananmen Square whatsoever. (To view the screenshot, please click the "Click here to post comments" link below). From Yahoo! News:

After dawn, a group of tourists tried to open a banner while posing for a photo, catching the attention of police, who quickly forced them to put the nonpolitical material away.

What will the future hold? Looking at the current track record, more of the same repressive, anti-democratic attitudes demonstrated by the CPC. Keep in mind that these were tourists in a public place, posing to take a picture while holding a nonpolitical banner. Oh the danger they pose to the stability of the CPC, which have been in power of China since 1949 - that's 57 straight years. Well I don't care much for the CPC or its stability, fiat justitia, ruat caelum.