- The country of Pakistan is quickly become engulfed in the Taliban’s terror tactics as bombings continue to rock the country. The most recent bombing occurred today, May 27, 2009, as an emergency response center was bombed in Lahore, Pakistan. The police building was attacked by a well coordinated group of gunmen and an explosives-packed van thought to be the Taliban’s work, though no proof has been found of this being the Taliban’s attack as no one has claimed responsibility yet. At least 23 people were killed, as well as more than 250 injured, as the police building was demolished and the nearby hospital was also damaged. The attack came as a Pakistani military offensive went in to remove militants from their haven in the northwestern part of the country. Baitullah Mehsud, the leader of the Pakistan Taliban, had threatened to target major Pakistani cities if the operations did not cease and this may well be his work. The attack came in one of Lahore's busiest areas. The passenger van, laden with explosives, broke through a security barrier and was headed toward the police building when guards opened fire to stop it. The two sides exchanged gunfire, with the attackers hurling grenades. But eventually, the van, carrying 100 kg of explosives, exploded slightly before reaching its intended target, though still causing extensive damage.
- I believe this informative article does a good job of presenting a view of the current situation in Pakistan. This country’s condition is quickly deteriorating as the Taliban slowly extend their influence across the country. The attack’s location being Lahore, Pakistan is particularly disturbing due to the fact that Lahore is Pakistan’s cultural capital and has been far from the Taliban’s influence. But now the Taliban’s grip has extended far beyond its previous range of influence. If it actually is the Taliban, of course.
- The drug wars that are getting more and more violent by the day are starting to really spill over the border into the United States now as the Mexican drug cartels are trying to take control of the border trade of these drugs. If nothing is done in the near future, we could see these cartel wars, which are now predominantly in Mexico, spilling into our own country, having battles break out in our big cities, such as the growing violence in cities close to the border like Phoenix, Arizona. Right now, Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman Loera, the 54-year-old leader of the Sinaloa drug cartel, is the most wanted man in Mexico and one of the most wanted in the US. He has also recently upped the stakes of the cartel wars by ordering that his associates use lethal force on any law enforcer if necessary, to get their goods to their proper destination. This move is considered very brazen, as the cartels have usually avoided confrontation with US forces.
- This article, featured on CNN.com, is fairly informative and well-written, serving as a good update on the current situation of the drug wars on the border. I believe this article to be important not because of its direct impact on my life, but due to the fact that these cartel wars could become a very serious issue in the areas in direct contact with the cartels, especially the border lands. Major cities are another area where these cartels may have great influence. These battles with the cartels are also important because they have and will continue to raise the issue of marijuana and its legality. Due to the fact that marijuana is illegal in the US, these cartels make a big profit from taking over the drug trade and monopolizing the sale of marijuana over a large area. If the government legalizes marijuana, taxes it, and thus allows the free sale of it, these cartels would lose much of their business, while making a few bucks on the side. Though the money made from the taxation of marijuana may not make much of a dent on the national debt, if it ends the violence it may be well worth the harmful effects of legalization.
- The pandemic known as the swine flu is still spreading and even though most of the horror of the virus comes from public hysteria, the actual origin of the virus is still unknown. The country of origin is known to be Mexico, but the exact pig population’s location is not known. However, the communities in and around La Gloria valley firmly believe the cause of the pandemic to be the growing number of pig farms in the area. These industrial pig farms were already driving the local farmers crazy due to the foul stench, packs of ravenous dogs, and the vast amounts of excrement that came from the population of over one million pigs, which was feared to be contaminating the farmers’ water supply. These farms are owned by Smithfield Foods and though the farms are not proven to be the cause of the swine flu, there are a number of negative aspects associated with keeping such gigantic farms running. La Gloria, in the southeastern state of Veracruz, has been at the center of the flu crisis since late March. A mysterious respiratory illness infected 616 residents, more than 28 percent of the population, among them was a 5-year-old boy identified as one of the first confirmed cases of the new swine flu. The rest of the cases have now been confirmed to be seasonal flu.
- This story is interesting to me because the company that owns the industrial farms, which are thought to be the center of the swine flu pandemic, is actually based in my home state of Virginia. That’s right, the main suspect for the pandemic that is causing mass hysteria throughout the world is actually based right here in my home state, which is kind of interesting but still expectable that they would go to a foreign country and create miserable farms there instead of here. Anyways, the article was well written by the Washington Post and it provided an enjoyable story of what the Mexicans living in the very heart of this worldwide pandemic actually thought to be the cause of the disease.
