News Briefs
The Holiday weekend has passed. Here are some quick thoughts on a few of the news items of the day.
Ayman al-Zawahri has restated his, and therefore, al-Qaeda’s intent to continue to attack the U.S. until we acquiesce and modify our foreign policy to meet their requirements. No surprise here, as the limited reporting of the statement may show. As has been the case, al-Zawahri argues that the U.S. should withdraw from the Middle East and cease our support for Israel. Perhaps the most novel portion of the statement was his call for Americans to deal with Muslims in a manner of his choice or face his alternative. "Either you choose to treat us with respect and based on an exchange of interests ... or we will continue to fight you until you change your policies."
Iran has continued to show their diplomatic strength in negotiations with the EU Three (Great Britain, France and Germany) or perhaps to show the weakness of the three. It has become more clear that the U.S. will once again have to led the way, and if necessary, stand alone in defiance against a manipulative theocracy seeking to hold more than its own people captive.
The standoff in the Ukraine continues. The outgoing President has, finally, shown support for another election. The Ukraine Supreme Court has given the Prime Minister's office until Tuesday to review allegations of fraud. As the evidence becomes clearer to the rest of the world, it is difficult to see a path whereby Yanukovych can continue to deny wrongdoing in the previous election. This issue remains of the utmost importance for the world, as a divided, or non-representative and free Ukraine, will significantly weaken the sphere of influence of Europe and the U.S. in the region and with Moscow.
There is much more to discuss. As time, energy and, most importantly, blogger permits, other post will follow.
