February 13th, 2007 by CD
Welcome back to another edition of Tuesday’s Music where I introduce great international singers to my readers. Today’s singer is the extremely talented actor and singer Lee Byung Hun 이병헌. The album that I have available for download was actually the first Korean music I ever listened to when I was an undergraduate. So this is a classic oldie that should be in everyone’s collection!
You can visit his site which is available in English and read more about his acting career. There isn’t too much information on his album entitled “Tears” but it is a great website to learn more about his career. Tear’s is a romantic ballad album which has some really sad songs in it. If you aren’t depressed before listening to this album you will be afterwards!
In any case, as always enjoy the music!
Download album
February 13th, 2007 by CD
If there is one thing about the U.S. foreign policy it is “consistently inconsistent!” U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has said repeatedly over the last several years that there would be no bilateral talks between the U.S. and N. Korea. Contrary to views of most Asian Analysts who have been encouraging that the U.S. should have bilateral meetings. Well, 
just this month in a secret meeting the U.S. agreed to have bilateral talks with N. Korea which has turn into N. Korea reaching a deal over its nuclear program.
China’s chief envoy Wu Dawei said the deal was “favorable for the peace process in north-east Asia and for the improvement of ties between relevant countries”.
So what will N. Korea have to do? Under the agreement, Pyongyang has pledged to close its Yongbyon reactor within 60 days, in return for 50,000 metric tons of fuel aid or economic aid of equal value. The closure of Yongbyon will be verified by international inspectors.
The North will eventually receive another one million tons of fuel oil or an equivalent when it permanently disables its nuclear operations.
It is my opinion that this deal could have been made years ago if only the Bush Administration have the policy of open talks. You can not resolve issues without negotiations taking place.
February 12th, 2007 by CD
President Vladimir Putin’s comments this weekend at the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe was music to my ears. Whether the reason be for his own political outlook or a growing consensus within the Russian government that the U.S. is out of control, Putin gave a powerful and truthful speech.
Primarily the United States has overstepped its national borders, and in every area,” said Mr. Putin,. American military actions, which he termed “unilateral” and “illegitimate,” also “have not been able to resolve any matters at all,” and, he said, have created only more instability and danger. “They bring us to the abyss of one conflict after another,” he said. “Political solutions are becoming impossible.”
February 11th, 2007 by CD
I thought it would be interesting to take a look back into history in terms of the relations that the U.S. has had with the Iraq government. As you will find, the same situation in the U.S. not having a post-war strategy in 1991 is again happening today.
The Web of Deceit is a documentary that should be watched by everyone. However, for those of us living in the U.S.A. it was never broadcast within the states. Another good reason to read and if you have available watching international news. In anycase, the Web of Deceit shows US backing and collaboration in the 1991 slaughter of the people who sought to overtake Saddam. You can watch a short two part clip of it on youtube.
Web of Deceit Part 1
Web of Deceit Part 2
February 9th, 2007 by CD
Happy Friday to everyone. As always, the start of the weekend deserves some laughs. So, here is Jon Stewart on Dick Cheney (aka Dark Vader)!
Watch video here
February 8th, 2007 by CD
I am not sure what the current administration is good at. They have failed at securing our nation’s borders, improving social programs and adopting a foreign policy that is seen as a success. Now, to top it off, the Bush administration has lost $12 billion dollars of Iraq’s money and can not account where that money went. In a Capital Hearing held earlier this 
week, Rep. Henry Waxman (D) said to Paul Bremer, former Administrator of the Coalition Provisional Authority, stated that the U.S. government does not know what happen with the money. And Paul Bremer who was in charge of properly seeing that the $12 million dollars was spent correctly could provide to evidence that the money was use or where the money went.
This is not the only mistake Paul Bremer made. Actually, I would not call this a mistake. It is my conclusion that in the above case and the case that I am about to tell you was done intentionally.
To keep track of all this money “The United States gave the contract not to an accounting firm but to a tiny consulting company, Northstar — which NBC News found is headquartered at a private home near San Diego. “They violated the rules. They picked a contractor who didn’t meet their requirements,” says Paul Light, a government contracting expert and professor at New York University.
Northstar’s president says the Pentagon knew Northstar was not a certified public accounting firm and that four experienced employees went to Iraq and did a good job. However, one audit notes that a single Northstar employee maintained spreadsheets tracking billions of dollars.
Now there you go! What are your thoughts? What more? Here is Paul Bremer on Capital Hill trying to get out of the way of hard questions. It’s amazing when you hear a question being asked by Sentors followed by Paul Bremer going on for five minutes without answering the question!
Pratap ChatterJee and Amy Goodman discuss Bremer
Video clip of Capital Hearing on Northstar
February 7th, 2007 by CD
I have not talked about Canadian citizen Maher Arar case in which he was abducted on U.S. soil and taken to Syria and tortured based on the belief he was a terrorist. A little background on Maher Arar is that he was actually born in Syria and became a Canadian citizen in 1991. On September 26, 2002 he was on a layover at JFK when he was detained by US/CIA officials about having links with Al-Qaeda. He was then flown to Syria where he was held for 10 months while being 
tortured.
Well here it is, in 2007 and we know that the U.S is not going to give a formal apology to what it did to this young man. This is not the first time that the U.S. has kidnapped someone who has no connection with Al-Qaeda. In January, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper made a formal apology on behalf of the government of Canada to what happen to Maher Arar. IN addition, Canada has agreed to pay Arar more than $10 million dollars.
You can read the official report here:
Report of the Events Relating to Maher Arar
- Analysis and Recommendations -
Report of the Events Relating to Maher Arar
- Factual Background - Vol I -
Report of the Events Relating to Maher Arar
- Factual Background - Vol II -
February 6th, 2007 by CD
Today’s Talk can not go without mentioning the big news today here in America. NASA Astronaut Lisa Nowark was charged with attempted first degree murder today. When I heard this on the news today, I was just shocked. This has never happened in the 40 some odd years the space program has happened. Apparently, Lisa was in a love triangle with astronaut Bill Oefelein.
As sad as this story is, it was so funny to hear that Lisa drove all the way from Houston, Texas to the Orlando airport to meet the other woman with adult diapers (Depends). I mean, this woman was in business! She wasn’t taking any bathroom breaks to stop her from pepper-spraying Shipman! What love will make you do! By the way, Lisa did put her space training to use by wearing adult diapers because astronauts do wear them during the takeoff!
Well, I guess NASA better revamp their physiological test because!
