The village Green has always been at the heart of life in Historical England, serving the needs of the village inhabitants a various guises. It is such a shame that so many of these marvelous green spaces are now neglected or abused.

Originally developed in Anglo Saxon settlements as places where livestock could be protected or the green used as common grazing ground the village green has developed over the centuries into a center of village life, equally as important as the village church or manor house, it served the common peoples needs. Some of the uses are outlined here as examples of how important they were to the whole community.

The Village Pond
Among the livestock kept by villagers were ducks and geese and the pond was their sanctuary with the green itself providing grazing. Horses, sheep and cattle used it as a watering hole but since the introduction of more modern methods when livestock was moved from the green to adjacent farm land the ponds life went into decline. The invention of the tractor saw the end of the need for horses, and no need for a watering hole the ponds became overgrown an polluted with waste.

Most modern day village ponds are man made, lined with clay or even polythene and are more a place for relaxation and children to pond dip in than a village utility. Whatever their use they enhance England’’s countryside, long may they live.

The Village Stocks
Punishment was a public display of law and order and a deterrent to would be law breakers and the village stocks were at the forefront of this humiliation. There were other punishment held on the greens such as ducking stools and whipping posts but the stocks are the most common of these still in evidence today.

Up until the 19th century the behavior of the villagers was controlled by the local Squire and sometimes the church Rector and some of the crimes you could be punished for were, drunkenness, rowdiness, swearing and of course stealing. Perhaps something the Government of the day ought to consider bring back.

The Village Water Supply
As well as having the pond to serve as a water supply for livestock many villages had a village pump situated on the green. Before the advent of piped water this was the only means for locals to obtain clean, fresh water. The collecting of water from the pump was therefore a daily chore, usually carried out by the women and children of the community.

The Village Playground
One of the most charming sites when touring the countryside is to come across a village green with a cricket match being played, Englishness personified. But well before cricket was introduced the village green was used as a practice ground for the local archers before marching off to the battlefields of Agincourt. Aristocracy used the green for jousts and tilting contests which often included a fair for the less well to do enjoy.

Various festivals were celebrated on the village green, some of which are still performed today. Spring time was welcomed in by Morris dancing and the Maypole was dressed and danced around and on Midsummer day fires were lit and celebrations held.

So you can see that the village green was central to the life of the community and in many ways still is today. But with the closing of local shops and pubs the village green is under threat which is such a pity for residents and visitors alike. I may be getting old and cynical but I feel that some things really were better years ago.

About The Author

Steve has a passion for English history and he has set up his web site to share his passion with you. He gives a simple introduction and some personal views on historical England from which you can enjoy and learn about the history of England, London and much, much more at www.historicalengland.org

The story tells that the streets of historical London are paved with Gold but to be honest I am not sure whether that is really the case as I have never found any.

However what I can tell you is true that the streets are wealth of historical interest, telling their own story of the development of one of the greatest cities in the World. From Roman inhabitation up until the present day the streets of historical London reveal golden nuggets of history for everyone to appreciate and enjoy.

Roman and Medieval Wall.
Sections of the Roman defensive wall can still be seen, the walls that protected London from around AD200 from raids by Saxons and Danes and later although unsuccessfully from the Normans. The walls were maintained for over a thousand years when in the middle of the eighteenth century they were abandoned. Probably the best place to see as you emerge from Tower Hill underground station where on the left you will see part of the wall the bottom of which is Roman, the red tiled section, and the rest is from the medieval period.

Hidden Clubs and Passageways.
St. James Square between Piccadilly Circus and St.James Palace is a treasure trove of historical London’’s famous clubs and hidden passageways and mews. Within a short walking distance of each other you will discover clubs such as the Reform, Athenaeum, Turf and Carlton
to mention just a few. The passageways and mews of the surrounding area are a delight and give beautiful examples of the architecture of the eighteenth century.

Something Unusual.
London has many historical sites that the casual visitor will miss which is a pity, so here are a few for you to look out for. Number 1 Greek Street in Soho was built around 1746 and was a refuge for the homeless, the 400 year old Hoop and Grapes pub in Aldgate High Street was built in the seventeenth century only narrowly missing being destroyed in the Great Fire of 1666.

Lastly although there are many more, Charterhouse where you will find a Carthusian monastery founded in 1370 by one of Edward 111 famous Knights Sir Edward Manny.

So maybe the streets of historical London are paved with Gold, but Gold worth more to me than its prized matallic ingots, the golden nuggets of history. I recommend the next time you visit to take a quality guide book with you so as not to miss the wealth available and visit these lesser known sites for free instead of paying and queuing in the more well known attractions.

About The Author

Steve has a passion for English history and he has set up his web site to share his passion with you. He gives a simple introduction and some personal views on historical England from which you can enjoy and learn about the history of England, London and much, much more at www.historicalengland.org

If you want to capture the making of historical England there is no better place to look than London. Its history is a microcosm of the rest of the country and can be likened to a leader of fashion, what London did one day the rest of the country and indeed other countries followed the next.

London was at the heart of the Roman and Norman invasions so was always at the forefront when it comes to the development of historical England. No surprise then that it became and still it one of the great business, arts and cultural centers of the world.

Most people have either a love or hate attitude to London and I certainly fall into the I love London category , always enthralled by its vibrancy and character, let alone the vast array of historical monuments, buildings, parks and museums it has on offer.

Something for everyone and that is the way it has always been with as diverse a variety of trades, religions, architecture and society that you will find anywhere.

Back to the England and London historical partnership, there is not too much documentation about the pre-Roman settling of London but archaeologists have found evidence of a settlement being there before their arrival in AD 43 when around 40,000 men landed in Kent and Sussex and proceeded up towards the river Thames. The existing settlement with its river crossing and defensive landscape proved to be an ideal place to make a base camp.

There are many relics remaining from the Roman occupation for the visitor to historical England (London) to be amazed at proving that the invasion was good for the development of the country, especially when you consider that the Romans introduced so many benefits to the general population. Although I suspect that if you asked one of the locals at the time they may not have been so enthusiastic.

The progression of London and England continued with the arrival of the Normans in 1066, one date I did manage to learn at school, who proved to be the big builders and law makers of the time and their legacy can be seen throughout the country in the form of churches, castles and cathedrals, the White Tower of the Tower of London being among them.

So many of our historical heritage is due to invasion and London was often at the center of things even up to more modern times with the Blitz during the Second World War and the even more recent terrorist attacks all of which in my opinion gives the Englishman and Londoners in particular their bloody mindedness and backs against the wall, fight until the last man drops attitude to life.

