One Man's Opinion

In case some of you think that the Saudi deal I wrote about yesterday is not par for the course for the U.S., here's another sweet deal, although not as lucrative. The Americans are selling a $3.48 billion  missile-defense system to the United Arab Emirates, a group of seven absolute monarchies that no one would claim is a model of democracy and freedom. Still, they have the money to make Washington and its political donors from the private sector happy, so who cares about any of those legal niceties? As long as they have the cash, dictators all around the world can rest assured that the U.S. will sell them all the weapons they want. And throw in its soul, for good measure.

What a nice Christmas present! The U.S. Government has closed a deal to sell $30 billion worth of fighter jets to Saudi Arabia. Now, the last time I checked, Saudi Arabia was an absolute monarchy , with no constitution, civil or human rights to speak of. Doesn't it strike you as odd that, at a time in which the Arab world is in turmoil, struggling, precisely, to achieve democracy and freedom, the Americans would choose to help arm a country that   is just the opposite of what people are fighting for? Of course, there are 30 billion reasons for Uncle Sam to rationalize this egregious contradiction. So, while the U.S. chastises and lectures many other countries about its values, it laughs all the way to the bank,  after dealing arms to, in many instances, its future enemies in a war.

It may be easy to dismiss Chávez's comment on the possibility of the U.S. being behind the cancer epidemic among left-of-center Latin American presidents as the ranting and ravings of a lunatic, but I wouldn't put it past the Americans to do anything in their power to get rid of their "enemies." The fact is that the U.S. track record in this regard is quite disturbing and revealing. Consider the case of blacks in the South in the 1940s that were injected with syphilis and left untreated, to see what would happen. In Puerto Rico, several decades ago, we had an American doctor who experimented on our people as part of a government project and a political leader who was also the subject of radiation while in custody by the U.S. government. Now, we know about the experiments with the Guatemalans, and who knows how many more of these episodes we are bound to find out. Weren't all these things "horrific and reprehensible", as the lady from U.S. State Departmen

I've got news for all those noble souls who really think that the U.S. military is led by "officers and gentlemen" trained in the military academies: there has been a  60% increase in sexual assaults in those hallowed halls.  Sexual shenanigans are nothing new in military academia; from time to time, a scandal breaks out, and then the issue is forgotten for a while. But, such a sharp increase from one year to the next is certainly significant, especially at a time when both in Afghanistan and Iraq those "boys next door" and "clean-cut types" have been caught with their pants down way too many times. If this were a joking matter, we could say that these guys are just practicing for the "rape and pillage" part of their military mission overseas. But, of course, this is no laughing matter. Once again, this is part of the "reality check" that reveals the truth behind all that American propaganda that casts their military personnel as

It's ironic, to say the least, that Jews, who have been so persecuted throughout history, be as blatantly intolerant of their own people. This is what's happening in certain parts of Israel, where ultra-Orthodox Jews have become abusive and violent to other Jews, demanding that they adhere to an extremely strict code of conduct based on ancient religious beliefs and practices. Interestingly enough, some of the things they engage on are reminiscent of Nazi laws and procedures. All this time, people around the world have been led to believe that religious fanaticism was something that only Arabs and Muslims took part in. Now, the holier-than-thou Jews are seen acting as stupidly and viciously toward their fellow men as any other human group on earth.

Cooking is serious stuff, and dangerous too. In Chile, the Supreme Court has ordered a newspaper to pay $125,000 to 13 --unlucky number -- people who tried out a churros recipe that turned out to be faulty. When those readers followed the recipe exactly, the churros exploded and burned them, some more severely than others. So, 7 --lucky number for the unlucky readers -- years after those incidents, they will be compensated for their injuries. The Court held that the newspaper should have tried out the recipe -- which calls for boiling cooking oil --  before publishing it, to make sure that it was safe. I suppose that chefs and cookbook authors everywhere will now practice "defensive cooking"...

Unless I'm missing something, Chevron's claim that plaintiffs' lawyers and the Ecuadorean judge that handed down  a decision to grant $18 billion in damages for an oil spill did something wrong because the lawyers helped to draft the court's decision is frivolous. I don't know about Ecuador judicial procedure, but it's common practice for a judge to ask for a draft of a decision by the winning side. As long as the judge does not rubber-stamp it, that is to say, accept it without a careful review of the facts and the law, there is nothing objectionable about this way of helping a judge do his duty expeditiously. So, I suppose that this is a tactic to smear reputations and have a higher court overturn the $18 billion verdict, which, I'm sure, is the real issue here.

Another Christmas story to warm your heart and rekindle your faith in your fellow human beings. All across the U.S., police have had to be summoned to keep the peace at shopping malls that have the new Air Jordan athletic shoes on sale for $150. Hundreds of people have turned violent at the stores, ripping off doors, injuring themselves, others and even policemen who have intervened to restore order. Merry Christmas and Peace on Earth to all men of goodwill !

Wow, what a Christmas story! A survey done in the U.S. reveals that a significant number of Protestant churches won't have services on Christmas Day because it falls on a Sunday . But, wait a minute. Isn't Christmas the birthday of the man that gave rise -- no pun intended -- to all this? Wouldn't it be the perfect occasion to celebrate it? Well, it seems that those churches are expecting a low turnout, so, they are not going to bother opening up shop, if not enough customers are going to show up. Or maybe this is the equivalent of giving the day off to employees on their birthday. Except this is the "Boss" we're talking about, and He hasn't shown up in a long time. Which goes to show you that there isn't much faith out there in the Second Coming...

