tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9352101.post115340973165544168..comments2015-03-31T08:25:09.833-04:00Comments on Ben's Rants and Raves: Open Thread for Current EventsUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9352101.post-1153480828781865102006-07-21T07:20:00.000-04:002006-07-21T07:20:00.000-04:00charlie - i don't think that Turkey would attack I...charlie - i don't think that Turkey would attack Iraq any time soon, especially with US troop presence there. The consequences would be catastrophic for Turkey, because I don't doubt for a minute that the US would intervene to protect our little Middle Eastern "beacon of democracy".<BR/>Peace<BR/>AndrewAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9352101.post-1153480579399843292006-07-21T07:16:00.000-04:002006-07-21T07:16:00.000-04:00Turkey is having some problems. Apparently anti-A...Turkey is having some problems. Apparently anti-American and anti-EU feelings are growing. Many Turks dont agree with US support of Israel and that Kurdish rebels are allowed to attack Turkey from Iraq. This could be a difficult problem to solve, but US officials warn Turkey not to attack northern Iraq. The Kurdish rebels have been fighting for many years over independence, while Turkey is Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9352101.post-1153450832947956372006-07-20T23:00:00.000-04:002006-07-20T23:00:00.000-04:00emma,good point, I know its not that easy, but the...emma,<BR/>good point, I know its not that easy, but the UIC are withdrawing their troops, and actively seeking peace and i think just want to govern the southern portion of Somalia. obviously, there are many other issues, but over all peace seems very plausible.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9352101.post-1153449035571976502006-07-20T22:30:00.000-04:002006-07-20T22:30:00.000-04:00Amazing how many burgeoning issues there are. If ...Amazing how many burgeoning issues there are. If we were to take an informal poll, how many people on campus would know that there are issues involving Ethiopia and Somalia? New conflicts in Afghanistan? Sovita's verbal attacks against avian populations?<BR/><BR/>Alyssa's article on Turkey is worth keeping in mind for next week when we will ask why the US is hated. <BR/><BR/>Nice catch on theAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9352101.post-1153446876652260172006-07-20T21:54:00.000-04:002006-07-20T21:54:00.000-04:00Wow good job on all your topics tonight everyone, ...Wow good job on all your topics tonight everyone, what an eclectic variety of topics.<BR/><BR/>Nick- Don't you think our troops are over stretched enough? How do you propose we troops in there when there seems to be an extreme shortage of troops right now? I'm not saying that I don't agree that we should keep troops in Afghanistan to keep the country out of the hands of terrorists it just seems Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9352101.post-1153444216759794392006-07-20T21:10:00.000-04:002006-07-20T21:10:00.000-04:00Like Sovita I decided to look at a story that was ...Like Sovita I decided to look at a story that was not directly related to terrorism.<BR/><BR/>In India the National Aids Control Organisation is pushing the government to rethink its stance on gay relationships. I think it intruiging that this organisation would like it to be acceptable for homosexuals to show affection in public when it is not even acceptable for heterosexual married couples to Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9352101.post-1153441562110239072006-07-20T20:26:00.000-04:002006-07-20T20:26:00.000-04:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9352101.post-1153439896763200242006-07-20T19:58:00.000-04:002006-07-20T19:58:00.000-04:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9352101.post-1153439250883109312006-07-20T19:47:00.000-04:002006-07-20T19:47:00.000-04:00United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan has ca...United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan has called for an immediate cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah.<BR/><BR/>Israel definitely had the right to defend itself, its border, and its soldiers. However, its use of extreme force against the infrastructure of Lebanon seems just a little bit excessive, don't you think? I really doubt that the dozens of civilians dying in Beirut had much toAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9352101.post-1153438416923644862006-07-20T19:33:00.000-04:002006-07-20T19:33:00.000-04:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9352101.post-1153437933780214392006-07-20T19:25:00.000-04:002006-07-20T19:25:00.000-04:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9352101.post-1153437399759300972006-07-20T19:16:00.000-04:002006-07-20T19:16:00.000-04:00Officials from Iran and Iraq have adopted a cooper...Officials from Iran and Iraq have adopted a cooperation-protocol that will allow for better trade between the two nations.