New Russian Missile... Awkward Timing

Its a biggun'...

Russia test fired their newest ballistic missile this Wednesday (And its a mother... just look at the size of that thing!). This is an odd timing considering NATO just recently announced a new missile defense system, claiming it was infallible. "The new intercontinental ballistic missile is intended to strengthen the capabilities of Russia's Strategic Missile Forces, including its capabilities for overcoming anti-missile defenses," Defense Ministry spokesman Vadim Koval told RIA Novosti. The fact that he mentions Russia is trying to bypass missile defense systems is a little... peculiar. World War III? Probably not. Regardless the tension is there but no real debates or arguments between Russia and NATO have happened as of yet. Earlier in the year the Russian president threatened the withdraw of the treaty that stated nuclear weapons need to be reduced internationally. A treaty that dates back to the cold war. Fishy business.... fishy business...

Link: http://www.cnn.com/2012/05/23/world/europe/russia-missile/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

European Attack on Somalian Pirates

European Naval forces launched an attack on Somali pirates on Tuesday. “We believe this action by the EU Naval Force will further increase the pressure on, and disrupt pirates’ efforts to get out to sea to attack merchant shipping and dhows,"  Admiral Duncan Potts said in a statement. The attack was executed entirely from the air and there were reportedly no injured Somali. They have claimed to have sunk several skiffs (Which are the small boats the pirates use to speed up to a merchant vessel) and hopefully slowed down their attacks. Permission for European forces to attack Somalian pirates on shore was given on March 23 this year and the agreement was put to good use on Tuesday. This an other similar attacks have reportedly decreased pirate attacks in that area DRAMATICALLY...

Link:http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2012/05/15/european-union-forces-attack-pirate-targets-on-somali-shore/?hpt=hp_t2

Intel Reports Taliban is Stronger...

Afghan President Hamid Karzai, claimed he doesn't believe the Taliban will return, but US intelligence reports that the Taliban is stronger than ever. Since the peak of 100,000 deployed soldiers last year, there have been reports of more aggressive and frequent attacks by insurgents in Afghanistan. Republicans criticize Obama's set deadline to have all troops out of Afghanistan by 2014. If congress cannot prove that the war effort is worthwhile, a recent bill will be passed cutting 60% of military funding. Whether this will make conditions in Afghanistan and the Middle East better or worse is yet to be seen.

Link: http://www.military.com/news/article/congress-intel-heads-taliban-stronger.html

China: Forced Abortions

A pregnant Ji Yeqing had her house stormed by Chines authorities. While her husband was being beaten down, she was dragged down a flight of stairs and brought to a hospital. Upon awakening, she discovered she had undergone an abortion while unconscious. This is apparently done due to the Chinese "1 child law", because she was pregnant with her second child. China is the only country where the female suicide rate is significantly higher than the male suicide rate. This is more than likely due to China's "1 child law". Is this law just? The Chinese government claims it is to regulate the male/female ratio.

Link: http://www.cnn.com/2012/04/30/world/asia/china-forced-abortions/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

Mexico steadily eliminating cartels

Nearly 50,000 deaths have occurred in Mexico during the Mexican drug wars since president Felipe Calderon was elected. While many headlines remain negative, the Mexican president is actually making excellent progress in the war against drug cartels by eliminating many high ranking drug lords. Until recently, drug related killings were rising 27, 28, and 29% over the past few years, but now it seems to be leveling out and (hopefully) declining. The Cartels had always bribed or killed off police in order to come into power, so the President of Mexico issued a military force that could easily win a shootout (In other words, Military firepower > police firepower). With the cartels taking heavy losses, Mexico hopes to see an extreme decrease in drug related crime. It is unknown what the future holds for the war, but 83% of Mexicans agree that some action is better than no action at all.

Link: http://globalpublicsquare.blogs.cnn.com/2012/04/24/zakaria-is-mexico-winning-the-drug-war/?hpt=hp_c1

Officer Kills Dog: He went to the wrong address

In Austin Texas, a 911 call was made about a seemingly drunk man and a woman trying to get away from him on the sidewalk. The 911 caller unknowingly gave the wrong address. When the officer arrived he stepped in front of the car and proceeded onto the supposed property. Michael Paxton was the owner of this property and was playing with his dog in the yard. The dog began to bark and the officer said "Show me your hands! Show me your hands! Get your dog!" and pulled the trigger, giving Paxton virtually NO TIME to react. Cisco, the dog, died. The police department states it is unfortunate that it happened, but there is no law against what he did.

Link to the video: http://www.cnn.com/video/?hpt=hp_t3#/video/us/2012/04/17/austin-police-officer-shoots-dog.kxan

Bus driver down, student takes the wheel

Monday morning a busload of kids was on its way to Surprise Lake Middle School in Milton, Washington. At some point during the trip, the driver fell into a slump and went unconscious. A quick thinking student named Jeremy Wuitschick realized what was happening and ran to take control of the wheel from two seats back. Jeremy could find no way to reach the brake, so he removed the keys from the ignition and guided it to the side of the road where it eventually rolled to a stop. Soon after Jeremy and another student performed CPR on the incapacitated driver while emergency services were on their way. The driver’s condition is not yet released, but he is reported to still be in the hospital.