Condoleeza Rice Makes State Visit To Libya

LIBYAN LEADER MEETS WITH AMERICAS' CONDOLEEZA RICE

The Libyan foreign Minister Abdel-Rahman Shalqam has met in Washington with Condoleeza Rice, setting the stage for possible better relations with the Arab nation for the first time in several decades. Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi was not present at the meeting.

The United States has been steadily improving ties with Libya after the leader of that country made overtures in 2003, and as a result of those overtures began dismantling weapons of mass destruction technology, paying compensation to the victims of the bombed and destroyed Pam Am flight 103 which exploded over Lockerbie, Scotland, and renouncing terrorism in general.

The United States restored diplomatic ties with Libya in 2004 and shortly after signed their first bilateral agreement - a science and technology agreement to share information.

Human Rights Watch issued a statement encouraging the Libyan government to "come clean" on allowing a free press, ending a ban on independent organizations, stopping the torture of detainees and releasing political prisoners. It said it knew of several cases, including the disappearance of three dissidents in recent years.
``We welcome improved relations between Libya and the U.S., but not at the expense of political prisoners, torture victims, and other Libyans who suffer abuse".

A Shocking Result In The US Caucuses in Iowa

BARACK OBAMA AND MIKE HUCKABEE END UP AT THE TOP OF THE HEAP

Not that I feel like watching the US 2008 elections unfold, but there is a good connection between our two countries, and we should all be interested in who is going to win, and what they will bring to the table in terms of relations with our country,so it is very interesting to see that the largest political machines in the country(Clinton and Romney) were unable to take the lead in a state (Iowa)that until last week seemed all but ready to endorse Clinton as the democratic choice, and Romney as the republican choice for office.

So, what went wrong?

For the Republicans I think their entire campaign has been more about religion than about anything substantial. Romney, a confirmed Mormon(a religious cult that permits interbreeding and multiple wives)was seen as the man for the Republicans. He seemed to have the advantage from the start with some endorsement from the national party structure, and a fistful of dollars to back him as well.

Out of the blue came Mike Huckabee, a former Arkansas governor who is better known as the man who lost a 100 pounds and is an ordained Baptist minister. Huckabees' appeal lies in the middle of the road, amongst evangelical christians who have come to represent a sizeable portion of the voting public.(past 40%)

Hillary Clinton was viewed more as an agent of the past, than an agent of future change as Obama presented himself to be.

The Clinton view that she was the only real candidate that could carry the democrats into office has been shoved aside in recent weeks as the momentum to elect Obama gained steam. Many people believed that Clinton represented another time, and another dynasty, and frankly many Americans are sick of the Bush/Clinton families sitting in the Whitehouse.

It is simply amazing that in a state with such WASPish connections, that a black man carried the day, and that a white woman (a rarity on the ballott)was beaten by the same black man who carries the name Obama.

Is it possible that the USA might allow for the election of its' first black president?It is more than possible. The political machine of Obama was revitalized as thousands and thousands of young people flocked to his campaign in a last ditch effort to propel him into the top echelon.

If this is repeated acrosss the country in the next month, Mr Obama could very well be the next Chief of the USA, barring all accidents and guffaws.

Harper CONservatives Miss The Majority Mark...Again.

HARPER APPEARS TO BE LOST IN NO MANS' LAND

It's been nearly 2 years since the minority CONservative Party of Stephen Harper came to the helm of the Canadian government and still there is no hope for him to achieve a coveted majority government. Harper has lead the country wqith the smallest minority government in Canadian history and he seems poised to continue leading a minority until the natural governing party returns to power.

Many people have suggested that Harper is serving as a "time- out" prime minister, similar to a caretaker, and I would have to agree.

During the past 23 months, this minority government has really achieved very little aside from massive program spending increases (not very conservative)totalling more than 25% of the previous amount allocated for programs under the former Liberal governments of Martin and Chretien.

He has cut the GST against all common sense(although I am not a tax fan, I will say that cutting a VAT is foolish when cutting personal taxes on income could have provided a more desirable

result for a wider group of Canadians)and has attempted to reorganize and streamline numerous programs, even when they did not require adjustments, leaving many important programs suffering under his reign.

His most notable failure is his plan to chop the federal governments' gun registry in favour of zero gun controls against the wishes of thousands of police across the country.

The Liberal party,(according to the most recent polls) is gaining ground in Ontario and Quebec

and has surpassed the Conservatives nationally as the party of choice in the next federal election. I do not beleive the leadership of Dion will have any major impact on the next campaign as I beleive that the election will be won on the strengths of the individual nominated candidates in each particular riding.