Roxana Saberi

President Obama has just completed his 100th day in office. Unlike most past presidents, his hand has been particularly weak, as he has been forced to deal with issues all across the board. Obama has dealt with issues such as a dire economy to attempting to restore the U.S reputation abroad. During his presidential campaign, Obama spoke how he intended to speak with the Islamic Republic of Iran and attempt to form a friendship that the two countries lacked for decades. The first step Obama took was a video message to the people of Iran, where he wished them a happy New Year and offered Iran “the promise of a new beginning”. The possibility of a strong diplomatic alignment with Iran might be very beneficial for the U.S. As Iran possess a lot of influence over countries and militias across the Middle East.


Many analysts believe this is a good move for the Obama administration to attempt. However, Iranian leaders have shown little promise in attempting to reunify this unhealthy relationship. The recent misstep of the Iranian government has angered many accredited journalists, bloggers and regular citizens in many countries. In early February, Roxana Saberi was arrested in Iran. Saberi was born in North Dakota, from an Iranian mother and Japanese father. Saberi was mostly known as a freelance journalist when she first arrived in Iran in 2003. She supplied many networks around the world with reports of her work. However, it became difficult for Saberi to continue her work in 2006, as the government revoked her press accreditation without explanation. Without her press accreditation Saberi was unable to report to news networks, so she remained in Iran to finish her research book.

Saberi was first held under Iranian detention without explanation. After a month of being imprisoned and countries beginning to call for her release, Saberi was charged with espionage. Two weeks ago in a one day trial, Saberi was sentenced to serve eight years in prison. The trial was held in a private setting and was closed to all of the public. Saberi has attempted to appeal the conviction and was promised an appeal date. This conviction has caused uproar by many journalists, bloggers and regular citizens across the world. Before the trial, many of the most powerful contributors in the media world wrote a letter calling for her release. A few of the Signatures that were included were by president of ABC News, David Westin; John Stack of Fox News; World Editor at BBC, John Williams. These few, accompanied my many more, felt her imprisonment was unjustified and called for Saberi to return home.

Roxana’s imprisonment was a major news topic across many chief news networks. This publicity has led to many bloggers to chime in with their opinions on the issue. Most bloggers as a whole believe Saberi’s imprisonment is unjustified. However, there are some who criticize Obama for his response to the situation as well. These bloggers feel Obama’s response to situation was very weak and unacceptable. They feel Obama does not understand the nature of Iran’s blackmailing tactics and is beginning to fall very short sighted. While other bloggers are not quick to criticize Obama, they have all pleaded for Saberi’s release. A twitter that has been created calling for Saberi’s release has already reached 4000 followers and the number continues to grow. The twitter creator is planning a one day hunger strike with volunteers in solidarity with Saberi. They are attempting to plan this hunger strike, mainly because reports have claimed Saberi has been on a hunger strike of her own for the last week. Thousands of people are hoping the best for Roxanna Saberi, but the situation does not look bright for her.


UPDATE: Roxana Saberi Released (5/11)

Obama Laughs It Off

As the Obama era continues, the administration has taken another step in the effort for change. Last Thursday, President Obama held the first online town hall discussion ever hosted at the white house. The discussion was intended to continue the theme of involving the public in political events, as promised during his campaign. The live streaming event was accessible to the public by simply visiting the White House website. The discussion was taken place in front of a large TV screen, which was surrounded by a small audience. The audience also had an opportunity to participate in the discussion following the online segment.

When the Obama administration marketed the event, they promised to answer the most popular questions regarding the economy. This freedom on the part of the American public opened a door way for pro-marijuana groups to dominate the forum. For example, in the category of budget, the top seven questions were all marijuana related. President Obama to no extent expected a pro-pot topic to dominate the forum as it did on Thursday. While the Obama administration had promised to answer the most popular questions, Obama made it clear that the idea of legalizing marijuana was not worth discussing. Obama spent less than twenty seconds discussing the most popular topic. Obama simply said “I don't know what this says about the online audience (laughing), [but] No, I don't think this is a good strategy to grow our economy." Obama didn’t display any of the video messages and quickly moved on to the next topic.

In the political world, a topic such as legalizing marijuana is typically shunned. Politicians feel it is a drug that will ultimately be abused, and it will only lead to unhealthy ramifications. I would assume they picture Americans sitting on their couches in a vegetated state eating white castle burgers. While only focusing on the economic aspect of legalizing marijuana, I feel America is at point where this might truly be a good idea. America is in the midst of an economic crisis, the unemployment rate continues to rise and the stock market plummets more days than not. About a month ago, a bill was proposed by Assemblyman Tom Ammiano.

The bill is intended to tax and regulate marijuana in the state of California. If this bill is approved, the use of marijuana would be legal to adults of the age 21 and older. California is one of ten states currently allowing the use of medical marijuana. Medical marijuana has already become the state’s largest cash crop, bringing in 14 billion dollars a year. Ammiano believes legalizing it completely would help California’s dire economy greatly. Ammiano also believes a great deal of money would be saved from no longer arresting and imprisoning those caught with small amounts of marijuana. It is reported that about 1billions dollars a year is spent arresting these offenders. California can serve as a possible case study in legalizing marijuana nationally. Another positive of legalizing marijuana would be the end of drug cartels on the border of Mexico. As the violence continues to grow, and more money is being constantly spent to send soldiers to patrol the border. A policy of legalizing marijuana would only affect Mexican drug trafficking; because after all, they’d be the ones out of business.

