President Obama Recognizes South Sudan

The White House released the following statement from President Obama:

I am proud to declare that the United States formally recognizes the Republic of South Sudan as a sovereign and independent state upon this day, July 9, 2011.  After so much struggle by the people of South Sudan, the United States of America welcomes the birth of a new nation.

Today is a reminder that after the darkness of war, the light of a new dawn is possible. A proud flag flies over Juba and the map of the world has been redrawn. These symbols speak to the blood that has been spilled, the tears that have been shed, the ballots that have been cast, and the hopes that have been realized by so many millions of people. The eyes of the world are on the Republic of South Sudan. And we know that southern Sudanese have claimed their sovereignty, and shown that neither their dignity nor their dream of self-determination can be denied.  

This historic achievement is a tribute, above all, to the generations of southern Sudanese who struggled for this day. It is also a tribute to the support that has been shown for Sudan and South Sudan by so many friends and partners around the world. Sudan’s African neighbors and the African Union played an essential part in making this day a reality.  And along with our many international and civil society partners, the United States has been proud to play a leadership role across two Administrations. Many Americans have been deeply moved by the aspirations of the Sudanese people, and support for South Sudan extends across different races, regions, and political persuasions in the United States.  I am confident that the bonds of friendship between South Sudan and the United States will only deepen in the years to come.  As Southern Sudanese undertake the hard work of building their new country, the United States pledges our partnership as they seek the security, development and responsive governance that can fulfill their aspirations and respect their human rights. 

As today also marks the creation of two new neighbors, South Sudan and Sudan, both peoples must recognize that they will be more secure and prosperous if they move beyond a bitter past and resolve differences peacefully. Lasting peace will only be realized if all sides fulfill their responsibilities.  The Comprehensive Peace Agreement must be fully implemented, the status of Abyei must be resolved through negotiations, and violence and intimidation in Southern Kordofan, especially by the Government of Sudan, must end. The safety of all Sudanese, especially minorities, must be protected. Through courage and hard choices, this can be the beginning of a new chapter of greater peace and justice  for all of the Sudanese people.  

Decades ago, Martin Luther King reflected on the first moment of independence on the African continent in Ghana, saying, “I knew about all of the struggles, and all of the pain, and all of the agony that these people had gone through for this moment.” Today, we are moved by the story of struggle that led to this time of hope in South Sudan, and we think of those who didn’t live to see their dream realized.  Now, the leaders and people of South Sudan have an opportunity to turn this moment of promise into lasting progress.  The United States will continue to support the aspirations of all Sudanese.  Together, we can ensure that today marks another step forward in Africa’s long journey toward opportunity, democracy and justice. 

The Dalai Lama Says Chinese Communist Party Should 'Retire with Grace'

By Chingyu Wang-Talk Radio News Service

The Dalai Lama stated Friday that China's communist party should "retire with grace" due to its lack of support and solid ideology.

The Tibetan religious figure's remarks came after meeting with President Barack Obama Thursday at the White House, during a trip to the Library of Congress Friday for the Democracy Service Medal presented by The National Endowment for Democracy (NED).

[In] any country, the real change must come to people, to individual creativity," said the Dalai Lama. "[Under] the totalitarian system, without freedom, that opportunity to utilize individual creativity stops."

The Democracy Service Medal was created in 1999 "to recognize individuals who have made significant contributions to the progress of democracy around the world," said NED vice chairman Judy Shelton.

The Dalai Lama has been proceeding to develop and promote democracy system around the world. In the early 1950s, the Dalai Lama sought democratic reform in Tibet's system of government; in 1963, a democratic constitution was promulgated in India shortly after his departure.

The Dalai Lama explained that he views elections as an important symbol of democracy since "that gives people have some sort of power to control to change, and that also give them some kind of sense of responsibility and involvement."