This image is often mistaken by outsiders as being mistrustful and stand offish but looking at the historical facts I believe that they, or should I say we,have every reason to be wary of those from across the sea.

About The Author

Steve has a passion for English history and he has set up his web site to share his passion with you. He gives a simple introduction and some personal views on historical England from which you can enjoy and learn about the history of England, London and much, much more at www.historicalengland.org

Most people tend to think of the beginning of historical England as around the time of the Roman invasions, but it starts way before then. The dawn of English history can be put right back to 8000 BC and beyond, Back to the time of the great Ice Ages when England was still connected to the rest of Europe and what we now call Scandinavia.

Very simply the dawn of historical England can be summarized like this, remember I am no academic so please do not write to complain about any minor discrepancies, these are only guidelines to help you understand better the time line of England’’s development.

8000 BC the Palaeolithic or Old Stone Age.
The climate was swinging between temperate and polar conditions and Britain was still joined to mainland Europe and migratory hunter gatherers visited during warmer times.

8000 BC to 4000 BC The Mesolithic or Middle Stone Age.
The ice melts back from the southern regions and the English Channel is formed, trees and other fauna appears and more hunter gatherers begin to visit.

4000 BC to 2000 BC The Neolithic or New Stone Age.
Life is still mainly nomadic but forests begin to be cleared and the beginnings of farming start bringing some of the earliest known settlements. This is also when communal burial mounds were built and the now famous stone circles erected.

2000 BC to 700 BC The Bronze Age.
More permanent settlements appear and metalwork is introduced. The population increases with more complex communities being formed and individual burials become more prevalent.

700 BC to AD 43 The Iron Age.
The introduction of iron improves the quality and range of weapons and tools, hill forts are erected is protected both occupants and farmland from neighboring or nomadic tribes.

That is my rough guide to the development of historical England, short and sweet I know but I have quickly brought you up to AD 43 when the Romans invaded and the fun begins. Well that is not strictly true because Caesar first visited (sort of invaded) way back in 55 BC, but after a quick look did not go too much on what he found and returned to Rome.

It is from AD 43 that my own interest gets awakened and as far as I am concerned historical England begins its story of intrigue, myths, legends and passion begins. People like Julius Caesar, Hadrian and Boudicca appear and towns and cities such as London, Colchester, York and Carlisle are put on the map. This is the period when my historical imagination runs amok and I am there living and feeling the times. Whacky maybe but fun.

About The Author

Steve has a passion for English history and he has set up his web site to share his passion with you. He gives a simple introduction and some personal views on historical England from which you can enjoy and learn about the history of England, London and much, much more at www.historicalengland.org

Why do I have a passion for historical England? A very easy question to answer when you think of all the drama, intrigue, courage and passion, all of the heroes and villains, Kings, Queens, rebels, artists, highwaymen, bishops and scientists. that have been a part in the shaping of England and its rich historical past.

Little wonder that Hollywood has celebrated many a box office hit with films based on tales from historical England! Just think of Brave Heart,Elizabeth, Robin Hood Prince of Thieves and more recently The Other Boleyn Girl, just a handful off the top of my head. That is without even mentioning all of the wonderful BBC television costume dramas. All of the evidence you need is right there for you to see how exciting and fun history can be.

I remember back in my school days, historical themselves now, I had a love for history but wanted to live it, experience it, fill my senses with it, not sit in a stuffy classroom reading boring text books and learning dates and time lines parrot fashion. So secretly, do not tell anyone will you, I used to skip school and go on my own adventures around historical England.

There were so many wonderful places nearby that I could visit, castles, cathedrals, stately homes and museums where I could touch and feel the past and picture myself back in times of old. Rochester in Kent was on my doorstep and there I could saunter down the same high street that Charles Dickens walked down, roam around the Norman castle and marvel at one of the oldest cathedrals in the country.

That is what I call learning about history.

Just take a look around you own neighborhood, I bet you will be surprised at the wealth of history on your own doorstep. Next time you are out take a look up at some of the buildings around you, often the lower parts of them have been renovated into shops or offices but the higher up you look you will be amazed at what you will see. The oldest parts are normally still intact showing the architecture of the time of building and more often than not there will be a date embossed giving you the precise age.

Go on, try it. I guarantee you will discover historical England for yourself and of course you will meet lots of new friends as you bump into them whilst walking and gazing upwards, I know I do.

Today historical England is so much more accessible with so many wonderful heritage sites, living museums and theme parks. Especially during the summer months when the country is littered with festivals, pageants, shows and displays. All so much better than that classroom I was made to endure, or so they thought!

If you have a hidden passion for history, let it out and enjoy it, learn from it, have fun with it and pass it on to your friends and family.

About The Author

Steve has a passion for English history and he has set up his web site to share his passion with you. He gives a simple introduction and some personal views on historical England from which you can enjoy and learn about the history of England, London and much, much more at www.historicalengland.org

The forthcoming trial of former Bosnian-Serb leader Radovan Karadzic for genocide and crimes against humanity is the latest high-profile, international case to be conducted in The Hague. At a time when the world’’s media descend and set-up camp in the Dutch city, this article takes a brief look at the seat of government for the Netherlands.

Founded in the early 13th century by then Count of Holland, Floris IV, the original purpose of the region was to extend to little more than a residence on which to hunt. As a result, the region would become known as ‘’Des Graven Hage'’ - ‘’the count’’s wood'’.

It would be Floris'’ successor, William II, who envisioned a palace and an expansion of the area. Completed during the reign of his son, sections of the palace - in particular the Knights'’ Hall - remain to this day, and continue to be used for certain political and regal events.

With the palatial residency in place, The Hague would quickly become the administrative centre for the nation, in 1588 taking on the seat of the government of the Dutch Republic. This remained the case even after the Napoleonic Wars saw the Netherlands combined with Belgium to form the United Kingdom of the Netherlands. This short-lived kingdom permitted both Amsterdam and Brussels to hold the official title of capital on an alternating, two-year term, yet The Hague maintained its administrative status throughout the period, and even following the kingdom’’s subsequent dissolution.

Such a rich pedigree as a political centre set the tone for The Hague to become a base for many international legal organisations, such as the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court.

Arguably the most renowned international legal proceeding to operate in the city, however, is that of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY). Originated by the United Nations to prosecute those responsible for serious crimes during the wars that ravaged the former Yugoslavia throughout the early 1990s, to date the most notorious indictee to face prosecution at the Tribunal building in The Hague was former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic.

