Global Roundup

Publius Pundit has a terrific article on the Chinese chemical spill and the ever-growing effect on Chinese society and the potential for democratic revolution.

Blogger suggests that Honduran vote is a bell-weather for things to come over next 13 months in Latin America. Some may have suggested that it is a right vs. left vote. This blogger and Publius author reiterate the obvious, voting is a local thing. People don't consider themselves left or right, they just want security, privacy, status, comfort and jobs. How they get these is the fodder for these elections. Election on Sunday.

So in Central America the political debate has been about aligning with the United States and Canada and Mexica for free-trade. The poorer countries have voted for this free trade pact quickly, they know they will get the most improvement. The wealthier countries with highly educated and more liberal cultures have been slower to approve the pact. Costa Rica is the last and could be the closest margin. Yesterday there were organized marches for the pact, and they were reportedly larger marches than the ones against the pact recently.

Former Canadian leader takes the chance to hit Pres Bush ... but he chooses a stupid thing to blame on W. I guess it's his opinion that Pres. Bush is trying to prepare to take over the galaxy. This is of course foolish, but the general Canadian public's feelings that we in America are trying to take over the world, that's a worry. They have been protected by our military for over 100 years. They've gotten fat and selfish, they are following their French friends.

In Iraq things seem to be improving quietly and patiently. This institute has conducted a poll that suggests many Iraqis will vote and look forward to improving conditions. You bet we'll be pulling the lion's share of our troops out over the next couple years, as we should. We'll have a presence for many years to come.

Watch Liberia over the next couple years. They have just completed their first "free and fair elections" ever. Will they be able to progress and build infrastructure and protect these new found freedoms? In Africa, given freedom, the people have tended to allow their leaders to steal away their prosperity. Can they hold their leaders accountable?

I have a hard time even typing the names of all the countries in the former Soviet and Black Sea area. But, the fight for democracy and terrorism is really at it's pinnacle in this area. Just a brief review of the topics yesterday on Registan.net will amaze you. Uzbekistan, Afganistan, Belarus, Turkey, Russia, Chechnya, Poland, Germany ... the list goes on. The Soviet Union may be gone, but the Russians are still playing a lot of games in their former playground.

In Russia the fall of the Soviet Union led to momentary freedoms. Then crime syndicates and terrorists caused fear, so the Russians instituted "security measures." Remember that for every security measure some freedoms are lost, the question is how far is too far? This blogger in Moscow suggests that the Russians are using state-owned companies to buy up the economic engines of Russian society, again. Is it the return of the Soviets?

Back to Kenya, they voted against the new constitution proposed by their President. Many reports and blogs suggest that this is a great step, guaranteeing the long-term stability of the democracy there. If the people can speak at the ballot box, and stop the President and his cabinet from jamming home a new constitution, then they can start holding all their leaders accountable.

Most conservatives are calling for an escalation of words to threaten Iran into submission before they bomb Israel or worse. This blogger says that Gingrich is the newest "globalist" to call for more action against Iran. Maybe even a targeted strike against their facilities? Liberal of course scream "what about Israel?"

Palestinians celebrated the opening of their border crossing with Egypt. This Chinese View website makes it sound like the Israeli's were the only reason that these "poor injured people" couldn't get out for medical procedures. Perhaps the Chinese will be opening their borders soon? I think not. Perhaps the Chinese will be telling their people the truth about Palestine? Nope. China better be careful, freedom of information is not controllable. They are losing their grip. Oh I agree that Israel has made some mistakes. Wouldn't you if the gun were pointed at your head for 45 years? Is the patient required to walk the doctor thru the surgery?

Syria backed down, or so it is reported by news media this morning. They were asked to produce five men for questioning by the UN. You see they shot and killed a leader in Lebanon, and then the unthinkable happened, they got caught and the people of Lebanon rose up and kicked them out. More people should kick out more leaders. More leaders should feel the pressure and fear associated with freedom of information and accountability.

What a power-packed day, huh? How would you like to be Condi? Every day 199 countries with freedom growing and being fought? Wow