To those of us that are convinced that very little happens in this hemisphere without the U.S. being involved, one way or another, it comes as no surprise that the Americans knew all along about the theft of babies from the so-called "subversives" by the Argentinean military during the "dirty war" thirty-some years ago. After all this time, it is only now that the American government acknowledges, through declassified documents, that, at the highest level at the State Department, it was well aware of what was going on. But, as in so many other instances, it chose to look the other way, simply because the victims were worse than expendable; they were "communists", "leftists", "socialists", "subversives" or "terrorists", unworthy of any protection. So, the U.S. Government did what it usually does: it supported the right-wing military junta  and kept quiet about the theft of babies, to be sold or given to pro-government

At "best", it's a suicide; in the worst case scenario, it could be homicide or murder. A 19-year-old Chinese-American U.S. soldier in Afghanistan "apparently" killed himself after being physically and verbally abused by his fellow soldiers, on account of his ethnic makeup, something he had written home about. Though the investigation is just starting, there are eight soldiers, including an officer, who have been charged with different counts of illegal conduct related to this death. American racism is so strong that, even in a war zone, being perceived as "different" carries a lot more weight than wearing the same uniform. It's also easy to see why killing others who are really different is no problem, be they man, woman or child, unarmed and at the mercy of those with guns.

Mercosur's moves to accept Venezuela as a member and sign a free-trade deal with Palestine are welcome developments in a continent that has being subordinate to the U.S. for far too long. Welcoming Chávez into the fold of this important economic regional bloc is a way to strengthen it, and, at the same time, send a message to the Americans that Latin America will no longer follow Washington's dictates. The same can be said of the deal with Palestine, which flies in the face of American foreign policy and its Israeli counterpart. Latin America is big enough and has enough people and resources to go its own way without the U.S.' permission. Acting together, our countries can stand up to American economic imperialism, doing what is in our own best interests, not just to accommodate the U.S. The proof is that, while other economies are floundering, Latin America, as a whole, is doing better than ever. This is the wave of the future.

Here's a chilling statistic that speaks volumes about American society, the one that holds itself as a model for the rest of the world: by the time they're 23, from 25% to 40% of young people in the U.S. is arrested for crimes other than traffic violations. In other words, American youth is significantly in trouble with the law early on, which would explain a whole lot about the crime rate and why those young soldiers find it so easy to go on killing sprees overseas in places like Afghanistan and Iraq. Anyway you look at it, this spells failure and "the American Nightmare." A country that has so many of its young people arrested is in deep trouble, and civility, decency and the rule of law are just words without any concrete meaning in daily life. Nothing to be admired or copied.

The European Union is to be commended for taking a collective approach in refusing to sell a key ingredient of lethal injections to the U.S. No other country or regional bloc should cooperate with the U.S. in carrying out its barbaric practice of putting people to death. Let the Americans kill their own people with their own resources and in their own way. They could always go back to lynching blacks or using Latinos as target practice. Lethal injections have been portrayed as the "humane" way of executing people, although that has been contested. Maybe it is best to apply the death penalty without any mitigating element, so that people can appreciate it in all its brutality.

I always thought that college fraternities and sororities were kind of stupid and vapid. Any organization that would mistreat someone in order to prove him worthy of being a member couldn't be any good. But, stupidity dies hard, and, once in a while, we all have proof  of it. The chapter of a fraternity at the University of Vermont has been suspended for a survey taken by the fraternity, in which it inquires about who the members would rape, if they had a chance to . It should come as no surprise that the fraternity had been disciplined before for violations related to drinking, another one of those traditional fraternity activities. It all makes you wonder about the kind of riff raff that continues to make up these dumb clubs.

The child-abuse scandal in the Catholic Church keeps growing, making it impossible to hold, with a straight face, that this is just the work of a few "bad apples." The problem is so big, and the cover up so massive, that decent Catholics are dumbfounded. There is simply no credible or rational explanation for something this serious and widespread having gone on for so long without nothing being done about it. A case in point is what has been revealed by an independent commission appointed by the Dutch Catholic Church to look into the child-abuse problem.The commission found that the problem dates back at least 60 years, involves some 800 priests or Church personnel and that there are thousands of victims. It also concluded that the Church was aware of what went on, and, basically, did nothing. In other words, par for the course for the Catholic Church.

Common experience -- if not history -- tells us that one should never gloat over other people's misfortunes, because, quicker than you can imagine, you have troubles of your own. This comes to mind when one learns about the disturbing episodes of terrorism or vandalism that have sprung up in Israel these past few days. Call it what you will, far-right and other Jewish extremists have gone on a rampage against Arabs and the State of Israel itself. It seems that previous incidents had gone largely unpunished. So, feeling encouraged by the State's lax stance, these people have escalated the level of violence. Israel must feel embarrassed, to say the least. Touting itself as the only true democracy, respectful of human rights and all-around good guy in the region, this very dark side of people who, purportedly, are eternal victims of the neighboring Arabs and the rest of the world tells a different tale.

This has been a bad week for American drones. First, it was the one that was either shot down by Iran or it just fell down on its own. Now, another one of those unmanned planes -- this one used for spying on the Indian Ocean pirates -- crashed at the Seychelles Islands, giving credence to the theory that the drones aren't all that great to begin with. By the way, you've got to hand it to the Americans. Obama has had the gall to ask the Iranians to give back a plane used to spy on them . Just a few days ago, the U.S. denied that the plane Iran put on TV was theirs, hinting that it was a fake. So, I suppose that, now, either they want a non-existent plane or a fake one.