In the coming months - if not years - former Bosnian-Serb leader Radovan Karadzic will demand similar attention from media organisations. The hope for many, however, is that the trial will not be reduced to the oft-farcical proceedings of Milosevic’’s drawn-out trial. The prolonged proceedings lasted into a fifth year, with its end coming prematurely through the untimely death of the defendant. This time around, it is hoped that The Hague can anticipate the successful prosecution of a heavily-sought war criminal.

Having been in the limelight of European politics for centuries, it is clear that The Hague has become accustomed to political and media attention. As a result, this modern and cosmopolitan city will no doubt continue to conduct itself with great diplomacy and dignity as the trial ensues.

About The Author

Max Clarke is a copywriter for holiday services company, Holiday Extras

He may well be the President in waiting, but how much is known in the UK about Democrat candidate Barack Obama? Following his fleeting visit to these shores in July, this article takes a brief look at the rise of the Senator from Illinois.

Born August 4, 1961 to Kenyan-born Barack Obama Snr., and Kansas-raised Ann Dunham, Obama’’s early life centred on an upbringing with his mother in Hawaii before relocating to Indonesia following Dunham’’s second marriage to Lolo Soetoro. Eventually returning to New York, Obama graduated from Columbia University in 1983, majoring in political science with a specialisation in international relations.

A move to Chicago and the appointment as a community organiser with a local church saw Obama begin working in the public domain, a role that included the establishment of job training and tutoring programmes. A return to education and the gaining of a Harvard law degree was soon followed by the appointment as a civil rights lawyer in Chicago and the role of a tutor of constitutional law. It was also around this time that, as a summer associate of the Sidley & Austin law firm, he would meet and become involved with Michelle Robinson, the two eventually marrying in October 1992. The couple have two daughters.

During his time at Harvard, Obama would become the first African-American president of the Harvard Law Review, the prestigious journal of legal scholarship that was first published in 1887. The publicity of his appointment led to the offer to write a book on race relations, a work that would eventually turn into a personal memoir entitled ‘’Dreams from My Father'’ in 1995. (Obama’’s second book, ‘’The Audacity of Hope'’ was released in 2006 and presents more of a personal manifesto for his presidential campaign.)

As the advocacy work and interest involving Obama grew, the decision was taken to run for the Illinois State Senate in 1996, a position he held for eight years. His resignation from the role only came in November 2004 after his election to the US Senate, a result boosted in no small measure by the lauded keynote address given at the 2004 Democratic Convention.

Since appointment to the Senate, Obama has focused strongly on policies that seek to have the widest possible reach of impact, and also restore faith and transparency in the offices of the US government. With the support of heavily-experienced and high-level advisers, the success of Obama’’s time in the Senate garnered great media attention and prompted the consideration to run for the Democratic nomination for the US Presidency.

This move was announced before the Old State Capitol building in Springfield, Illinois, and has been followed by vociferous support for the withdrawal of US presence in Iraq, the providing of universal health care and the increase of energy independence. Each of the three policies has been prominent in the presidential primary campaign against fellow Democrat Hillary Clinton, and now the presidential campaign against Republican John McCain.

The history of Barack Obama has certainly shaped him into the charismatic politician we see before us today. But will the charming and determined Senator achieve the goal of becoming president of the United States of America? It certainly appears that he is the current forerunner, but as we have seen with the Bush administration, when it comes to presidential elections, anything can happen.

About The Author

Max Clarke is a copywriter for holiday services company, Holiday Extras

Barack Obama, once the darling can do no wrong presidential candidate of the media, seems to be on a slippery downward slope since his highly publicized foreign tour to the Mid East, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Europe.

“Barack Obama has long been his party’’s presumptive nominee. Now he’’s becoming its presumptuous nominee,” wrote Dana Milbank, a columnist for the Washington Post.

“As he marches towards Inauguration Day (Election Day is but a milestone on that path) Obama’’s biggest challenger may not be Republican John McCain but his own hubris.”

Obama and his campaign staff are now being charged by media members of being less transparent than the highly secretive Bush Whitehouse staff. While it is normal in a close race for the front runner to fade a bit with several months to go before the general election it is a danger to Obama to lose the support of the media at a critical time when he needs them the most.

Obama’’s failure to gain ground on McCain with all of the publicity he received on his tour of the Mid East and Europe is a danger sign and does not bode well for him in coming months. Many voters seems to have been turned off with what they took as a display of arrogance. In addition, his presumptuousness in having meetings usually reserved for a head of state, like meeting with the prime minster of Pakistan upon his return to Washington, did not sit well with many voters, especially the independent voters that he must do well with to win the election.

While it is normal for a campaign to change tactics in the transition from a primary to a general election campaign Obama may have made a fatal flaw in dropping the “change you can believe in” theme that carried Obama to victory in the primary. Voters want change. What they do not want is a man whose actions seem to be those of one who thinks he has already won the election. Voters want to be courted and hugged and kissed a few times, not taken for granted.

If Obama does not make a quick correction to this perception that he is acting like a man who has the election all wrapped up the blow back may well cause him to lose the big prize to a terrible candidate, one Senator John McCain. McCain is boring, a rather stupid opportunist who can'’t keep his facts straight, out of touch with reality, seems ready to say and do anything to win, and just plain old. Just what a nation in crisis needs, right?

If Obama should lose the 2008 presidential election the only honorable thing for him to do would be to immediately schedule a press conference and commit suicide in front of the TV cameras. At least that act would be a winner on YouTube. It would be a small step for him to take as Obama and his campaign staff, after winning a hard and smartly fought primary campaign, have already chosen a path of what could quickly become political suicide.

As every politician knows well a stupid political suicide due to faulty tactics is far worse than the real thing.

About The Author

Learn more about the 2008 election and the coming energy crisis and its consequences for the way we will live and work at Taipan Investor News Analysis

A flack jacket is a form of protective clothing in the design of a vest. It is used to provide protection from shrapnel and other indirect low velocity projectiles. The flack jacket was originally developed by the Wilkinson Sword company during World War II to help protect the Royal Air Force air personnel from flying debris and shrapnel. The jacket consisted of manganese plates sewn into a waistcoat made of ballistic nylon- a material engineered by the DuPont Company. The flak jackets ended up being too bulky for wear within the confines of the RAFs standard bomber aircraft. The RAF subsequently offered the jackets to the United State Army Air Forces, who adopted them as a Defense Standard.

Every frontline soldier in Vietnam was issued a flak jacket as part of his combat kit. The flack jacket is worn over the upper body, and was designed to give protection against small arms fire, shrapnel, and flying debris.

