Month: November 2004

MADRID – The Basque separatist group ETA, which has received severe blows in recent years, appears to be on the verge of abandoning the use of violence and instead seeking Basque independence and unification through peaceful means. Late last month, ETA announced that it was open to negotiations with the new Spanish government, led by … Continue reading “Basque Separatists Consider Nonviolence”

The presidential campaign had hardly ended before the sounds of shocked outrage and the gnashing of teeth was heard across the globe: "How can 59,054,087 people be so dumb?" wailed the Daily Mirror. “This is not going to make the relationship on the two sides of the Atlantic any easier,” averred Guillaume Parmentier, director of … Continue reading “Buck Up, You Lefties!”

What was the presidential election about? In their victory speeches, Vice President Cheney and President Bush claimed a "mandate," "historic victory," and that "America has spoken." A mandate for what? A victory for what? How spake America? Pundits have declared that the election was about "moral values." Americans in the red states voted against homosexual … Continue reading “Minimize the Mandate”

PENANG, Malaysia – In a strange twist of events, Malaysian opposition politicians claim that U.S. President George W. Bush’s reelection was made possible because of a blunder by Malaysia’s former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad. Last month, Mahathir told a local daily that U.S. voters appeared "willing to accept a person who told blatant lies and … Continue reading “Malaysia’s Mahathir Blamed for Bush Comeback”

BANGKOK – While many Asians were dismayed when they woke up to the news on Thursday morning that George W. Bush had been reelected to a second term as president of the United States, their leaders hailed his return and pledged to cooperate closely with Washington. Award-winning Indian author Arundhati Roy could not hide her … Continue reading “Asians Dismayed, Leaders Relieved by Bush Win”

BOGOTA – Many Colombians have expressed deep concern over U.S. President George W. Bush’s reelection, while others share the enthusiasm of right-wing Colombian President Alvaro Uribe, Washington’s closest ally in Latin America. "I want to congratulate President Bush on his victory, Senator [John] Kerry for this beautiful campaign, both of them for this example of … Continue reading “Colombia: Bush’s Triumph Gladdens Uribe, Scares Others”

Crucial evidence of alleged human rights abuses that could be used in upcoming trials of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein and his top aides has apparently been lost or damaged due to U.S. neglect, says a report released Thursday. While charges continue to fly that U.S.-led coalition forces failed to secure stockpiles of arms and … Continue reading “US Lost Evidence of Saddam’s Abuses”

TOKYO – Japan’s role in the U.S.-led war on terror is expected to grow in the wake of the reelection of U.S. President George W Bush, analysts here say. "The pressure on Japan to get more involved in the American-led war on terrorism is obvious with the reelection of Bush," Azaho Mizushima, professor on constitutional … Continue reading “Japan: Bush Reelection Means Even Closer Ties”

JERUSALEM – Most reactions in the Middle East to the reelection of U.S. President George W. Bush have ranged from the caustic to the cautious. Rejoicing has been rare. Only Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Iraq’s U.S. appointed interim prime minister Iyad Allawi wholeheartedly welcomed the election of their firm ally in the White … Continue reading “More of the Same Is Bad News in Middle East”

After a very long night of speculation, Bush II emerged as the clear winner of this year’s state-worshipping ritual. It was a resounding victory for the War Party, as it would have been even if the votes had gone otherwise; Kerry was no less belligerent, only somewhat more polite about it. Both Bush’s victory speech … Continue reading “Democracy Deployed”