The Smithsonian Institute in Washington, USA, has been praised by Australia’s Indigenous Affairs Minister Jenny Macklin after it agreed to return the remains of 33 Indigenous Australians that were removed in the 1940’s. 

“These are remains from 33 Indigenous Australians that were taken to the United States and the traditional owners who are going to collect them believe the remains may include their grandmother, so it is a very significant collection,” she said.  (Source: ABC Online http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/07/26/2315450.htm )

Mr Mithen

Just weeks after Senator Barack Obama’s nomination as the Democratic
candidate for the 2008 US Presidential election, cracks have started to
appear in his “whiter than white” appearance. After the embarrassment of
being supported by an “ex-terrorist” (Bill Ayer, ex-Weatherman), the new
revelations follow from news about the suspicious property deal between
Senator Obama, and Antoin “Tony” Rezko, the Syrian-born businessman who was a major fundraiser for Obama. 

In 2005, when Rezko was already known to be under criminal investigation for
money laundering, fraud, extortion and similar activities, the Obamas bought
a property in Chicago, and their friend Mrs Rezko bought a garden next door
at the same time. The only access to the garden was through the Obama’s
property. It turns out that just weeks before the purchases, Tony Rezko was
loaned money by Nadhmi Auchi, an Iraqi born British billionaire, arms dealer
to Saddam Hussein in the past. The result of Rezko breaking his bail
agreement by failing to declare a second £3.5 million US dollars loan from
Auchi, was that Rezko received a prison sentence. British billionaire Mr
Auchi, a business partner of Rezko’s who had loaned him millions of dollars,
has been accused of paying ‘kickbacks’ to obtain oil deals. In 2003 he was
convicted of corruption in France, but is respected as a successful
businessman by the British government. 

Barack Obama has donated to charity the amount of funds given to his
campaign by Rezko. He is not accused of doing anything wrong, and claimed
that he did not know about Rezko’s corruption and connections. However,
Obama has known Rezko for eighteen years, since being offered a job by him
while Obama was still in law school. Obama did not take the job, but in 1995
Rezko supported him in his campaign to become an Illinois state senator. In
2003 Rezko was on Obama’s finance committee when he ran for US Senate. 
Chicago and Illinois politics and government are notorious for corruption,
with three major investigations since the 1980s resulting in convictions of
sixteen judges and 56 lawyers, many Chicago Aldermen (1990s), and other
State officials (2000s). It may be hard to persuade voters later on in the
Presidential campaign that an experienced Illinois politician would not at
least hear strong rumours about who is and who is not corrupt. 

Perhaps Obama was not aware of Rezko’s activities, but there is no question
that he keeps strange company for someone running for the Democratic
nomination for the Presidential elections on a ‘clean and pure’ ticket. 

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/us_elections/article3486054.ece

United States Department of Justice: Northern District of Illinois.
Operation Safe Road. Operation Greylord. Operation Silver Shovel

http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/iln/osr/index.html

Aleks Loesch – Lower 6th Form

In Defence of George W Bush II 

George W. Bush is widely considered to be one of America’s worst presidents. I feel that he has been underestimated and he has befitted the USA and the world far more than people realise. 

George Bush came to power under difficult circumstances as a year after his arrival September 11^th

happen putting his country into crisis. With a need for vengeance he did this by immediately attacking Afghanistan which was the central base for the Afghanis insurgents. It was also a very brutal regime and was popular with the world and at present there are 50,000 troops still stationed in Afghanistan. We are making great progress in the formation of a modern state unlike the Islamic barbarity of the Taliban. The soldiers fighting their have suffered losses but they have pushed the Taliban to Pakistan and they are no longer able to plan attacks against Muslims and western targets. 

He also made the unfortunate war in Iraq which only now is becoming a success and has removed many evil Islamic insurgents whose aim is the destruction of life. Following the destruction areas are only now being rebuilt. The mistake over Iraq damaged George Bush’s reputation. 

Another controversial aspect in which I agree with Bush includes Guantanamo Bay Prison/ Camp X-Ray where the Arabs are placed for eventual trial. This is a difficult situation for the president as he has to find a place for the many enemies of the USA and not reveal the secret methods used to detain them.  This has frequently caused problems among his own party and the two Houses of the US Parliament. 

George W Bush has been a tax cutting President and has lowed the rate of tax for the common American man. This has allowed him to reduce the tax burden on the US tax payer during the unprecedented rise in food and fuel prices he has been able to offer a tax rebate of at least $200 which has helped many poor Americans reduced their debt burden.  

The key issue which damaged George Bush was Hurricane Katrina which was unexpected but was refocused by the incredible incompetence of many of George Bush’s team as well as the incompetence of the government regarding Katrina apart from a few states with a black congressmen, who despite the incompetence was still reflected which was damaging to Bush.  

To conclude I feel that Bush has been blamed for things he was not responsible for and had to direct control of and both his wars have started bearing fruit in regards to security and become prosperous western democracies. 

Harry Riedl – Lower 6^th Form

In an unexpected turn of events, Ireland has rejected the controversial Lisbon Treaty. Following a nationwide referendum, the Irish rejection has placed the future of the Treaty into disarray.

However, President of the European Commission, Manuel Barroso has since declared the Treaty is ‘not dead’ despite the necessity for a unanimous vote in each of the twenty seven EU states. Barroso continued to state ‘we should not rush to conclusions’ causing many analysts to believe the choice of the Irish people could even be overridden by their political leaders. The Treaty was signed in December 2007 by the leaders of each state with the hope of it gradually coming into force from January 2009, however, the Irish rejection has placed its future into turmoil.