The Marines usually wore the Vest, Armored, M-1955. It weighed just over 10 pounds and was made form a mixture of nylon and a special protective material know as Doron. Doron was first manufactured in 1943 by the DowChemical Company, and was created by bonding together glass filaments under high pressure, using a resin called methacrylate. This produced a hard but light weight material which could withstand ballistic impact at very short range. The vest was fitted with twenty three separate Doron plates, with layers of nylon to cushion the impact of a direct hit.

The Army’’s flak jacket was slightly different. It was called Body Armor, Fragmentation Protective, Vest M69. It reflected the Armys preference for nylon-aluminum rather than Doron. Protection was built up by means of layers of ballistic nylon filler, sealed in a waterproof vinyl plastic casing. The vest weighed under 8 pounds and was more comfortable than the M-1955, especially in the heat and humidity of Vietnam, although in both cases the habit of wearing the flak jacket unzipped to keep cool, undermined its value.

Unfortunately neither vest was really designed to stop an AK-47 round fired point blank, but they did a pretty good job of stopping shell blasts, rocket fragments, snake bites, fire ant bites, prickly thorn and the odd bullet that had just about run out of gas.

Now days the flak jackets have been replaced by Kevlar Body Armor and come in six different types that offer protecting all the way from a .22 caliber long range rifle up to an armor piercing rifle.

About The Author

Visit Nam War Collectibles for great prices on Vietnam Era military collectibles and military equipment.

The writing is on the wall (street, that is), and it is telling us that we need to reaffirm the United States as the dominant force in the global economy, and that we have to do more to protect our citizens'’ retirement and investment programs.

Most economic research suggests that tax code replacement surgery is essential for long-term economic progress. The goal of my plan is to make sure that you are not grumbling ten years from now about the same things that trouble you today. Here’’s a fifteen-point plan to end the cycles of economic frustration and global disrespect during this administration:

One. Take Social Security out of the public sector and replace it with a mandatory, deferred, fixed benefit, single-life-annuity program managed by existing annuity providers. Employee contributions would be reduced nearly 50% and employer contributions eliminated over a five-year implementation period— immediately for the self-employed. Participants would have no investment discretion or access to funds until retirement.

Two. Mandate that no less than 50% of all self-directed benefit plan Working Capital be invested in government securities, and not qualified for withdrawal until retirement. Bring all alternative investments (options commodities, futures, hedge funds, etc.) under the purview of the SEC, and subject to the same suitability standards as RIA’’s recommendations.

Three. Institute a 3% Federal sales tax on all goods and services purchased by end consumers, but not a VAT. Subsidize a universal basic health care insurance system and public education expenses from sales tax proceeds plus a 5% tax on personal annual income, of any kind, in excess of $5 million dollars. Cap State and Local Sales Taxes at 3%. Eliminate all nuisance taxes in utility bills, hotel room charges, gas prices, etc.

Four. Reform Tort Law at every level, and protect both businesses and individuals from frivolous lawsuits. Adopt a rule of personal responsibility for one’’s own stupidity and clumsiness. Submit all product liability, medical malpractice claims, and personal liability lawsuits to qualified arbitration panels instead of juries. Ban class action suits of all kinds and cap jury awards and lawyer compensation at 50% lower average levels.

Five. Eliminate all Estate and Gift Taxes.

Six. Mandate a ten-year term limitation on all members of congress, retroactively, and impose a mandatory retirement age on Supreme Court Justices. Reduce taxpayer compensated congressional staff by 50%.

Seven. Simplify the Internal Revenue Code by adopting a Fair Tax of 10% for all persons with annual employment income above $40,000. Eliminate all forms of tax deferral and stock option programs that are not available proportionately to every company employee. State and local income taxes would be capped at a flat 4% for family incomes above $80,000. Individual tax avoidance schemes would also be banned— 10 years retroactively.

Eight. Abolish all taxation on any form of retirement income.

Nine. Abolish all taxation on any form of investment income, including rents, royalties, interest, dividends, and capital gains. Increase the federal sales tax by 2% once numbers 8 and 9 have been implemented.

Ten. Eliminate the Corporate Income Tax and create auditing entities to assure that the savings translate into new jobs, higher salaries for non minimum wage employees, lower product prices, and higher shareholder dividends.

Eleven. Appoint federal supervisors to the Board of Directors of public corporations paying annual salaries in excess of $3 million. Board members, corporate attorneys, and financial officers would be required to allocate any performance incentive compensation on a dollar-for-dollar basis to all employees, including part timers but excluding minimum wage recipients.

Twelve. Examine the economic impact of Government Regulation and oversight in many industries, particularly small business practitioners in personal services fields. Provide an arbitration and review system to identify and control abuses of regulatory power and a separate department within each agency to deal with small businesses.

Thirteen. Reduce government staff in all departments and at all levels by at least 10% per year for the next three to five years. Reduce by 50% the number of Government jobs filled by presidential appointment.

Fourteen. Reduce all import tariffs to zero for countries that reciprocate and who insure the quality of their exports.

Fifteen. Establish a catastrophic relief fund for victims of all forms of natural disaster throughout the USA.

In all instances, regulatory services will be needed to assure implementation consistent with the intent of the new code. Any person or entity that takes advantage of loopholes in the new rules, or manipulates normal operations to match new definitions will be fined. Their legal and tax advisors, if involved, will be responsible for 60% of the fine.

The plan outlined here is investor and economy friendly. Where jobs are lost, new entities will be needed, based on the premise that regulated capitalism can work well. As shoppers and homeowners, as retirees and employees, as business owners and investors, this is the reform plan we need.

Is for real? It could be. Investors represent the biggest voting block in the country. We could elect the next president, change the tax code, fix Social Security, and strengthen the economy. If only we weren'’t the most apathetic group of people on the planet. As investors, we want less government, lower taxes, and purposeful regulation. We want laws that aid economic freedoms, and lawmakers and judges who facilitate it.

Survey Question: Would you vote for the person with the guts to propose this plan?

About The Author

Steve Selengut
Sanco Services
Kiawa Golf Investment Seminars
Author: “The Brainwashing of the American Investor: The Book that Wall Street Does Not Want YOU to Read” and “A Millionaire’’s Secret Investment Strategy”.

Perhaps it’’s the lack of a Catalan side to support that causes even the most nationalist of Catalans to put divisions aside. Was this an interesting glance at the mechanics of perceived division?

