World Politics Central

Just as Bush and Putin are about to meet up on a previously hot topic: the missile system in Central Europe, two Russian Bear long-range bombers were discovered flying in an air exclusion zone off the coast of Alaska. The US states that the air exclusion zone off Alaska and bars unidentified planes that fly over that area.

The US Air Force notices the bombers and immediately sends out two F-15s to check it out. Both Russian bomber planes were escorted out of the zone without any trouble, officials said.

According to Russia, the planes were just training, while the US says that it was not a concern, and that it was just Russia’s way of showing its presence.

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With the US Presidential Elections coming up on November, and Russia’s new president taking office this May, the meeting between both Bush and Putin on April will most likely be the last time. It will be on the missile system the US wants to place in Central Europe. It includes 10 interceptor missiles to be placed in Poland, and a radar system in the Czech Republic.

According to Bush, it will protect Europe from possible missile attacks from Iran, Putin says that the missile system’s intent is to weaken Russia’s nuclear deterrent. Initially the reaction was negative, but in recent months it has cooled down and now Bush wants to convince Putin again before the new President, Dmitry Medvedev , steps into office.

We will provide you with an updated result as soon as we get it.

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Taiwan’s newly-elected President, Ma Ying-jeou, wants to improve relations with China. This seems to be a drastic change from previous Presidents wherein they wanted to establish Taiwan as a separate state from China. He won by a landslide, 58% to 42% of his rival Frank Hsieh of the Democratic Party.

He proposes the following:

• Launch direct transportation links with the mainland
• Lift restrictions on Taiwan businessmen to operate in China
• Open Taiwan to Chinese tourists and investors

Will this mean that China bites the lure? The business sector hopes that the new President’s policies will entice the Mainland to help boost the economy.

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It looks like the new Hillary Clinton movie will have to wait. The US Supreme Court has rejected the appeal of a conservative group, Citizens United, who wanted to show an ad painting the Senator under a bad light.

According to the said group, the ad was more akin to expose reporting like “60 minutes” or “Nova” rather a smear campaign against Clinton. This however was rejected both by the Lower and Supreme Court. According to the 2002 McFain-Feinhold law, electioneering communication broadcasting during the election or primaries is not allowed.

On the Citizen United’s side, they say that they’re freedom of speech rights are being violated and therefore the ad needs to be shown immediately. They’re now planning on making an ad regarding the other Democratic candidate Sen. Barack Obama.

Nevertheless, the ad will be shown in nine theaters and can be viewed in the internet through their site.

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The US and India are proposing that both the Dalai Lama and his supporters have a dialogue with China to resolve the continuing protests in Tibet.

According to India’s External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, “We do hope it will be possible to resolve the issue through peaceful dialogue between the parties concerned.” Condoleezza Rice commented that.” We believe that the Dalai Lama can play a very favourable role given his belief in non-violence, given his stated position that he does not seek political independence for Tibet, and given his unassailable authoritative moral stature, not just with the people of Tibet but with people from around the world,”

This was spurred on after there were reports of mass unrest after the 49^th anniversary of the uprising of Tibet against China.

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President Bush mentioned that the reported 4,000 soldiers who died in Iraq, “…were not lost in vain.” He went on to say that in the future, “…people will look back at this moment in history and say, ‘Thank God there were courageous people willing to serve, because they laid the foundations for peace for generations to come’ “

These statements were made after reports that the soldier casualties in the five-year Iraq War have already reached the 4,000 mark. The last reported casualties were the four servicemen who died because of a roadside bombing.

Naturally, the Democrats had a field day with this report. House Speaker Pelosi said, “…Americans are asking how much longer must our troops continue to sacrifice for the sake of an Iraqi government that is unwilling or unable to secure its own future.” Democratic Presidential Candidate hopeful, Hillary Clinton also got her two-cents in, “As president, I intend to honor the extraordinary service and sacrifice of them and their families by ending this war and brining them home as quickly and responsibility as possible.” Sen. Obama got on it as well, “It is past time to end this war that should never have been waged by bringing our troops home, and finally pushing Iraq’s leaders to take responsibility for their future.”

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