Issues of Global Import

10 November 2003


Sri Lanka's President Stages Coup against PM, Then Back Tracks
President Chandrika Kumaratunga of Sri Lanka, formerly Ceylon, took advantage of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's absence last week to announce a state of emergency, sack a few ministers and put troops in the streets. On the prime minister's return, the emergency was lifted, but the damage has been done. The president needs to retire permanently from politics. Click here to read Kensington's Opinion.

Howard to Lead Britain's Tories -- Nowhere
According to one of his colleagues, there is something of the night about Michael Howard, MP, PC. The man, called "Dracula" and "Mr. Nasty" by those who hate him, is now head of the British Conservative Party. His unopposed (s)election by the parliamentary party may be ratified by a vote of grass roots activists, but that will be the only election he will win in the next few years. Click here for more.

Nicaragua is a Two-Class Country
Secretary of State Colin Powell was the first man with that title to visit Nicaragua in more than a decade, and to help American journalists (who are pretty weak when it comes to knowing about places outside the US), the State Department put together a briefing paper. Then, State disavowed the paper because, well, because it told the truth. Click here to read why.