It’’s been said of the nationalist leaders of Catalunya and Spain’’s other regions armed with claims to autonomy, that they'’re out of touch with the woof and warp of mainstream society. Nationalist aspirations, some say, may have peaked.

Indeed the Catalan nationalist party Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya (ERC) now holds only 21 seats in the Catalan Regional Parliament - far fewer than its counterparts in the current leftwing tripartite. But has football really united Spain? It never has the UK, which comes with its own deep-seated divisions. But then each of the UK regions with claims to self-government has their own football team.

Jane Elliot demonstrated irrational class systems based on arbitrary factors. Her bracing “blue-eyed/brown-eyed” exercise originated in the classroom, where first the brown-eyed children and then the blue-eyed children were made superior. As a result of this process of labelling, children of ‘’superior'’ eye-colour both outperformed children of ‘’inferior'’ eye-colour and their usual selves, while children of ‘’inferior'’ eye-colour underachieved. This would seem to demonstrate the power of, in this case, white-dominated constructions of reality.

While Jane Elliot’’s exercise has roots in tackling racism, there are other constructions of reality that cause irrational divisions and sometimes very real difference. Nation states are the latest entity of identity after tribes. Barcelona has long sought to exert Catalunya, which negotiated its autonomy alongside other regions following Franco’’s death in 1975, as a nation. Regional expression and the Catalan language, banned for 40 years under Franco, have flourished. And Catalunya is recognised as a historic nationality.

But Barcelona-based regional power, supported by a significant percentage of the population, want greater autonomy including, among other things, greater powers to collect on taxes.

The drive for greater autonomy has done little to endear Catalans, often labelled as thrifty, joyless souls by the rest of Spain. In 2005, cava lost some of its sparkle during a Spanish boycott of Catalan goods by critics of the drive for Catalan independence.

Perhaps the Catalan support for Spain in the 2008 UEFA European Football Championship is a turning point. Or perhaps allegiances are constructions that unite or untie us as quick as you like. In football as well as political terms, Real Madrid is normally the archrival. Big league Spanish clubs have powerful local identities, which have often been used to reinforce social cohesion politically, while the national side has lacked style and success over recent decades.

But now there is style and success, and there is local representation: The national side draws heavily from ‘’Barca'’. And on Sunday 30 June 2008 at least, Barca crowds saw something of themselves in a Spanish national entity.

About The Author

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The attack was a direct response to suppression aid by the people of Kansas to the Missouri raiders, which were led by Quantrill, a member of the pro-slavery Confederate forces. Lawrence is also where Union and Jayhawker forces get a headstart when they enter into Missouri.

Before the Raid

The raid was partly caused by the issuance of General Thomas Ewing Jr.’’s General Order No. 10. The order commanded authorities to arrest anyone who is found sympathetic to Quantrill’’s cause. Anyone who is caught is then detained automatically in Kansas City.

Unfortunately, the makeshift prison collapsed on August 13, 1863, which caused the deaths of five women who were detained in the prison. There were rumors that the building was intentionally sabotaged to collapse, as one of the inmates there were the 14-year old sister of Bloody Bill Anderson.

The Quantrill raid is also thought to be a response to the Union Jayhawker sacking of the Osceola, Missouri. The sacking was carried out by James H. Lane’’s forces, who were originally organized to resist an invasion by Sterling Price into Kansas in September 1861. The town of Osceola was pillaged, looted and burned by the Kansans who carried off spoils of the attack.

The Attack

Quantrill had given much thought about the conduct of the attack in order to ensure its success. He enlisted the help of many Bushwhackers, eventually coming up with a large force of over 300 men. Quantrill also carefully selected and set up every detail of the attack, from the day and the time of the day itself.

The groups came east individually for a rendezvous a few miles from Lawrence, which was intended to be in the pre-dawn hours to catch everyone by surprise. The guerilla force converged on Mount Oread. Their objective: to loot and pillage Lawrence like what happened to Osceola, and to kill the now-senator James H. Lane. It is said that the men rode hard to make the rendezvous that they even secured themselves to the saddles so they could sleep while riding.

When all of his forces were assembled, Quantrill gave the order to ride into Lawrence. In the early hours of day, Lawrence’’s townsfolk were caught in surprise as hundreds of Quantrill’’s guerilla forces thundered into the town and massacred the town’’s males. Echoing what happened to Osceola, Quantrilll’’s men pillaged the town for four hours.

Aftermath

The guerillas concentrated their killing on the town’’s male population. When the raiders left, over 180 males had been killed. Quantrill was indiscriminate between boys and men, killing both the former and the latter without mercy. They also killed 17 out 23 Army recruits that were living in Lawrence.

Quantrill’’s men also burned all the business buildings in Lawrence, leaving only two standing. The stores and banks were also rid of their money before the raiders rode out of town.

Successful as they were in their objectives, Quantrill failed to kill Senator Lane. The jayhawker was said to have escaped by running through a cornfield still wearing his nightclothes.

The response was quick and brutal. Barely a day after the raid, a member of Quantrill’’s Raiders wandered and was caught in Lawrence by the surviving citizens. This raider was then killed through a lynch mob in angry retaliation to the raid.

Following General Order No. 10, General Ewing issued General Order No. 11 which resulted in the eviction of thousands of Missourians who were living by the border of the state of Kansas. Ewing also sent incursions led by Charles “Doc” Jennison into the four countries inhabited by the Missourian evictees, and burned them to the ground.

Quantrill and his men headed south after the raid into Texas. The Quantrill’’s Raiders eventually disbanded barely one year following the raid. There were no other successful raids for William Clark Quantrill after Lawrence, as he was left with only few supporters. Frank James and Jesse James were said to be part of this. Two years later, Quantrill died in Kentucky.

Senator Lane survived the raid, but in 1866, he shot himself because of depression. He had been accused of discrepancies in his financial statements, and was also said to be deranged. He survived for 10 more days before dying near Leavenworth, Kansas.

About The Author

Attila Z Jancsina is a freelance copy writer. He occasionally writes for Kansas Real Estate FSBO. Website offers Free FSBO advertisement.

The investor’’s eye view of politics is a simplistic, practical, dot-connecting approach to sorting things out so that win/win change can be considered. Real world politics is not concerned with such things, and that is one of the most serious problems facing investors today. There are at least ten issues that require government action if we are to maintain our competitive position in the world economy. Most of these are interrelated and need to be acted upon simultaneously— thus causing a major political dilemma.

