World Affairs Articles

Politics » World Affairs | By Kerry Plowright @ Thursday, 19th October 2006 @ 7:40 PM

The key to air superiority is estimating the shape and size of future threat, coupled with the development of an appropriate force structure to deal with it. Executive Summary The ability of the Australian Defence Force to maintain air superiority in our region to 2020 depends entirely on our assessment of threat. The Defence department's choice of the F35 describes a low-level threat environment. This means Australia is not prepared for the worst, but a very hopeful situation, a ... more...

Politics » World Affairs | By Judi Lynn Lake @ Wednesday, 18th October 2006 @ 4:00 PM

In a recent article, Dr. Amaal V.E. Tokars writes, "When the United States declared war on Iraq in 2003 Nelson Mandela declared that the invasion should be "condemned in the strongest terms." The voices of such statesmen from around the world were not centerpiece to the information being conveyed to American citizens during the time leading up to the invasion. Centerpiece to that information was strong conveyances linking Iraq to the Taliban, terror, and weapons of mass destruction.... more...

Politics » World Affairs | By eileen fleming @ Thursday, 28th September 2006 @ 4:02 PM

After Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's recent remarks at the U.N., during which he referred to President Bush as "the devil," and then held up and recommended Noam Chomsky's, "Hegemony or Survival: America's Quest for Global Dominance" he told reporters, "The people of the United States should read this ... instead of the watching Superman movies." And they are, for as of last Thursday afternoon, "Hegemony or Survival," [published in 2003] leap... more...

Politics » World Affairs | By Kerry Plowright @ Tuesday, 29th August 2006 @ 4:02 AM

Australia is surrounded by the greatest Muslim population on the planet. This includes Indonesia's 180 million and other countries like Malaysia. Should we be worried about that? The Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on a recent visit to Tehran stated his country was a friend of Iran. At the same time Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad criticized the bullying and monopolistic spirit in the world. He said desecration of sanctities and values and disrespect for the Isl... more...

Politics » World Affairs | By Kerry Plowright @ Tuesday, 29th August 2006 @ 4:01 AM

Developing an effective defensive strategy and force structure is entirely predicated on understanding near and possible long-term threats. Unlike the past, the acquisition cycle of materiel, training and subsequent deployment of new technologies and weapons systems is a long-term commitment, perhaps 30 years. This means we have to try to predict and cater for all possible threat scenarios that might eventuate in the next thirty years. Historically we barely get the next twelve months right. WW... more...

Politics » World Affairs | By Kerry Plowright @ Tuesday, 29th August 2006 @ 4:01 AM

Why would Iran want to start a fight? The Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is a true believer of a bloke called the Mahdi. Ahmadinejad and his mates have said many times they want to wipe Israel off the map, destroy America, bring about an Islamic world etc etc. All of this would be funny if Ahmadinejad wasn't about to commission nuclear weapons and wasn't successfully reeling in Indonesia and every other Muslim state and individual into the great plan. It truly is a great plan b... more...

Politics » World Affairs | By Kerry Plowright @ Tuesday, 29th August 2006 @ 12:09 AM

We are rapidly heading for all out war. One of three events will occur, any one of them is cataclysmic. The U.S. and Australia will be embroiled in a conflict that will pitch Islam against the rest of the world. Today, just like the prelude to World War Two, we are witnessing the opening strokes. The only problem is this one will include WMD and nukes. We are experiencing a rapid slide into a major global conflict and will be at war soon, maybe in 36 months, perhaps sooner. I can tell you... more...

Politics » World Affairs | By Herbert Young @ Wednesday, 26th July 2006 @ 5:36 AM

"City ravaged by chain explosions...chemical company razed...oil refineries explode and burn...utilities disrupted...water supply condemned after a fire broke out on a freighter in port." "Power outage sparks one of the worst water crises in the city's history as all four water pumps go down at once." "Seven people dead and 2,300 ill after one of the town's wells becomes contaminated with E. Coli." These headlines are not the result of terro... more...

Politics » World Affairs | By eileen fleming @ Sunday, 25th June 2006 @ 4:43 AM

On June 20th International Refugee day passed without a whimper from the USA media. America’s intake of refugees has gone from 100,000 annually to 45,000. Our taxes go to support ethnic cleansing and the creation of new refugees and displaced persons and the vast majority of good American’s don’t even know it. Billions of USA dollars go to Israel yet Israel openly defies International Law. The largest remaining refugee crisis in the world can be traced back to American foreign policy regar... more...

Politics » World Affairs | By eileen fleming @ Sunday, 25th June 2006 @ 1:17 AM

In the past year I have been to the occupied territories in the West Bank three times. I have spoken with hundreds of Palestinian Muslims and Christians, and four members of Hamas who had been elected. I did NOT meet any terrorists. I did meet human beings who have lived under occupation for forty years. According to International Law, occupation is to be a temporary situation and maintain the status quo. That is NOT the facts on the ground in Israel Palestine. "Durin... more...