While these might all be interesting theories, the administration known for change, has made it clear that no change will be done for the legalization of marijuana. Overall, Obama has received a mixed response from his snubbing of the marijuana topic. Major news networks such as CNN, MSNBC, Fox news, etc. have all took the Obama approach by purely laughing at the president’s response and ignoring the topic. However, Bloggers have taken a different approach. They are outraged by the president’s disregard and see it as a complete contradiction of what Obama preached during the campaign, change.

While, Obama might have completely ignored the question, it shows the modern capabilities of the internet. It cannot be denied that special interest groups did have an effect on the amount of marijuana related questions. They encouraged their viewers and readers to post questions on the White House website. These acts only prove that anything is possible in this day and age of internet use. Marijuana would be a topic that past presidents would not risk to even discuss in the limelight. However, when the internet begins to be incorporated, the usual political filter begins to seem less effective.

PS: I will post an update on the legalization bill in California after the hearing.

Can Heroic George Get The Job Done?

President Obama has an enormous task ahead of him. His hands are full with the country’s dire domestic needs and current involvement in two no need wars abroad (I haven’t decided if we’re going to consider random attacks in Pakistan a war, but I guess we will have to see.). Obama’s inauguration wasn’t a celebration for everyone around the world. Families in Gaza, as well as Israel are coming off a brutal war. More than 1400 Palestinians were killed and almost all infrastructures in Gaza were completely destroyed. On January 17, a ceasefire was announced. However, there still continues to be limited military action from Israel and Hamas, which might escalate if the issues are not resolved. President Obama immediately showed interest in solving the crisis by choosing Senator George Mitchell as his new envoy to negotiate a resolution with the current Israeli-Arab conflict. Senator George Mitchell (D) was previously on the Clinton administration, and is mostly known for his assistance in the Belfast peace agreement in Northern Ireland. Mitchell was praised for his participation in this process by receiving many awards such as the Presidential Medal of Freedom, Liberty medal and a Nobel Prize nomination. Mitchell is also well known for his involvement in the Major League baseball scandal of anabolic steroids. Mitchell’s twenty month investigation exposed many superstar players who were secretly using steroids and served as a handbook to help solve the leagues problems. Mitchell’s assistance in exposing these superstars was a major news story across many news outlets. For decades steroids weren’t acknowledged as a problem, as everyone turned a blind eye to it. The 409 page report changed this mindset. Fans, players and journalists finally began to understand the extent of steroid use in baseball. Many players who were included in these reports were tarnished in terms of legacy and respect. Many news networks such as CNN, ESPN and Fox News all followed the reports release and commented on its effects. Mitchell’s reports took the sport of baseball in the limelight as hard news networks began to chime in with their opinions. These reports were also a hot topic in many blogs. Fans across the internet felt the sport of baseball was a scam, and players should be held accountable for their actions. The reports also forced former President George W. Bush to comment on the issue. Bush stated "we can jump to this conclusion: that steroids have sullied the game”. He added, "My hope is that this report is a part of putting the steroid era of baseball behind us." Despite these past successful achievements, many critics still wonder if he will have a solution for the current Arab-Israeli conflict.

Mitchell is known for his constant stance of impartiality. This stance might already seem as strike one in the eyes of Israel. Israel being one of America’s strongest allies might see this impartiality as unjust. Mitchell does not have any personal ties with Israel or any sort of Pro-Israel lobbyist, so this might be new grounds for them, as Israel might still be expecting the hands- off approach the Bush administration allowed them. Another negative Israel might perceive from the newly appointed envoy is that Mitchell is of Lebanese decent. This would suggest that the Obama administration might be attempting to take a stance of equality on Middle Eastern issues, rather than the exclusive relationship the Bush administration once had with Israel. Many Arab countries in the region have felt misrepresented over the past years; So Obama’s selection of an unbiased envoy might serve as productive tool and the best possible first step in solving the Mideast predicament.

Mitchell plans on taking his second diplomatic trip to the Mideast on March 1^st in attempt to continue the process of establishing Mid-East peace aspirations. Mitchell will have his hands full; on one side of the table, he will have to broker a deal with Hamas, a democratically elected group that is considered by America as a terrorist organization. While having to negotiate with newly elected Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was once, quoted by Joe Lockhart, the White House spokesman during the Clinton administration for being "one of the most obnoxious individuals you're going to come into - just a liar and a cheat. He could open his mouth and you could have no confidence that anything that came out of it was the truth." George Mitchell was number 38 on Time’s 2008 list of Hero’s and Pioneers. Hopefully we will see those same heroic traits when solving the current Mid-East Crisis. Only time will tell.

Update:
I read this article in the NY Post a couple of days ago.. its sort of relates to my blog. It is in the Post Opinion section of the newspaper, so read with discretion.
March 13 http://www.nypost.com/seven/03132009/postopinion/opedcolumnists/team_obamas_anti_israel_turn_159276.htm?page=2