Politicians are much more interested in talking about change than they are in actually legislating it; they prefer to champion just one specific issue at a time so as not to appear too independent; and they can'’t keep themselves from back sliding into the now archaic distinction between investors and poor people. Rich or poor, most Americans have investments. For the small investor to become wealthier his or her efforts must be encouraged by the tax code– the wealthy will become wealthier in spite of the tax code. And, believe it or don'’t, the vast majority of the wealthy (even corporate executives) are good, productive, caring-about-the-environment, people.

At the root of the problem is the tremendous investment the major parties have in nurturing divisiveness, jealousy, and misunderstanding in the electorate. The Republicans or Democrats in power are always ruining the country and, of course, the guys who are seeking power, will undoubtedly do the same. Perhaps the most obvious example of misguided political handiwork is the negative attitude of most individuals toward corporations, big business, and international economic collaboration.

As non-voting but taxable entities, corporations are easy to blame for all that is wrong in society, easy to sue frivolously with no remorse or control, and popular to tax— by both parties. The sad thing is that most people don'’t take the time to appreciate just how important business success and profitability are to their own financial interests, short and long term. Mutual funds, for example, perform better when businesses, large and small, prosper. Profitable businesses produce jobs, provide higher salaries, and (once all the extra fees, mandates, taxes, and handouts are eliminated) lower prices.

Politicians have never been shy about dictating proper behavior to individuals or hesitant in shamelessly picking the pockets of businesses to fund their projects. Self-employed business owners, for example, pay a minimum 35% Federal Income Tax, state and local taxes of various kinds, and the usual Workers Compensation, Medicare, and double Social Security Taxes. It adds up to better than 50% quickly, and, at every level, all taxes, fees, subsidies, assessments, withholdings, compliance costs, etc. are:

(1) Added to the price of goods and services, (2) considered in hiring decisions at all levels in all business entities, and (3) factored into decisions regarding new plant locations and service function outsourcing. Businesses will only produce jobs in an environment that recognizes the importance of the contributions they make. Meaningful tax reform needs to begin where the jobs begin. Reforms to the Individual Tax Code and the Social Security/Retirement System can then be integrated into the business framework.

Just as Congress picks corporate pockets, corporations pick those of their shareholders. The compensation of corporate officers is a clear example of how this has gone totally out of control, even if it is understandable under existing tax codes— both corporate and individual. Million dollar salaries, bonuses, deferred compensation and option packages are all designed to avoid and/or to defer taxes while, at the same time, they are deductible on a dollar for dollar basis from business taxes.

Changes on the personal side could clean this up quickly but, for now, politicians need to focus more on protecting shareholders from these creative, and excessive, compensation schemes. Eliminating the Corporate Income Tax, and all tax deferral/option/bonus mechanisms that are not available to all employees at all levels, would be an excellent start. Then cap total compensation packages at a specific number— any excess being paid only in the form of dividends to all shareholders.

The Corporate Income Tax is a non-productive weight on business decision makers, causing expenditures that would not be considered were they not tax deductible. Ironically, jobs are not created to reduce the tax bite because every dollar of salary brings with it an additional 40% or so in overhead. All the actual costs of doing business (and all the perceived risks associated with doing business) wind up in the price of goods and services. The fact that governments can raise corporate costs so much more easily than they can raise individual’’s taxes is perhaps the biggest shell game threatening our economic well being today.

If instead of taxing them into leaving the country, Congress would cultivate the profitability of corporations, while focusing regulatory efforts on the economic abuses of shareholders, employees, and consumers, a whole new era of economic expansion and productivity growth would ensue— and we'’re just getting started.
Investors need to impress upon candidates that they expect meaningful change throughout the tax code, and that a second term just won'’t happen without it.

After the Corporate Tax environment changes, politicians will be able to devote their energies to defining “proper corporate and non-corporate business behavior”, and monitoring compliance with a whole new set of rules and regulations. Converting the United States into a Free Trade Zone, by eliminating all nuisance assessments from all levels of government, would: increase employment, reduce prices, and multiply distributable dividends. Making it happen should not be that difficult, particularly with the growing outrage concerning the obscene compensation of high level corporate executives, and considering how successful the FTZs have been on the local level.

Managers will make these changes work because the incentives are where they belong— on the bottom line instead of the tax return. Small businesses would benefit from the reduction in taxation, and fees, and would be less constrained in their efforts to grow. If they don'’t do the right thing, they will become less competitive in the marketplace, and that is the way capitalism is supposed to work. But, don'’t be naive. Publicly held companies will need direction, guidance, and policing— an excellent new career for displaced accountants and lobbyists.

About The Author

Steve Selengut
Sanco Services
Kiawa Golf Investment Seminars
Author: “The Brainwashing of the American Investor: The Book that Wall Street Does Not Want YOU to Read” and “A Millionaire’’s Secret Investment Strategy”.

John McCain is out of touch with the American public.

At a time when nearly 60% of Americans use text messaging, how does the McCain campaign not have a text message element? His competitors, Barrack Obama and Hillary Clinton sure seem to be more in touch with the American public, especially younger adults who must find the McCain campaign to be so yesterday.

Text messaging today is as important to the American public as the fireside chats of the FDR era that targeted radio listeners. In fact, statistically, text messaging is more important than radio was in the 1930′’s. So why has McCain refused to add a text message mobile marketing element to his campaign?

Barrack Obama is using a cutting edge text message campaign to sway voters. Last summer, the Illinois senator launched a text message initiative to organize volunteers and encourage supports to text GO to 62262 (OBAMA).

The Obama campaign’’s site offers free ringtones from Obama’’s speeches, Obama wallpapers, and voters can send questions to get policy statements. The text campaign also includes information on how to donate or volunteer for the campaign. Now, that’’s change.

Obama’’s text campaign is also the only one to regionalize its database. This has been valuable in getting the public out to see the senator during his local political speeches. Prior to one of his regional visits, the Obama text message campaign sends thousands of text messages to his supporters and encourages them to show their support by showing up at his rallys.

While Obama’’s text message campaign may be the most active, Hillary Clinton and John Edwards actually had their text message campaigns going before Obama did. Clinton and Edwards are certainly not the only politicians using text message campaigns.

President Bill Clinton recently stated that he’’s no longer a text message virgin and he demonstrated such during a speech on his wife’’s campaign.

Hillary Clinton’’s efforts were admirable, but not nearly to the same effectiveness of Obama’’s. The Clinton campaign failed to use a vanity short code and never got the recognition that Obama’’s has today. Maybe text messaging is one reason why Obama is the clear favorite of younger voters over both candidates.