Under existing circumstances there are still options open for the Treaty but none of them can be implemented easily. Nine countries are yet to ratify the treaty causing many to believe by the time that process ends, a solution for the Irish “exception” mayt have been negotiated. For example, Ireland could be granted additional opt-outs and guarantees on sensitive issues such as abortion and national neutrality in order to ensure the Treaty has the backing of the Irish people.

Alternatively, The EU could scrap the Lisbon Treaty just as the proposals for the Constitution were repackaged following the Lisbon Treaty following French and Dutch ‘No’ votes in 2005. Key parts of Lisbon could be repackaged into a shorter, more comprehensible document to voters throughout Europe. Under this scenario, the ratification process starts again and Ireland holds another referendum. In 2001 Ireland rejected the Nice Treaty but then said ‘Yes’ to it just over a year later causing this process to appear a possibility. However, the process is already appearing indefinite while a further repackaging would just appear time consuming with no end in sight.

Perhaps most drastically a two tier system could be developed. Those nations keen on further EU integration could form an informal club within the EU creating dangerous internal tension. Both Ireland and the UK prefer a looser union which could threaten their position within the EU.

Irish Prime Minister, Brian Cowen, reflected Barroso’s statement: “Once again in Europe, a treaty supported by the leaders of all member states has unable to secure popular support in a ballot. We must not rush to conclusions.” He went on to explain the Irish government seeks to explain to EU officials that this does not mean Ireland are now anti-EU, making negotiations and compromise appear likely,

Foreign secretary David Miliband declared Britain would not pressurize Ireland on their future actions. He continued to state: “It’s right that we follow the view that each country must see the ratification process to a conclusion”,

The referendum is undoubtedly a historical event in Irish and European politics, with the continental project reaching a stumbling block by a country with a population of only four million people. With a low turnout of 40 per cent (the minimum necessary to make the referendum valid) and a narrow vote of 53.4% to 46.6% against the Treaty, some analysts have come to question the structure of the EU with such a small percentage of the overall population impeding the development of the Union.

The future of EU development appears to continue to be a highly divisive issue. Since the nature of the EU causes the backing of each state to be essential, future European integration remains without resolution.

David Rank – Portland Place School

Hillary Clinton will hold a press conference this weekend to formally announce an end to her campaign to be the Democratic Party’s Presidential Nominee and endorse her (now former) rival Barrack Obama.  She has aksed that her pledged deligates still be able to symbolically cast their votes for her to mark just how close a woman came to the nomination. 

CNN and other news sources (including BBC) are reporting on Barrack Obama’s ‘victory’ speech in which he claims the Democratic Party’s Presidential nomination.  Hillary Clinton is yet to conceed, however, her position as a potential Presidential Nominee has become increasingly untennable. 

Explore the links to various news websites on the Politics Club blog to find out much more. 

Mr Mithen

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) has reported that, in accordance with Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s election promise, Australian combat troops are to be withdrawn from Iraq by “mid-2008″.  Around 1000 personnel will remain on non-combat duties.

Here is a link to the ABC’s article online: (Copy and paste link into your browser)

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/06/01/2261770.htm

This links to a story from earlier this year regarding the pull-out:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/01/29/2148370.htm

Mr. Mithen

(Photo courtesy of ABC Website http://www.abc.net.au)

Check out this link from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).  This irked me a little as it reminded me very much of President Bush’s famed ‘Mission Accomplished’ speech.

Link: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/05/30/2261007.htm

Mr Mithen

But will it be ‘Access All Areas’? 

Such a secretive military government has, according to the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, finally granted permission for all aid workers to enter the country and begin serious relief operations after a cyclone devastated the country.  According to the BBC “[a]bout 78,000 people died and 56,000 are missing after the 2 May cyclone”. (bbc.co.uk)

Is this a sincere response by a government initially caught off-guard, or a sign of desperation from an impoverished nation under severe international scrutiny. 

Compare this to the Chinese government’s quick (and somewhat out of character) response to a recent earthquake in Sichuan province.  A sceptic might suggest that since the spotlight of the Olympic Games (and the ’small’ issue of Tibetan independence) has been firmly planted on China, the Chinese Communist rulers have taken steps to appear more ‘open’ by appeasing foreign media.  Having said this, of course, it is important to compare the economic might of China to the crippled economy of Burma. 

According to the BBC (again) “55,239 people [are] now known to have died in the 12 May quake”.  The swift response of a government with a more-than-questionable human rights record is a positive step towards disease minimisation and life saving relief after the natural disaster. 

I still don’t the Olympic Games though, wherever they’re held. 

Mr Mithen

Picture: UN Website

Here’s a link to an online board game where you are able to set your agenda and try to win the Presidency of the United States!  Although there are a few drawbacks (it runs quite slowly and the graphics are poor at times and candidates always seem to land on the Primaries at the same time) I had a lot of fun with it (especially since I raised enough funds and averted enough controversy) and was elected President. 

The game itself allows you to choose your platform (main issues that you want to campaign on) and the key issues within them.  When signing up for it you do not have to provide a US Zipcode (Post Code) and can leave the ‘State’ column blank. 

My tip is to read all of the tips and advice in the game and enjoy it for what it is.  Here’s the link: http://broadband.ciconline.org/elections/.