Poll: Iranians Desire Democracy and Reform

By Joseph Russell- Talk Radio News Service
The majority of Iranians say they will vote to reelect  incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, according to a nationwide poll conducted across Iran before the June 12, 2009 Iranian Presidential elections. The poll conducted by Terror Free Tomorrow also says that Iranians overwhelmingly continue to favor better relations with the United States and would like to directly elect their Supreme Leader in a free vote. 

Iranians envision their country’s future as being more Democratic and having better trade relations, said Ken Ballen, President of Terror Free Tomorrow. Even if Ahmadinejad is re-elected it “doesn’t mean they don’t support these goals... If he is re-elected its not on his policies...its on a new mandate.”  

According to the poll report: "Over the past two years, 77 percent of Iranians back 
normal relations and trade with the United States. 68 percent also favor Iran 
working with the United States to help resolve the Iraq war, while 60 percent 
back unconditional negotiations with the U.S. For more than six in ten Iranians, the most important steps the U.S. could take that would improve opinions of America are: a free trade treaty between Iran and the U.S.; the withdrawal of American forces from Iraq, and increasing visas for 
Iranians to study and work in the United States."  

The poll also says that 62 percent of Iranians oppose any peace treaty recognizing the State of Israel. The majority Iranians also support Muslims continuing "to fight until there is no State of Israel in the Middle East," the poll said.

And positive diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Iran may come at a price. "Iranians also continue to support the idea of Western investment and aid to Iran. Seventy percent favor Western investment; 80 percent medical, education and humanitarian assistance from Western countries," the poll report said. However, "60 percent of Iranians also support the government of Iran providing military and financial assistance to Iraqi Shiite militias (33 percent oppose), while 62 
percent back such assistance to Hezbollah in Lebanon (31 percent oppose). Again, however, as part of a deal with the United States, 54 percent of Iranians would endorse the Iranian government ending support for Iraqi militias,"the report said.  
  
This is Terror Free Tomorrow's third poll in a series over the past two years. It was conducted by telephone inside Iran over May 11 to May 20, 2009, with 1,001 interviews proportionally distributed and covering all 30 provinces of Iran, with a margin of error of +/- 3.1 percent.

Madelaine Albright: Americans “woefully ignorant” of Muslim world

By Michael Ruhl, University of New Mexico - Talk Radio News Service

Former Secretary of State Madeline Albright and former Represenative Vin Weber (R-Minn) spoke at the Council on Foreign Relations conerning American relations with the Muslim world. Secretary Albright said that Pakistan is the most dangerous country in the world, but that Afghanistan and Pakistan are closely tied in their turmoil. She continued that most Americans are “woefully ignorant” of the Muslim world, and that America’s approach should not be one of ‘tolerance’, but rather one of ‘respect’. Concurrent to that line of thought is the notion that the United States should be prepared to deal with Islamist democratic elections where the results are not favorable to American policy. Albright said people all over the world are ready for democracy, but that the United States should take the position of supporting popular democratic movements, not “imposing democracy”. Weber echoed that sentiment, but insisted that the U.S. could help build the “preconditions for democracy”, such as improving women’s rights or encouraging an open media.

Regarding America’s approach to fighting terrorism, Albright said that the U.S. must not fight terror in a way which creates new terrorists, and that every civilian death makes both the United States and our causes suffer. Regarding the policies of ‘targeted killings’ and assassinations, Weber highlighted that both the Bush and Obama administrations said that they would not ignore ‘actionable intelligence’ on the locations of terrorists. Albright also stated that it is important for America to distinguish those who were civilians and those who were “murders”.

Today at Talk Radio News

Pentagon Correspondents Dawn Casey and Adrian Frost will attend Defense Secretary Gates's speech at a summit on wounded warriors and amputees. The Washington Bureau will also cover the House Budget
Committee's hearing on "Economic Recovery: Options and Challenges," a summit held by U.S. News and World Report on America's high schools, a news conference by the American National Standards Institute and the Internet Security Alliance on "The Financial Impact of Cyber Risk," a discussion on voter fraud by the Heritage Foundation, and a discussion by the Brookings Institution on "U.S. Democracy Promotion after the Bush Years."