Americans are well-known for not passing up the chance to make a quick buck. So, when "9/11" happened, many saw it as a golden opportunity to cash-in. These were either the "heroes" or the "victims." In some instances, they were both. Take the case of  a former naval commander who was at the Pentagon on that fateful day. He got out of the building, but then went back to help others get out to safety. In the process, debris fell on him, and he was awarded more than $300,000 in compensation for his injuries. Reality check: he wasn't injured at all. He used an old wound to claim compensation. Now, he has been sentenced to three-and-a half years in prison for fraud. Maybe, if there hadn't been all that rush to find "heroes" for the occasion, and the hero-worship of the military, he would've been caught from the start.

The Americans have a hard time accepting failure, especially, at the hands of those they consider inferior, which is to say everybody else on the planet. This is why they have chosen to deny that the unmanned plane the Iranians have presented is one of the drones they use to bomb in a cowardly fashion or, as in this case, spy on other countries. So, they have assumed the position that the plane is a fake, in spite of having to admit that there is a drone unaccounted for. Of course, how could it be that the lowly Iranians, with their Stone-Age technology could bring down the latest aircraft of the almighty Americans! Better to speculate that there was some malfunction of the plane, and it went down on its own. Not exactly something to write home about, but, still, better than to give Iranians any credit...

An important part of the American myth and propaganda revolves around the way that the U.S. "honors" and reveres its military, especially those who die defending the nation or furthering its principles of democracy and freedom everywhere on the planet. There is no end to the lip service given to servicemen, and the media does its patriotic duty by presenting them in the most favorable light possible, dubbing them "heroes" unquestionably. So, it's nothing short of shocking to know that for a long time -- some say as far back as the last 15 years -- the remains of many of those "heroes" have wound up at a Virginia landfill, that is to say, a garbage dump. What has happened is that, frequently, the only things recovered from the battlefield are body parts that are supposed to be cremated and disposed of in a dignified manner. This is what relatives are led to believe happens when they sign a release to that effect. But, the Armed Forces has taken the sh

The headline got my attention. "Nuns and the Birth-Control Pill." Wow, I thought, another Catholic Church scandal! Unfortunately, it was nothing of the kind. It's just that there are medical studies that suggest that it might do nuns some good to take the pill, for its potential benefits in protecting them from cancer. Given the fact that women who never get pregnant and don't have children have a higher risk of developing various forms of cancer, some researchers believe that being on the pill might improve nuns' chances of avoiding the disease. Of course, it could also lead some of them astray...

For the past 50-odd years, the world has regarded Tibetan monks as a sort of "species on the verge of extinction" by Communist China, martyrs of the cause of freedom. The Dalai Lama, being the high priest of peace and harmony around the world. Richard Gere made Tibet's cause fashionable among celebrities, becoming its unofficial spokesman. Given all that spirituality, it's embarrassing, to say the least, that, in India, the third in rank in the Tibetan monk hierarchy had $1.35 million in cash at his monastery . When queried about it, the answers haven't been that forthcoming. Allegedly, these were "donations", he knew nothing about them, and his staff was unaware that there was anything illegal in the matter. Take your pick of disingenuous statements, surprising in those who do so much breast beating over morality. I suppose that, being of another culture, they have never heard of "render unto Caesar"...

The American reaction to the British Petroleum oil spill into the Gulf of Mexico was, among other things, an exercise in xenophobia: much was made of the fact that the company was British , as if to drive home the point that nothing good can be expected of foreigners. Now, it seems that an American company is partly to blame for the disaster. Halliburton, no less, Dick Cheney's day job and scavenger in Afghanistan and Iraq. BP not only claims that Halliburton was at fault, but, significantly, that it destroyed evidence of its wrongdoing. So, there is enough blame to go around, and that includes the Americans, who so self-righteously demonized British Petroleum.

In a very tragic way, the Vietnam War hasn't ended. It's been almost 40 years since the U.S. ran home defeated and humiliated, but its legacy of death and destruction endures. Since 1975, more than 100,000 people have been killed or wounded by live bombs all around Vietnam, part of the 16 million tons  of bombs and explosives left by the Americans. So, they left, but they are still killing "gooks" -- as they so fondly referred to  the Vietnamese --  on a daily basis. Now, the Americans, who are generous to a fault, have contributed $62 million to Vietnam's effort to clean up its "killer fields." Of course, it's been estimated that it will take about $600 million  to complete the cleanup. Meanwhile, thousands more will die because decades ago the U.S. decided to destroy a country, in order to "save" it.

Maybe all those who, taking their cue from the Americans, love to demonize Hugo Chávez should ask Haiti's President for references. The man has come out recognizing that, right now, Venezuela is doing much more than most to help his country. As was to be expected, all the international concern about Haiti's plight after the earthquake has lessened considerably. Only those who are truly compassionate have the staying power to continue helping. So, Chávez has put his money where his mouth is in a big way. I'm sure that Haitians couldn't care less about his politics in or outside Venezuela. The only thing that matters is that he is lending a hand where and when it's most needed.

Starting with Pinochet, Spain has tried, either successfully or unsuccessfully, to bring foreign officials to justice for crimes against Spanish nationals in other countries. Currently, it is seeking the extradition of two Americans and 13 Salvadorans in the military for the deaths of five Spanish priests in 1989. Let me make a prediction here and now. As soon as Mariano Rajoy takes office as Spain's President, the matter will be dropped. Easy: the man is a  Franquista at heart, and this kind of digging in the past reminds everybody too much of the Spanish Civil War and the Franco regime. Also, Rajoy won't do anything to upset the U.S. directly or indirectly, given the fact that the Americans supported the Salvadoran military in the war that ravaged that country. So, the Americans and the Salvadorans don't have to lose any sleep over the extradition requests.

