What Caught My Eye Today

Sudan - Thousands of Sudanese, many armed with clubs and knives, rallied in a central square and demanded the execution of a British teacher convicted of insulting Islam for allowing her students to name a teddy bear "Muhammad." In response to the demonstration, the teacher was moved from the women's prison near Khartoum to a secret location for her safety. They called for Gibbons' execution, saying, "No tolerance: Execution," and "Kill her, kill her by firing squad." Many protesters carried clubs, knives and axes — but not automatic weapons, which some have brandished at past government-condoned demonstrations. That suggested Friday's rally was not organized by the government. Am I to understand that armed rioters are an indication of a government-supported demonstration? Good Lord. I may be missing something here, but it seems rather obvious to me that the series of events being communicated to the Sudanese people is vastly different from what the rest of the world is receiving. I wonder why that is?

Iran - The European Union said it was disappointed after talks with Iran seen as a last chance to avert U.S. pressure for tougher international sanctions over Tehran's disputed atomic program. The absence of a breakthrough at the London talks means six world powers meeting in Paris will try to agree new penalties to propose to the United Nations, despite differences in their approach to halting Iran's nuclear program. Taking a hard line, Iran's chief negotiator told reporters after the meeting it was "unacceptable" to demand Iran halt its uranium enrichment program and that any new U.N. sanctions would fail to prevent Tehran from pursuing its atomic work. The West says the program is aimed at building atom bombs and wants Iran to freeze its enrichment of uranium. Iran, a major oil exporter, says enrichment efforts are meant only to produce electricity which it says is an inalienable right. What draws my attention to this is that an a coalition of countries--rather than just the United States--has failed to make any progress with Iran. On one hand, I guess that bolsters our claim that Iran is being stubborn. On the other hand, it would have been better for all concerned, if these negotiations had proved more fruitful than previous attempts made by the U.S. alone.

Middle East - In an about face, the United States withdrew a U.N. resolution endorsing this week's agreement by Israeli and Palestinian leaders to try to reach a Mideast peace settlement by the end of 2008, apparently after Israel objected. U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad said he needed to consult with the Israelis and Palestinians overnight on the text of the resolution to ensure it was what they wanted. The State Department said Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice had decided such a resolution was unnecessary. U.S. officials said there were several concerns about the resolution, including the failure to consult the Israelis and Palestinians on the language and the possibility that some on the Security Council might try to add anti-Israeli language to it. One would think that we would have checked with the Israelis and Palestinians about the wording of the resolution before we submitted it to the U.N. Given the importance that President bush has placed on this, you'd think that the State Department would have kept much closer tabs on what was being presented at the U.N.

Russia - Former world chess champion, Garry Kasparov, was released from jail after serving a five-day sentence for leading a protest against Vladimir Putin. Kasparov predicted the upcoming election season will force the secretive Putin to reveal his strategy in the nail-biting political game gripping the country as Putin's time in the Kremlin runs out. With Putin leading the ticket of the main pro-Kremlin party, United Russia, government authorities have made an all-out effort to secure an overwhelming victory. Putin has cast the election as a crucial vote for continuity — and suggested that a convincing United Russia win would give him a popular mandate to retain influence after the presidential vote, in which he is barred from seeking a third term. Kasparov labeled the upcoming vote a farce that will push the country toward dictatorship. Even if Kasparov is right, does anyone think that his protests are going to make much of a difference? He's been trying to drum up resistance to Putin for more than a year and what does he have to show for it. Last time I checked, Putin was enjoying an approval rate of around 80%. One could argue that Putin is controlling those numbers with strong-arm tactics, but it would be pretty hard to maintain that much control for as long as he has. My guess is that Putin enjoys a pretty decent amount of public support.

2008 Presidential Race - A man claiming to have a bomb strapped to his chest took two hostages at a New Hampshire campaign office for Democratic presidential contender Hillary Clinton. Clinton was scheduled to give an address at a Democratic National Committee meeting Virginia, but DNC Chairman Howard Dean announced that Clinton would not speak. Authorities were sending a tactical bomb unit to assist local police, and the area was evacuated, Workers for Sen. Barack Obama's campaign office also evacuated, a campaign spokesman said. The office is four doors away from Clinton's. Staffers in John Edwards' office, a few buildings away, evacuated as well. Clearly this campaign is striking a chord with a lot of folks who have impassioned feelings about the future direction of the country, but this is taking things way too far.