THE HEADLINES

(Photograph -- Pedro Pardo/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images)

MEXICO’S WAR ON DRUGS: IS THE NEW POLICY TO BE “HUGS NOT BULLETS” FROM THE U.S.”?

(New York Times)

This possibility is indicated during the current presidential election in which the candidates to succeed Felipe Calderon say they will place their emphasis on curbing violence rather than interdicting the flow of drugs to the U.S. The “hugs not bullets” phrase is that Manuel Abrador, defeated by Calderon in a controversial 2006 election. In this view the need for U.S. assistance in Mexico’s “war” is not so much weapons to augment those of the Mexican military and police, as it is U.S. “credits” to help improve the dire economic situation that lies behind the prevalence of involvement in the drug trade.

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THE BUDGET AND THE ELECTION IN THE U.K.: CONSERVATIVE/LIBERAL DEMOCRATIC COALITION IS ON THE ROPES.

(UK Independent)

Ever since the government issued a new austerity-themed budget in March, British voters have been leaving in droves their support for the Conservative and especially the Liberal Democrat Party as the Labour party, which opposes the austerity budgets, has gained favor to the point that they are likely to defeat the “coalition” in an upcoming election. Is there a message in the U.S. for a Democratic Party which has felt the need to mute its own working class “base” to support “job-creating” measures that seem more likely to create profits for the 1% than jobs and especially income for the 99% ?

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THE SYMBOLISM OF POCAHONTAS: A PEACE-MAKER FOR WHITE/INDIAN RELATIONS—OR A “WARRIOR FOR THE EARTH?”

(Indian Country Today)

Film-makers and other artists have appropriated the image of the famous Indian guide to a paradigm for inter-racial co-operation in America. Her image takes another turn as a current artist produces a painting depicting her as an “environmental activist” whose principal interest is not in saving an English colonist from execution by Indians but in preserving the earth from environmental devastation.

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ARE WOMEN “HASSLED” A LOT IN THE U.S. MILITARY?

(Common Dreams)

Doonesbury cartoonist Gary Trudeau tackles that question, depicting a “career day” appearance of a female Sergeant who fields questions from the audience and admits “honestly” that many are more than hassled, as 20% have reported being victims of actual sexual assaults. This is the “math” that the Sergeant suggests a potential recruit “do” before she decides to enlist in a military branch.

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CLOUD 9 OR BATH SALTS? EITHER ONE MAY BE GOOD ENOUGH TO INDUCE YOU TO BITE A POLICE OFFICER IN NORTH MIAMI BEACH.

(Miami New Times)

Miami New Times reports a case of a homeless man who, in a Boston Market, gets into an altercation that results in police intervention and the man’s attempt to bite an officer. There is a unconfirmed report that the man was high on the synthetic narcotic called Cloud 9. This recalls an earlier and more famous incident in another area in which another man (not homeless) was reportedly intoxicated from another source of synthetic cocaine called “bath salts” when he bit the face of another police officer.

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Quote of the day…

This is the penultimate moment. All the ducks are lined up and we just need to get them to quack at the same time.

Frank Biden, brother of U.S. Vice-President, and a notable investor, as plans go forward for yet another luxurious country club for tourists and emigres in Costa Rica.

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