See, this is why I try to stay away from doctors as much as possible. Studies made in England, Germany and the U.S. show that most doctors-in-training don't know when to wash their hands as they tend to patients. No wonder there are so many deaths due to mysterious "bacteria" in hospitals! Anyone who has been to a hospital with some regularity knows that they are far from being spotless. So, if you add to that the fact that doctors don't wash their hands as they should, frankly, you're better off staying at home and taking your chances with whatever disease you have. By all accounts, you'll be handled more cleanly.

You have to wonder at the kind of stupidity that goes on at many colleges and universities, where supposedly smart people go to learn. Take hazing, a "noble tradition" that refuses to die, in spite of students dying from it. The latest case is the one of a member of Florida A&M University marching band who died after being beaten by fellow members. There is evidence that some officials from the university have done their part in trying to discourage this practice, but it hasn't been enough. Obviously, unless people go to jail for these crimes, this thing will go on. What is most disturbing is that, according to some observers, these actions take place off campus and are consented to by the new members, as something of a rite of passage, by which they have to prove their manhood or some sort of sophomoric bullshit. What a warped sense of values in these young people!

A Chilean judge has taken the bold step of asking for the extradition of a former U.S. soldier believed to have participated in the killing of two Americans in 1973 by the Pinochet regime. An acclaimed film by Costa-Gavras, titled Missing , dealt with the efforts by the man's father and widow to find out what happened. Slowly but surely, Chile has gotten around to facing its awful past during those years. The U.S., which is so fond of demanding other countries to extradite its criminals of all kinds, has a chance now to show that it too is willing to surrender one of its citizens to face justice at the scene of his crimes. Unless...the man knows too much and will embarrass the Americans with a tale of how the U.S. government plotted against Allende, the duly-elected President of Chile, and even went so far as to kill its own citizens suspected of being sympathetic to his government.

I knew it! To me, American Airlines had to be bankrupt for a long time. Only a bankrupt airline could offer such a poor service all around. When you're so cheap that you give passengers those horrible pretzels in domestic flights and such bad meals in the international ones, that is a dead giveaway of your financial condition. Of course, it's all the employees fault. If only they would agree to eat those pretzels and that chicken or pasta for a living, those awful "labor costs" would go down and the airline would be "competitive" once again. So, just to show that AA means business, it has declared bankruptcy, so that the employees will take a pay cut and say goodbye to their benefits, while management has drinks at the Admirals Club.

You've got to love the Americans! They're so inventive and resourceful. Here's an example. Let's say you're a mediocre high school student that wants to go to college, but are concerned about not scoring well on the standardized tests you have to take to see if you're "college material." What do you do? You pay a college student to take the test for you! These people -- they've identified about 20 already in the Northeast -- shouldn't be facing prosecution, but given the American Enterprise Institute award for entrepreneurship. Americans are used to buying everything and everyone. This is just another one of those things that there's a market for. It's the American way.

I find all this "crying and gnashing of teeth" over the excesses of Black Friday shopping greatly hypocritical. The media, through its relentless advertising, has turned this into a social event that people want desperately to be a part of. Stores, of course, are mainly to blame for staging it. The government idly stands by, afraid to do its duty to, first of all, protect workers from being exploited, and, second, shoppers from being trampled. This, of course, is consumerism at its worst. It's a degrading spectacle that should have never been allowed. People are getting hurt and, as was the case of the pepper-spray lady, are hurting others in this hysterical rush to save money on good deals. Nobody does anything to stop this insanity, as if this was some act of God or nature that can't be helped. Free enterprise may be a good thing, but, like everything else, must be exercised responsibly and held accountable for its actions.

Fourteen years ago, a large group of nations came together in Kyoto, Japan to pledge their best efforts to reduce carbon emissions and other pollutants to the atmosphere. Almost all nations ratified the Protocol. The U.S. never did. For all their talk about "leading the world" in worthy causes, the Americans were unwilling to commit to reducing their share of polluting the planet. The Protocol is about to expire, and there is talk of renewing it, but how effective will this be if one of the major culprits is so indifferent to the problem? How can the U.S. tell China and India -- other major contributors to the problem --  to stop polluting, if it's reluctant to do so itself? Once again, the U.S. discourse is one thing, and its actions are quite another.

Yesterday, while Americans were stuffing themselves with turkey, six more innocent children were killed by a NATO -- that is to say, U.S. -- airstrike in southern Afghanistan. So, I suppose that's what Thanksgiving is all about: thanking God that it's not American children that are being bombed to hell.

If you're one of those people who think that the Amish are peace-loving, quaint good souls, think again. In Ohio, there's been a spate of hate crimes involving members of a separate Amish sect who have taken it upon themselves to cut men's hair and beards, a no-no for these people. In 1995, they parted ways for religious reasons with the Amish establishment and, since then, there has been tension between the two groups, erupting now in this series of violent attacks perpetrated at night in the victims' homes. What believers will do in the name of God!

Statistics point to the stunning fact that 15% of the U.S. population either goes hungry or is unsure about where its next meal is going to come from. That's almost 18 million people . Significantly enough, one out of every five children goes hungry. And it's no longer the children of the traditionally poor that are in this dire situation, but, increasingly, those of lower middle class families. All this in the bombastically-proclaimed "greatest country in the history of mankind." While its people go hungry, it keeps spending billions of dollars in all kinds of wars and military interventions with the purported objective of defending the American way of life. Really? I guess that, for a change, the American people are going to have to "invade" their own country and set new priorities, before it all goes to hell.

