We had a shortened week in the United States. This is the week that we in the United States celebrated Independence day. There is not to celebrate, though. We are fighting in two major wars half-way around the world with no end in sight. People continue to die for an objective that seems to change. The word we get out of the Administration is that we have to "win". But the definition of winning has never been made clear to me at least. The only people who are sacrificing are the people on the front lines who are fighting and dying every day.
The Presidential campaigns are in full swing. We are subject to the "build-up" of a brand as if we're trying to decide between Coke and Pepsi. The McCain campaign just changed the management of its' campaign. The new guy is the guy who navigated the successful re-election of the Present Governor of the State of California. Whatever the "message", we're looking at four more years of George W. Bush. We're looking at more tax breaks for the rich, market-based solutions for health care (under the so-called guise of choice) and more military spending. Whether Senator Obama is able to insure that the people of the United States understand that suffered a bit of a blow this week when he had to "clarify" his remarks on refining his Iraq policy. I sense and understand the pragmatism of this statement. He has to be steadfast and insure that he is not swiftboated either by his supporters or opponents. It is a tough thing to do.
Moving down South, Ingrid Betancourt was freed along with 14 other hostages by the Colombian Army. President Uribe of Colombia pulled off a master stroke, with the support of the United States. But, some of the underlying problems in Colombia remain. Kidnappings continue. The drug trade continues to grow unabated. There has to be a different way. There has to a way that will insure that the average person can work to grow and evolve. According to what I have read, things are getting better in Colombia. But, being better is still not good enough. The people deserve a lot more.
Showing posts with label Alvaro Uribe. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Alvaro Uribe. Show all posts
3/07/2008
The Week That Was....
As I reflected upon John McCain and the continued Democratic Struggles, I was again amazed by what happened in Latin America. The Columbians killed a Senior FARC leader by crossing into Ecuador. The whole region went through a tyriad. Presidents called each other liars and threatened to start a war. But, a sensible guy in the person of the President of the Dominican Republic brought them back from the brink. As the BBC's Americas Editor Emilio San Pedro said, it was like Kids fighting and the teacher basically brought them back and told them not to do it again. I thought that to be the funny part.
Coming back to the United States, I was sorry to see the Senior Foreign Policy Advisor to Barrack Obama quit over a ill-advised comment regarding Senator Clinton. I heard her recently on Democracy Now and found her to be thoughtful, reflective and truly insightful. She was right in that such comments have no place as we as a country strive to go beyond the politics of the past seven years. The worrisome development is the economy, though. Through my current business interests, I am being directly affected by it. It is a worrisome development. The President admitted it as such. Although he refuses to acknowledge that the economy has officially gone into recession. When Warren Buffett noted that the economy is in a recession, then we're in a recession. The Fed has been worried, too. We'll have some rather tough times to navigate through over the ensuing months.
Coming back to the United States, I was sorry to see the Senior Foreign Policy Advisor to Barrack Obama quit over a ill-advised comment regarding Senator Clinton. I heard her recently on Democracy Now and found her to be thoughtful, reflective and truly insightful. She was right in that such comments have no place as we as a country strive to go beyond the politics of the past seven years. The worrisome development is the economy, though. Through my current business interests, I am being directly affected by it. It is a worrisome development. The President admitted it as such. Although he refuses to acknowledge that the economy has officially gone into recession. When Warren Buffett noted that the economy is in a recession, then we're in a recession. The Fed has been worried, too. We'll have some rather tough times to navigate through over the ensuing months.
1/12/2008
Mr. Chavez and the hostages
Hugo Chavez continues to amaze me. I commend him for the humanitarian deed he undertook by continuing to maintain contact with the FARC in Columbia that culminated in the release of Ms. Gonzales and Ms. Rojas. There are over 700 hostages still held by the FARC. Alvaro Uribe reminded the world of it.
Hugo Chavez,though, disappointed me. He called for the FARC to be removed from being a terror organization. This is an organization that has used torture and kidnapping as supposed legitimate means of resistance. Plus, their supposed association with the Drug Cartels is also quite disheartening to say the least. Why Hugo Chavez mentioned this in his annual State of the Nation speech is a mystery to me.
The drama continues..... I
Hugo Chavez,though, disappointed me. He called for the FARC to be removed from being a terror organization. This is an organization that has used torture and kidnapping as supposed legitimate means of resistance. Plus, their supposed association with the Drug Cartels is also quite disheartening to say the least. Why Hugo Chavez mentioned this in his annual State of the Nation speech is a mystery to me.
The drama continues..... I
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