What prompted Sarkozy to suddenly recognize the Libyan rebels in Benhazi? Was he trying to give the impression that he was the European leader who had a grasp on the events? If that is what he intended he probably failed as at this moment nobody seems to know which way things are going to go. While the Gaddafi’s regime will eventually have to go, it is rather hazardous to recognize the rebels as they don’t seem to have a clear leadership. Read the rest of this entry »

At a time when many are worried about the Libyan civil war and, if we are honest, not only for humanitarian reasons but also for how it can affects us economically due to the rise on the price of oil, we should welcome the US plans for high-speed rail. Read the rest of this entry »

From one day to the next the West changes its attitude towards the Libyan crisis. Ominously, some leaders have been beating the drums of war. One day leaders like British Prime Minister Cameron, are asking for a non-flying zone and the next, probably when they realize what that would entail, they retreat. It is worrisome and dangerous as anything can happen. Read the rest of this entry »

Hugo Chavez, Venezuela’s president, was not very much liked in the US and now even less as in all this turmoil in the Middle East, he has refused to condemn Gaddafi for his crackdown on protesters. Read the rest of this entry »

While the world is watching the Middle East protests with concern, Europe is likely to receive the brunt of it with the influx of refugees fleeing their countries some for fear of their lives and some looking for a need to get food and jobs. Apart from Italy which is already tending the arrival of large numbers of Tunisians and Egyptians to the Lampedusa Island, other European countries had not yet had any noticeable increase of Middle East people. Read the rest of this entry »

Located in central Europe, Switzerland has always been different from all the other European countries. A people who speak four languages, live in a clean and beautiful country and have also had the luck of avoiding the last century wars on its soil due to its neutrality. Or perhaps it was not just chance but also the good sense of forming a way of governing that really represents all the people. If there is a word that one could associate with Switzerland -and I don’t mean mountains, chocolates or watches- is referendum. Read the rest of this entry »

While the Egyptians, after more of two weeks of protests that brought the ousting of Mubarak, were beginning to celebrate what they perceived as victory even though the military has now all the power (see articles in KeyboardPolitics from Feb. 2 and Feb 10), a different kind of protest against a prime minister was taking place this past Sunday in Italy. Read the rest of this entry »