Embarrassing, to say the least, is the breakup of two American spy rings, one in Lebanon and the other in Iran. Once again, the CIA has messed up in an almost amateurish way. In one of these cases, the spies were uncovered because they met consistently in a Pizza Hut restaurant. In general, the spy operations were sloppy and unprofessional. I would guess that this is a result of that typical condescending American attitude towards foreigners, regarding them as dumb and unsophisticated. Not giving the "natives" credit for anything, the CIA operatives felt that they could get away with carelessness. Now, they know better. Contrary to all those movies in which American agents are always so much smarter than everybody else, real life reveals just how flawed their intelligence apparatus actually is.

It had all the elements of a storybook romance. She was young and beautiful; he was young and handsome. They looked like movie stars and, in fact, were. For those of us who grew up in the fifties and early sixties Natalie Wood and Robert Wagner appeared to be the perfect couple. When they divorced, we were all disappointed, but when they got back together, we felt that things had been put right. And then, 30 years ago, when Natalie Wood drowned, it was like a death in the family. To us Puerto Ricans, our María had died. Now, the memories have come back, and the old suspicion rears its ugly head once again. Could it be that Prince Valiant was at fault? "Please, make it not be true!"

Boy, the Catholic Church must be really desperate! When I read that the Pope was going to visit Benin, I thought it somewhat odd. Now I know the reason: Africa is one of the very few places where Catholicism is actually growing, including religious vocations. So, much as he would surely prefer that business were booming elsewhere, Ratzinger is forced to go on safari among the natives. The man is so desperate that he has been willing to make overtures to Voodoo and other aspects of African culture that, I'm quite sure, he finds not only morally objectionable, but also personally distasteful, to say the least. Remember, this is a man with a Nazi background. Enough said. Still, he has to put up with these "heresies", in order to keep his shop open during these troubled times. For that, he would make a deal with the Devil himself.

If anybody thought that Neo-Nazis were harmless kooks, they better think again, in light of the recent developments in Germany. It's become clear that they are behind a string of murders against foreigners and robberies for close to a decade now. As is the case with other extreme political views that have been in power anywhere around the world, Nazism dies hard, lying somewhat dormant, always ready to erupt again at a moment's notice. Germany must act swiftly and decisively against any manifestation of this disease, before it spreads, especially among its unemployed, discontented and alienated youth.

Will wonders never cease! It started with Warren Buffet, and now a group of millionaires has gone to the U.S. Congress asking the government to tax them more, in order to help the country out in its hour of need. What is more surprising --maybe not -- is the reception they got, which went from amusement to hostility. Here were these rich people doing what they consider their patriotic duty, and all they got was the cold shoulder and derisive comments. Of course, many congressmen are rich themselves or represent the wealthy, so they were none-too-pleased to be put on the spot. In the end, nothing will come of this. Still, it's a grand gesture that deserves recognition, and shows that not every rich person is without some conscience.

As a lawyer, I find it interesting that some Holocaust survivors are trying to sue the French railway system for its complicity in their deportation 60 plus years after the fact. Although the truth is not diminished by time, it's rather odd that someone would wait so long to hold someone else accountable for what they did so long ago. It seems to me that one would look to find that kind of relief much sooner. Furthermore, there's always the matter of proof, extremely complicated after all these years. This whole thing smacks of being opportunistic; a way to make some money off a tragic situation.

A newspaper headline that says that Jerry Sandusky admits that he showered with boys but is innocent is as damning as can be. There's nothing innocent about a very grown man showering with very young boys, especially when he also admits that there was "horsing around." I find it suspicious that a man would engage in such an activity with children not his own, unless he has an -- I daresay, abnormal --  interest in coming in contact with them. As I write this, there is a report that ten additional men have come forward with sexual abuse allegations. That makes it eighteen. Sandusky may have been a defensive genius in college football, but it looks like he won't have much of a defense in this matter.

Chile has taken up, of late, the investigation and prosecution of Catholic Church child molesters. Still, due to the fact that some of these cases are so old, the statute of limitations has run out on them. This is what just happened in a recent case of an 81-year-old priest, whom the Church has "retired" to a life of prayer and penance. Meanwhile, he goes unpunished in this world. The Church has been "soft" on pederasts, and this is another example of that practice. Significantly, the judge in this case made a point of stating that the allegations were true, but, unfortunately, he couldn't be prosecuted for those crimes.

I's been called "the dumbing down of America", a recognition of the downward spiral of American education. The average person in the U.S. is ill-informed about national and international affairs. Thus, they are easy prey for demagogues who trade in false patriotism, fear and prejudice. A recent study of political views confirms just how ignorant and gullible is the typical U.S. citizen. For democracy to work, there has to be a well-informed citizenry. The men of 1776 knew this, and pinned their hopes on it for their political experiment to succeed. They would be extremely disappointed in 2011. Ironically, with all the freedom of information and multiple outlets to obtain it, the American people have very little political culture and their participation in the democratic processes is far from what it should be in an advanced society.

For most Americans, the bottom line is always the "bottom line." No matter how painful a tragedy might be, it will ultimately be measured in dollars and cents. A lot of dollars. This is what's happening in the Fort Hood case, in which victims and their families -- 83 people in all --  are asking for $750 million in compensation for what they claim was the negligence of the U.S. Government in not stopping the shooter, a man that, had someone paid attention, showed clear signs that he posed a threat to his fellow soldiers. Putting aside the question of their right to be compensated for their loss, this sounds like a typical American get-rich-quick scheme. Seven hundred and fifty million dollars! Come on! A life can be "priceless", but this is ridiculous. People should also be allowed to sue the U.S. for all those military deaths of soldiers that get killed in  Afghanistan and Iraq, where they were taken under false pretenses.