Text message campaigns on the political front are clearly here to stay. A University of Michigan and Princeton University study found that using text messages to remind voters to get out and vote increases voter participation by 4% among young voters. Given young adults propensity for using cell phone text messaging, you can bet Obama will be sending reminders on election day.

The efforts of Obama and Clinton contrast starkly to the John McCain campaign that has yet to add any element of mobile marketing. “It’’s not surprising given his age,” said Bob Bentz, director of marketing at Advanced Telecom Services that supplies text message solutions to businesses. “Only 11% of those over 65 use text messages and Mr. McCain is a bit older than 65. You would think that somebody on his campaign would have advised Senator McCain that text messaging is an important way to communicate with young, politically-active adults.”

Maybe that’’s one reason why Barrack Obama has a huge advantage among younger voters.

When it comes to text messaging, John McCain just doesn'’t get it.

About The Author

http://www.textmessageblog.mobi
Anthony Wayne is a writer for the Text Message Blog and works in the marketing department at Advanced Telecom Services.

Oscar Arias is the current president of the country of Costa Rica. He first assumed office on May 8, 2006 and is currently serving his second term. He had first been elected president on May 8, 1986 and served until May 8, 1990. For more information on Costa Rica, check out ToucanEstate.

President Arias is best known as one of the driving figures behind the end of the Central American civil wars during the 1980s. For his efforts, Oscar Arias Sanchez received the Nobel Peace Price in 1987.

Aside from that, President Arias was also awarded the Albert Schweitzer Prize for Humanitarianism. The Economists for Peace and Security also accepted him as a trustee. President Arias is a member of the Board of Directors of International Criminal Court’’s Trust Fund for Victims.

Personal History

President Arias was born on September 13, 1940 in Heredia, Costa Rica. He was born to an upper class family, a status which made it possible for him to undergo secondary schooling at the Colegio Saint Francis in San Jose, Costa Rica.

After finishing his secondary schooling, Oscar Arias Sanchez flew to the United States in order to study medicine in Boston University. However, he changed his mind after a while and returned to Costa Rica. He finished law and economics instead at the University of Costa Rica. To continue educating himself, Arias flew to the United Kingdom in 1967, where he went to school in the London School of Economics. Eight years later in 1974, he received a political science doctorate degree from the University of Essex.

The Costa Rican president is also the holder of over 50 honorary degrees from different universities.

The National Liberation Party and his First Presidency

Arias joined the Partido Liberacion Nacional and ran under its banner for president in 1986. The PLN is known for being the party under which several popular Costa Rican presidents belong to, like its founder Jose Figueres. Under the same banner, Arias achieved victory.

He then went on to shift Costa Rican economy to focus on non-traditional agriculture and tourism, which some of his own party mates critized as shifting to a neoliberal economic model. The PLN, after all, focuses on social democrat teachings, which they claimed Arias abandoned during his administration.

President Arias also reinstated the standard academic tests that students have to take upon finishing primary and secondary schooling. He also pushed for the creation of the Central American Parliament, although currently he announced Costa Rica’’s non-participation in the Parliament.

Esquipulas Accord

By the time Arias became the president of Costa Rica, the Central American countries were engaged in violent and long-running civil wars. In May 1986, President Arias was one of the five Central American presidents that attended the first Esquipulas Summit in Esquipulas, Guatemala.

The summit resulted into a Peace Plan which was submitted on February 15, 1987. From this peace plan, the Esquipulas Peace Process was drafted. The Process was a framework for resolving conflict and for economic cooperation between the beleaguered Central American states.

Another summit was then held by the five Central American presidents including Arias, which resulted to the “Esquipulas II” accord that was signed on August 7, 1987 in Guatemala City.

Despite rejection by the United States due to its recognition of the Nicaraguan Sandinista regime, the accoes was successful as it paved the way for the 1990 reconciliation and ending of the 30-year Guatemalan Civil War, and the peace agreement in El Salvador.

Arias'’ efforts led to the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize, although there are criticisms that he has plagiarized propositions made by Vinicio Cerezo of Guatemala as his own.

Second Presidency

The Costa Rican judiciary formerly forbade former presidents from running for a second term. However, in 2004, the Constitutional Court made a very controversial decision removing that restriction. Following that, Arias announced his intention to run for a second presidency opposite Otton Solis, Otto Guevara, Ricardo Toledo and Antonio Alvarez.

Solis and Arias were the foremost among the five presidential candidates. Competition was stiff, with only a 0.4% or 3,200-vote difference after the first count. Voters who abstained from voting for the other candidates even voted for Solis at the last minute, resulting in the thin margin of votes. It was seen as an effort to prevent Arias from winning.

One of the first decisions he made on his second Presidency was to end Costa Rica’’s recognition of Taiwan as the Republic of China, and instead recognized the mainland People’’s Republic of China.

Tendinitis

Just recently, on May 20, 2008, President Arias was diagnosed as having a nonmalignant cyst on his vocal cords by the Philadelphia Ears, Nose and Throat Associates. Doctors then advised him not to talk for a month, after which surgery may be performed if his condition did not improve.

About The Author

Attila Z Jancsina is a freelance copy writer. He occasionally writes for Costa Rica Real Estate. Website offers Free FSBO advertisement.

Everyone knows about the Panama Canal, and how it connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. However, not everyone knows that the United States originally wanted to build this canal through Nicaragua, information on which can be found in NicaFSBO. It was only through the efforts of a few lobbyists and the French intention to sell their interests on the Panama Canal that this plan was diverted.

Early Proposals

Like the Panama Canal, ideas for the construction of trans-oceanic canal through Nicaragua had been proposed by Spanish colonial administrations. As for Nicaragua, the Federal Republic of Central America — composed of El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica — made the proposal in 1825 to the United States.

In line with its proposal, the Republic made surveys, which showed that the canal would be 278 kilometers long. The canal’’s route would be parallel the San Juan River and enter Lake Nicaragua, after which locks and tunnels would be built in order to link the lake to the Pacific Ocean.

Washington, D.C. was impressed with the proposed canal, which prompted a presentation to the U.S. Congress by Secretary of State Henry Clay. However, the Congress rejected it because of the poverty and political instability of the Nicaragua area. The British’’s presence in British Honduras and the Mosquito Coast also played a part in the rejection of the proposed canal.

The Nicaraguan government turned to other means, by entering into a contract with Cornelius Vanderbilt which enabled his company the exclusive right to build a canal for 12 years. Vanderbilt’’s company, the Accessory Transit Co., would also solely administrate the temporary overland trade route through the Rivas isthmus. However, the canal was not completed because of the Nicaraguan Civil War and William Walker’’s invasion of the region.