<BR/><BR/>In the context of our discussion in class today, this is good news. Any action to increase trade will help rope both countries into the globilized world, which will, hopefully, make war less appealing for both the governments and the people. It is also encouraging Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9352101.post-1153437020602369212006-07-20T19:10:00.000-04:002006-07-20T19:10:00.000-04:00Lila,I don't think we should be in Iraq in the fir...Lila,<BR/><BR/>I don't think we should be in Iraq in the first place but I'll save that for another day. Although, now that we are in both Iraq and Afghanistan we need to complete the mission there. Thousands of U.S. soldiers have died in the war on terrorism and it would be an injustice to not only them but also us as Americans to simply sit back with idle hands and not utilize our resources Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9352101.post-1153435832129811222006-07-20T18:50:00.000-04:002006-07-20T18:50:00.000-04:00President Bush tried today to strengthen his party...President Bush tried today to strengthen his party's ties to black voters. He stated that racism still lingers today and urged the Senate to extend the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The Senate did just that voting 98-0. What was interesting is further in the article Bush advocated re-uniting with the black race. Bush feels that African-Americans do not trust his Republican party and blah blah blah. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9352101.post-1153431642946477032006-07-20T17:40:00.000-04:002006-07-20T17:40:00.000-04:00This is a follow up on the post I left yesterday. ...This is a follow up on the post I left yesterday. In the Somalian conflict, ethiopian troops have been spotted in the town of Baidoa, where the interim government is located. They say they will use whatever force necessary to crush the UIC if they try and attack. The UIC says it has no plans to attack the government. <BR/><BR/>This situation seems to be getting a little more out of control. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9352101.post-1153429388296166312006-07-20T17:03:00.000-04:002006-07-20T17:03:00.000-04:00Alyssa-Even if those people don't have power in th...Alyssa-<BR/>Even if those people don't have power in the future, someday we may have to worry about terrorists coming from Turkey.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9352101.post-1153429259216069002006-07-20T17:00:00.000-04:002006-07-20T17:00:00.000-04:00Lila-I think you're overreacting to a situation th...Lila-<BR/>I think you're overreacting to a situation that probably won't amount to anything. Even if Ethiopian troops were entering Somalia, I would bet my '94 Jetta they're not going to take it over any time soon.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9352101.post-1153428941662806222006-07-20T16:55:00.000-04:002006-07-20T16:55:00.000-04:00Kofi Annan, secretary general of the UN, called fo...Kofi Annan, secretary general of the UN, called for a cease-fire between - guess who - Israel and Lebanon. He said that the hostilities needed to stop so long term peace could be worked on between the countries.<BR/><BR/>This is a great move by Mr. Annan. Somebody needed to come out and try to put a stop to the mayhem. However, I am not sure how effective these comments will be. The UN doesn't Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9352101.post-1153419558117089602006-07-20T14:19:00.000-04:002006-07-20T14:19:00.000-04:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9352101.post-1153419089686224262006-07-20T14:11:00.000-04:002006-07-20T14:11:00.000-04:00The Turkish people are becoming increasingly disap...The Turkish people are becoming increasingly disappointed with the United States according to Abdullah Gul, the Foreign Minister of Turkey. This rising anti-US sentiment has largely come from our support of Israel in their conflict with Lebanon. He also said that Turkey would have to react if the US continues to do nothing about the PKK, a Turkish-Kurdish rebel group that is operating out of IraqAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9352101.post-1153418568534600882006-07-20T14:02:00.000-04:002006-07-20T14:02:00.000-04:00After visiting Afghanistan NATO officials have war...After visiting Afghanistan NATO officials have warned the international community not to neglect the country.<BR/><BR/>I definitely agree with the above statement. It is important to ensure that a sufficient number of troops are deployed to the area. This past year has been the deadliest since 2001, and it is believed the Taliban is making a resurgence. I think the war in Iraq is taking away Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com