The good news is that the Army sergeant that led others in killing three Afghans for the hell of it has been found guilty and sentenced to life in prison. This 26-year-old monster not only orchestrated these murders but also staged them to look like legitimate combat situations. The bad news is that he'll be eligible for parole in less than ten years . If I take good care of myself, I'll live to see him walk out of prison, because, deep down, he's been convicted reluctantly. The powers that be had no choice, given the nature of the crimes and the publicity that went along with it. Had there been the least chance of sweeping it under the rug, they would've done so. Imagine convicting a "boy next door" for killing three lousy    Afghans! But, things got too big and out of hand, and they couldn't allow him to get away with murder. Still, mark your calendar for the early release date.

Did anybody really believe that the Dominican pitcher accused of killing one guy and injuring another would be found guilty? The man is set to sign a $12 million contract with the Orioles. If you multiply that by 38, the official exchange rate, you get  456 million pesos . Now, that's a lot of pesos to go around. Sadly, but truly, Dominican justice is not above reproach, and money not only talks, but, in this case, "walks." It's been reported that a key witness changed his testimony in a dramatic way. I bet I know why...

The news of mishandling the remains of U.S. soldiers that come from Afghanistan and Iraq in the Delaware military airport is the latest -- most probably, won't be the last -- of inappropriate doings with regards to how the U.S. Armed Forces deal with its servicemen and women. Sometime ago, there was the scandal at the Walter Reed Hospital that, ultimately, led to its closing. Arlington Cemetery has also been in the news due to questionable procedures. All this in a country that prides itself in the way that it treats its military "heroes" that keep it safe and protect the "American way of life." This, of course, has been shown to be nothing but propaganda. The truth is and has been for some time that veterans, the dead, the wounded and the sick get the short end of the stick, once there's no more use for them as part of the U.S. war machine.

I always liked Joe Frazier much more than I did Ali. In fact, I never liked Ali at all. For all his "greatness", I found him boastful and demeaning towards his opponents. Talent and physical prowess aside, he wasn't someone that I could admire.  Frazier, on the other hand, went about his business in a quiet and dignified way, not making fun of the other guy. He just knocked him out. He never resorted to the verbal abuse that he was the target of with Ali. There's much to be admired in someone who does his job well, without humiliating others or delivering cheap shots to them. In a world where values have been corrupted, Ali became a hero of sorts. But, to me, Frazier was the better man, inside and outside the ring.

I enjoy sports as much as the next guy, but I've never understood how people can be blinded by their fanaticism towards a team or an individual. There are countless things that are way more important than the outcome of a game or any athletic pursuit. Like sex crimes against minors. It's now becoming apparent that the hero worship of a football coach in Penn State University prevented that he be properly investigated for sexual abuse of minors based on credible eyewitness testimony. Thus, he was allowed to continue his predatory practices for a long time after university officials were aware of it. There can be only one explanation for this outrageous situation: the status of college football in many campuses around the U.S. As stupid as it may sound, people who are involved in successful collegiate team sports get a free pass on a number of instances. The Vince Lombardi bullshit of  "Winning isn't everything. It's the only thing" has corrupted otherwise decen

Another Kenyan has won the New York City Marathon, and in record time, at that. A countryman of his came in second. The rest of the top finishers are all African, as has usually been the case in long-distance running for several decades now. The dominance of the African runners is an amazing turn of events, considering that they come from countries that are not well-off by any stretch of the imagination. But, they have turned their natural abilities and circumstances into a cottage industry producing elite competitors that go around the world winning consistently, with no end in sight. Meanwhile, unable to do much about it, the rest of the world just sees them running away with the gold, in both medals and money.

Who would've thought! A small town in Michigan is so broke that it turns out the lights at night . Worse than that, just so no one feels tempted to turn them on, it has pulled down the fixtures of public lighting. So, the 12,000 inhabitants make do with the light from their homes, or else, they walk around in the dark. Although this is an extreme case,  many other cities, towns and villages around the U.S. have cut back on public services of different kinds, so as to balance their budgets or, at least, reduce their deficits. If just a few years ago someone had said that this would be happening in the almighty United States of America, no one would've believed it possible.

The infant mortality rate is a very significant fact about a country's well-being. In the most recent worldwide study, the U.S. is 31st among the developed nations, hardly something to brag about. That a country as rich and advanced scores so badly in such an important matter speaks volumes about its priorities. It's been said that the measure of a society is given by how it treats its most vulnerable people. In this and other ways, the U.S. is a third-rate country. While there are many poor countries that can do no better, Americans have no real excuse for such a disastrous result. As long as health care is seen as something that the free market will take care of, there will be little improvement in this and other statistics. Only universal health coverage can provide the kind of comprehensive medical attention that will help keep the infant mortality low. But, then, that would be "socialism", a fate worse than death...

The election of Bogotá's mayor is the latest of a growing trend: former guerrilla or "subversives" taking office through the political process. Brazil, El Salvador and Uruguay are other countries in which this has happened. Where bullets failed, ballots have done the trick. Now, these people have the opportunity to put their power where their mouths were, pushing for the reforms that they --literally --  fought for. One can only hope that being in the political mainstream will not make them forget the values that inspired the selfless dedication to the cause that they were willing to die for.