The Panama Canal is Built

Two more proposals were pitched forward for the construction of the Nicaragua Canal. The first was in 1897 by the U.S. Nicaraguan Canal Commission, and another one in 1899 by the Isthmian Canal Commission. It should also be noted that the second commission gave the U.S. the second option of continuing the French construction of the Panama Canal, which was failing due to inhospitable conditions and high mortality rate among the workers.

The Nicaragua canal faced yet again several oppositions, although several key figures supported the idea like the Nicaraguan minister in Washington Luis Felipe Corea. The U.S. government even entered into talks with Nicaraguan president Jose Santos Zelaya for a lease in preparation for the construction of this canal.

The Nicaragua Canal proposals ultimately lost to the Panama Canal proponents when a Nicaraguan stamp depicting the Momotombo volcano was printed. Lobbyists led by William Nelson Cromwell made use of the stamp to argue that the Nicaragua canal was exposed to the threat of volcanic activity, although such claims were unfounded as Momotombo was significantly distant from the proposed Nicaragua canal.

However, the die was cast. Panama Canal was chosen over the Nicaragua canal and the efforts of Cromwell — who was under the employ of the French Canal Syndicate — paid off. In 1902, majority of the U.S. senators voted for Panama, driven by the stamps and a volcanic eruption in Saint-Pierre, Martinique.

After failing in getting the United States to build the canal, President Santos Zelaya turned to Germany and Japan for financial support. However, the United States opposed the construction, because it would pose competition for the high successful Panama canal.

Present Proposals

The idea of building a Nicaragua canal has once again been revived in 2004. The Nicaraguan government made pitches to build a canal which could be large enough to accommodate modern ships whose capacities made them unable to traverse the Panama Canal.

The proposals met again fierce opposition. This time the opposition came from the environmental sector, who argued that the canal would most likely damage Nicaragua’’s rivers and jungles.

Despite oppositions, Nicaraguan President Enrique Bolanos announced intentions to push through with the Nicaragua Canal plans. According to the official, the Nicaragua canal would work well with the Panama Canal — an expansion of which is also being proposed to answer the new ship capacities — because there is demand to have two trans-oceanic canals to exist in the Central American isthmus.

One of the advantages being cited by Bolanos is that the canal, which is estimated to cost around US$18 billion, can shorten sea travel to and from California and New York by a day. Compared to the Panama Canal’’s capacity to accommodate ships having a displacement of only 65,000 tons, the proposed Nicaragua canal can accommodate up to 250,000 tons.

Aside from the Nicaragua canal, there were also proposals to build an overland link made by two companies: the Intermodal System for Global Transport and the Inter-Ocean Canal of Nicaragua. SIT Global’’s proposals also call for a combination of oil pipeline and fibre optic cable in addition in addition to a railway.

About The Author

Attila Z Jancsina is a freelance copy writer. He occasionally writes for Buy Land in Nicaragua. Website offers Free FSBO advertisement.

Hamas is waiting, and hoping, for an Obama victory in November. During the Doha Debates (BBC, May 27, 2008), leading Hamas spokesman Mahmoud Al Zahar categorically implied that the only way out of the current impasse in the Gaza strip would be a neutral and balanced administration in Washington.

Senator Obama can claim that he rejects any endorsement by Hamas; that, however, is not the point. The first relevant question Americans have to ask themselves is this: why are the worst religious extremists in the Middle East waiting for President Obama?

Hamas waiting is not alone in waiting for John McCain to decisively falter. Hezbollah controlled television and radio outlets in Lebanon have been making very sympathetic reference to anti-war speeches made by Senator Obama for many months now. The Ayatollahs in Teheran have not made any serious comment on the Obama agenda for Iraq, but nobody can doubt that any withdrawal of US-led troops at this juncture would only serve as a major longer-term strategic boost for Iran. On that note, it should not be forgotten that Iran has had close historical ties with the leadership of the mainstream Kurdish parties, currently allied with the United States.

The second question Americans must ask themselves relates to the serious security consequences for the West in the event that Islamic fascists begin exercising unrestricted power throughout the Middle East. The related consequences for the oil producing Gulf nations and for Saudi Arabia will be even more immediate, and certainly more dramatic.

Senator Obama rests his thesis of troop withdrawals on the assumption that the fact upon which the Iraq war was predicated have proven to be dubious, at best. That may well be so. That discussion should be left to historians and political analysts who want to write history, or re-write history as the case might be. The point is that more that nearly 200,000-plus foreign troops and military contractors are currently present in Iraq, and that their removal, albeit over 18 months, would be tantamount to an unequivocal victory, politically and militarily, for religious extremists.

Senator Obama wants to direct his focus to the high mountains of the Hindu Kush, to hunt down Osama Bin Laden and his Al Qaeda cohorts. That position is fundamentally flawed on two counts. Firstly, Senator Obama has no idea where exactly Bin Laden is today, and if he is alive at all. Secondly, as American troops are now finding out, many or most of the so-called militants in the Afghanistan theatre are part of robust opium producing and drug smuggling syndicates. Of course, there is no reason for the perpetrators of 9/11 to stay hiding in the mountains if the geographical area stretching from Iran to Lebanon qualifies as an infinitely better safe-haven.

Iraq represents a dual reality: the military reality on one hand and the economic (reconstruction) reality on the other. Both aspects of Iraq deserve high priority. Rather than engaging in discussions on the qualitative nature of the pre-war intelligence, a Washington administration needs to address both challenges.

Given the military situation on the ground, there will be no reconstruction without the presence of 120,000-plus American troops Iraq, at least for the foreseeable future. And, if there is no reconstruction, the dismal state of the Iraqi economy will provide extremely fertile terrorist recruitment windows; the average Iraqi living in the villages and the shanty towns is struggling to maintain a minimum level of human dignity.

An unusually large section of the American media is doing the American voter a major disservice. Rather than repeatedly alluding the wisdom of the pre-war stance adopted by Barack Obama, journalists and anchors must demand specifics which are verifiable in the context of today. Most importantly, what are the facts upon which Senator Obama has concluded that a withdrawal from Iraq will not lead to the absolute domination of Iran for many decades into the future? Nobody should endorse the Democratic ticket without getting an acceptable and verifiable answer.

About The Author

Rakesh Saxena is a pricing and risk analysis specialist in insurance and derivative products and has extensive deal making in the emerging economies. He can be reached at derivatives@shaw.ca. Home URL: