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Amman’s Optimism Demonstrates Potential of a New Iraq

Brian Conley and Shadi AlKasim December 22, 2005 Brian Conley and Shadi AlKasim

Amman, Jordan

In Amman, Jordan the Iraqi election went off with little noticeable trouble. Currently there are approximately one million Iraqis seeking refuge in Jordan from the turmoil in Iraq. These same Iraqis went to the polls all over Amman in order to help peace return to their home country.

Ten schools in Amman were closed to facilitate the election process. Unlike the constitution referendum, Iraqis outside Iraq were permitted to participate in the process, just as they did in the January elections. 320,000 Iraqis participated in the election abroad in the recent election.

Deciphering the Language of Globalization

Laura Carlsen December 21, 2005 Laura Carlsen

The Hong Kong meeting of the WTO has amply illustrated how difficult it is to arrive at a consensus about the rules of free trade. The fact that none of the major players has been willing to budge-to offer what in negotiating parlance is known as "deliverables"-is just one of the problems. What's increasingly apparent, though, is that the WTO, and indeed the entire concept of free trade globalization, has a communication problem. Most of the texts being negotiated are unintelligible to the untrained ear, which is to say to any normal person.

Vermont: Most Likely to Secede

Benjamin Dangl December 20, 2005 Benjamin Dangl

Naylor

Thomas Naylor moved to Vermont in 1993 after almost 30 years' teaching economics at Duke University. He helped form the Second Vermont Republic, an organization dedicated to the peaceful dissolution of the country, starting with the secession of Vermont.

Benjamin Dangl: What is the Second Vermont Republic?

Thomas Naylor: The Second Vermont Republic is a peaceful, democratic, grassroots, libertarian populist movement opposed to the tyranny of the U.S. Government, corporate America, and globalization and committed to the return of Vermont to its rightful status as an independent republic, as it was between 1777 and 1791.

Evo Morales Elected Bolivian President in Landslide Victory

John Hunt December 19, 2005 John Hunt

According to exit polls, socialist Evo Morales received 51 percent of the votes in Bolivia's December 18th presidential election, enough to secure his victory. Right-wing candidate Jorge Quiroga admitted defeat with 32 percent of the votes.

"I hope xenophobia will be extinguished," declared Bolivia's president-elect at a press conference on Sunday morning after casting his vote in front of hundreds of villagers on the school grounds at Villa 14 de Septiembre in Chapare, Bolivia. Morales, soon to become Latin America's first indigenous president, said: "We only want to live wellThe poor don't want to be rich, they just want equality."

As Bush Claims “Victory”, Iraq’s Military Stumbles On

Brian Conley December 15, 2005 Brian Conley

Iraqi soldier stands guard

More than two years have passed since Paul Bremer and the Coalition Provisional Authority dissolved Iraq's military. Today the United States and the interim government are desperate to reconstruct this broken army. Sectarianism and basic mistrust have been two of the largest hurdles. Furthermore, many Iraqis are wary of becoming involved in the country's defense if it means being subservient to the interim government, an administration which they see as illegitimate.

On November 30, in Annapolis, Maryland, George W. Bush delivered the most recent of a long line of Iraq victory speeches. In this speech he detailed the conditions that will be necessary, and the markers that must be passed, to ensure the United States can withdraw from Iraq. He assured the nation, "As the Iraqi security forces stand up, coalition forces can stand down -- and when our mission of defeating the terrorists in Iraq is complete, our troops will return home to a proud nation."

Battle Hymns for the Blue States

Melody Zagami December 14, 2005 Melody Zagami

The Putrid Minds Anthology: Battle Hymns for the Blue States byThe Sons of Emperor Norton, is the only album ever produced that features Elvis, Mark Twain, Stephen Hawking and the little known historical figure, Joshua "Emperor" Norton. This 23 song anthology is not for the faint of heart. When listening, you laugh and think, "that's clever." Then reality comes into focus and you feel powerless in the face of the monstrous Bush administration. The band's humor has more than a bit of truth between the lines.