As if getting killed on the battlefield in some obscure place weren't enough, U.S. Armed Forces personnel are killing themselves in growing numbers. This shouldn't come as a shock to anyone. American soldiers are all over the place doing their corporate masters' bidding, sometimes so repeatedly -- like the guy who got killed recently in his 14th tour of duty -- or in such extreme conditions that they become damaged goods and end up committing suicide. American imperialism comes at a very high price in casualties, not only for those who die at the hands of, very often, people who are just responding to the fact that their homeland is being invaded, but also those who, being sick of mind and spirit for what they have been put through, take their own lives. I suppose that many come to realize, perhaps too late, that they have been taken advantage of and brainwashed into believing that they are fighting for democracy and freedom. Faced with the awful truth, they can't take

This is the classic case of the boy who loses an argument while playing ball, and takes home the ball and the bat. The U.S., in what amounts to a monumental tantrum, has withheld $60 million from UNESCO, to punish it for accepting the Palestinians on the same footing as other nations, obviously as a prelude to the U.N.'s decision to grant them political recognition. So, the Americans, who feel that the rest of the world has to do what they tell them about everything, are behaving like the proverbial spoiled child. Little do they care that more than 100 countries voted in favor of the Palestinians on this, with just 14 voting against it. In the U.S. concept of democracy, time and again, votes count only when they favor its position. This is simply an egregious example of imperial arrogance. Mark my words. The next step will be to evict the U.N from its New York location.

I keep saying it: be careful what you wish for. Libyans are non-too-happy these days with some statements made by the interim leader there suggesting that the enactment of a stricter Islamic law would allow polygamy. Women, who have been at the forefront of the revolution, are upset, to say the least, at the hint of this new state of affairs. The fact is that under the recently-ended regime, polygamy, although part of Islamic law, was rare and not encouraged. Now, when Libyans have begun to think that this is the dawn of a new era, they worry that things may not turn out as they expected. They might find out that, in a democracy, the majority rules, and if that majority approves of outrageous practices, everybody has to abide by them. Of course, you could have a revolution every other month...

The alarm has gone off because the U.S. Border Patrol has decided to cut back on its duties at the border with Canada. Those obsessed with "national security" and keeping America for Americans are apoplectic over this decision. But, the fact is that, with less personnel, due to the economic hard times, resources must be deployed where they are most needed, namely, at the southern border, across which the truly dangerous and undesirable people go into the U.S. People with dark skin who speak Spanish.

A former guard at the Guantánamo detention facility has gone public detailing the abuses that occur there. It's an eye-opening story that confirms what has been alleged all this time. People have been put there without any regard for their possible innocence, nor for their safety and well-being. The U.S.has presumed them guilty and has tortured them accordingly. Young soldiers were sent there and, basically, told or taught by example that anything was permissible in the war against terrorism. So, once again, we see the double standard applied here. Torture is bad if it's practiced by repressive regimes, but, when it's the U.S that engages in it, then it's authorized at the highest levels. Of course, when caught doing it, they'll deny it, but, testimony such as this one is very difficult to dispute.

No matter how you slice it, a score of 186-2 is as lopsided a victory as can be. When you realize that is the vote against the U.S. embargo of Cuba in the United Nations, there can be no doubt about how the whole world feels about it. For the last 20 years , the U.N has voted to express its rejection of the American embargo.  But, as is always the case, the U.S. chooses to ignore the decision by the world's most inclusive forum. The Americans, who promote democracy and voting all over the world, in essence, give the rest of the world the finger over this issue. To them the only democracy that counts is the one that suits their purposes. In this case, only Israel sides with the U.S. Not even its European allies think that the embargo should go on. The question then becomes: Why should any other country obey the U.N. or take it seriously, when the U.S., its host country, has no respect for it? Is this the way to promote democratic values, picking and choosing which decisions to acc

Just as I predicted recently, protests in the U.S. have begun to turn violent. Police are becoming increasingly frustrated with all those "occupiers" who refuse to move or go home. For now, it's just tear gas in California, which usually leads the way in these things. But, bullets won't be far behind. Too many people are involved on both sides, so it's a matter of time before somebody snaps and the killing begins in earnest. It's the American way.

We in Puerto Rico have a rather serious problem with police brutality and misconduct. Or so we thought, but, by the looks of it, our next-door neighbors the Dominicans have surpassed us, not only in baseball, but also in their police officers using their billy clubs as baseball bats. According to Amnesty International, which keeps score on such things, last year, 10.5% of all killings in " the land Columbus loved most" were committed by its police force. For those who are always looking for something positive, it's down from 19% in 2008. Still, the word "alarming" comes to mind. The Trujillo regime may have ended officially 50 years ago, but it's still very much alive in several aspects of that country's life. Of course, the years under Balaguer were no picnic either; after all, he had been Trujillo's right-hand man and the brains behind most of that brutally repressive regime, so his was only superficially different. Both the police and the armed

Meanwhile, back at the Afghanistan "ranch", things are not going all that well for American interests. So much so, that Karzai, of all people, has said that, if push comes to shove, his country would side with Pakistan in a conflict with the U.S. Of course, he qualified it by saying that he was referring to the unlikely event that the U.S. would attack Pakistan unprovoked. Still, it speaks volumes about the kind of support that the U.S. has from its allies around the world. The thing is that, when you throw your weight around constantly, people resent you, even though they might benefit from your intervention in some way. The diplomacy of humiliation will only get you so far; after that, those people will turn on you, and rightfully so. "Liberators" soon become "invaders" or foreigners who have overstayed their welcome. Ultimately, no one wants a permanent occupying force on their soil, regardless of its intentions. Yankees should go home and let the res