Politics » World Affairs | By Warren Graham @ Friday, 26th May 2006 @ 12:18 AM

In May, 1978, one of the Major American Television Networks put on a broadcast in celebration of the 30th Anniversary of the Founding of the State of Israel. The show was hosted by Barbra Streisand who, at the time, I guess, was deemed to be a well-known enough entertainer and “Jewish” enough to carry off the show credibly. The finale of the show consisted of a live (via satellite) interview between Streisand and Prime Minister Golda Meir, everyone’s favorite chicken-soup with matzo balls... more...

Politics » World Affairs | By Herbert Young @ Wednesday, 10th May 2006 @ 6:10 PM

Much is being made about the "Peak Oil Crisis" in the media today. Gasoline and natural gas prices are high and continue to rise. But what is the "peak oil crisis" and how does it impact our water supply? Peak Oil is discussed and defined in an excellent book by Kenneth S. Deffeyes entitled “Beyond Oil, The View from Hubbert's Peak”. As Mr. Deffeyes notes: "The supply of oil in the ground is not infinite. Someday, annual world crude oil production has to re... more...

Politics » World Affairs | By Dana Smith @ Monday, 24th April 2006 @ 3:57 AM

2 Thessalonians 2:3 ¶Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition 4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. The Oath of the Jesuit: I furthermore promise and declare that I will, when opportunity present, make and wage relentless war, secretl... more...

Politics » World Affairs | By Paul M. Jerard Jr. @ Monday, 24th April 2006 @ 2:40 AM

For two of the past two Presidential elections, the Democrats have miserably failed to produce a viable candidate who could sway the entire United States. Instead of complaining about how bad the next three years will be, Democrats now have the opportunity to produce a viable “front runner.” It really shouldn’t be that hard to find a candidate who can identify with the American people. However, it seems the democrats have lost touch with many large regions of the country. This past electi... more...

Politics » World Affairs | By Paul M. Jerard Jr. @ Monday, 24th April 2006 @ 2:17 AM

Despite the fact that we are a multi-cultural society, American soldiers are perceived as Christian soldiers, or “infidels,” by most of the Moslem world. We, and our military, are not really welcome in most parts of the Middle East. Our relationship is historically founded on mistrust. Let’s bring the troops home and give them a hero’s welcome. Loved ones, across the country, deserve to see them back on American soil. War takes its toll on all concerned, and there is no further need to “p... more...

Politics » World Affairs | By Paul M. Jerard Jr. @ Monday, 24th April 2006 @ 2:11 AM

Let’s continue with more Democratic “hopefuls” for the 2008 Presidential election. None have announced that they will seek election, but don’t be surprised if they do. U.S. Senator Evan Bayh of Indiana: He is the Son of former U.S. Senator Birch Bayh. Evan Bayh was a possible running mate for Al Gore in the 2000 election. Senator Bayh is from the right part of the country and is a moderate. He has not announced his intentions, but he looks like a very strong possibility. U.S. Senat... more...

Politics » World Affairs | By Paul M. Jerard Jr. @ Monday, 24th April 2006 @ 2:09 AM

There seems to be some confusion between patriotism and common sense lately. This is what most nationalistic movements bank on. No one should speak up with the voice of reason; if you do, you will be shouted down, called a coward, and publicly shamed. There have been more harsh treatments for men and women of reason. Just look at how many firing squads were active in the 20th century in countries that did not allow freedom of speech. Therefore, let’s review where we were, where we ... more...

Politics » World Affairs | By Paul M. Jerard Jr. @ Tuesday, 24th January 2006 @ 8:32 PM

Remember when the Berlin wall came down, and some of us had hoped for world peace? One by one, former Soviet Block countries became democracies and we all hoped for the best. The concept of democracy is difficult for anyone who has not lived in a free society. Therefore, this is the reason for a “learning curve” in the upstart democracies of Eastern Europe and some of the former Soviet republics. In the United States, we hoped for an end to nuclear proliferation and a chance to make n... more...

Politics » World Affairs | By Josef Grgas @

Symbolic t-shirts offer a simple way to make a statement with maximum impact. As the saying goes, “a picture tells a thousand words” and these days there are far more than a thousand different t-shirts emblazoned with iconographic art that can help you say it. One classic t shirt that appears to be making a comeback is that of Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara, Argentinean revolutionary and right hand man of Fidel Castro. He has been a poster boy for the radical left for the last 50 years and he’s now more ... more...

Politics » World Affairs | By Josef Grgas @

It’s been nearly 20 years since the first publication of “Disturbing the Peace”, Karel Hvizdala’s transcription of written correspondence with Vaclav Havel from 1985-86. With Havel recently announcing that he has commenced work on an autobiography, it’s an interesting exercise to view how Havel represents himself, his work and his politics before the tumultuous events of the Velvet Revolution in 1989. Quite a lot of political water has passed under the Charles Bridge in Prague during... more...