Much is being made of the American withdrawal from Iraq, as if it was some kind of victory. Nothing is farther from the truth. But, the point should be made that one of the reasons that the U.S. is doing it is the fact that the Iraqi government refused to grant immunity from prosecution to the American military. You see, this is a condition for the U.S. troops to stay in a country: no matter what crimes they commit, they can't be judged by that country's legal system. Of course, this leads to widespread abuses and, ultimately, impunity. The U.S. chooses who to investigate and prosecute. As the old "Church Lady" from Saturday Night Live used to say: "How convenient!" As usual, all this talk about the U.S. standing for the rule of law is bullshit. The rule of law is only valid if it suits American purposes. Even a country such as Iraq, with all its faults and problems, found it too hard to swallow the U.S. outrageous and shameful condition for its continued

A woman calls the police to report a stolen vehicle. They come to her house and arrest her for another crime. Nothing else matched the facts about the supposed culprit, except her first name, Teresa. The woman spent 53 days in jail before she was cleared of any wrongdoing. Did this happen in some backward country? No. Did it take place in one of those totalitarian regimes that are being toppled around the world? No. Did this happen in some small town, where the rule of law depends on one person? Again, no. This Kafkaesque episode took place in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. And, of course, the woman is black.

The class-action suit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of immigrant women --one supposes, mostly Mexican -- that claim to have been sexually abused while in custody of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement guys in Texas should come as no surprise. Illegal immigrants are fair game --literally -- for rednecks and other folks of that ilk. To them, Latinos are worthless people who, on top of that, have no business being north of the border. So, they have no rights, and any mistreatment is just what they deserve for breaking the law. In the case of women, there's the added bonus of abusing them sexually. Part of the problem comes form the fact that ICE has privatized some of its functions through contracts with people in the security business who don't feel accountable to anyone. Some of these people are mercenaries and former military personnel who are used to abusing and killing "inferior" people overseas, and see nothing wrong in doing it i

That part of the Cuban exiles that is politically active, especially in Florida, has made a career of being anti-Castro and not much else. They may not be for anything; all they have to be is against Castro. So, it's quite understandable that politicians are desperate to show how gung-ho they are, when it comes to Castro's Cuba. Obviously, this is what has happened to Marco Rubio, the state senator that used to claim that his parents had fled Cuba after Castro took over. Now we know that isn't true because they had left in 1956, well before the triumph of the revolution. Rubio alleges that he relied on what his family told him, and he was unaware of the inaccuracy. But, given the context and how convenient the other version is to his political career, it's really very difficult to believe that he didn't know the truth from the start. More than likely, he saw this as an opportunity to win votes from the Cuban constituency that would identify with his story. In sho

It's official! The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has declared that the listeria outbreak has been caused by "unsanitary conditions" at the facilities related to the cantaloupes that bear the bacteria. According to the FDA, the company was at fault for failing to observe sanitary practices in the handling of the fruit. In other words, it was a pigsty, and now 25 people have died and about 100 others have been made sick by the tainted fruit. All this in a country that prides itself in having the best quality controls and highest standards in everything; which looks down on the rest of the world, and bad-mouths other countries' products and processes, while, as we now know, doesn't wash its hands when handling food and produce.

The process toward this year's National Book Awards in the U.S. has been a comedy of errors. The prestigious literary prizes have been tarnished by a singularly incompetent nominating procedure. To wit, meaning to nominate a book titled Chime, they notified the author of Shine . Aware of their mistake, they first decided to include both, although it expanded the category from the five nominees mandated by the rules to six. Then, they reconsidered, and asked the author of Shine to withdraw from the contest. Which poses the question: Don't these literary people know how to read? How could they confuse Chime with Shine ?   Furthermore, what kind of solution was that, of acting against the rules, just to cover up their mistake? Maybe they didn't know how to read the rules either.

Believe me, I would love to get off the subject, but it just won't let me.  A small group of protesters, including a priest, were briefly detained in the Vatican for demonstrating in favor of the ordaining of women as priests. The thing is, you see, that last year, in what has to be the most cynical act of the millennium, the Church made the ordaining of women a canonical offense on the same level as abusing a child . So, those who advocate it are promoting a grave sin. Boy, was I right in leaving the Church in 1968!

Well, it seems that we won't have to wait too long to get rid of Pope Ratzinger. Granted that St. Peter's Basilica is the world's biggest church, but the fact that he has to ride on a wheeled platform to go from one end to the other of the central aisle is a clear indication of his physical frailty. We already have more than enough indications of his moral frailty. Let's hope that we have more luck with the next Pope.

The Catholic Church just doesn't get it. After all that has happened in recent years, it's still involved in the cover up of the sexual abuse of minors. The latest case to come to light is that of the Kansas City bishop that has been indicted for "endangerment of a child", which, in plain speaking, means that he was aware that a priest of his diocese was a threat in this regard and did nothing. After learning that the priest had hundreds of child porn photos, he waited five months before he reported him to the authorities, giving him ample time to continue with his practice. This is a clear example of the way in which Church officials drag their feet in these cases because, at bottom, in spite of all the protestations to the contrary by Vatican officials, they care more about covering their asses and maintaining an image, than about doing the right thing. They still think that they can get away with it. They are not sorry at all, and will keep doing what they please

It's the oldest trick in the political book. Build an unfavorable image of your adversary by every means possible. Then, do something awful and blame your adversary for it. Americans are masters at it. "Remember the Maine!"? We in Puerto Rico certainly do because it triggered the Spanish-American War that gave the U.S. the excuse for invading us, an invasion that is still going on. Does anyone seriously believe that Spain would be so stupid as to provoke the U.S. by blowing up an American ship at Havana harbor? What worked in 1898 and many times after is still working. Now, it's Iran and its "plot" to kill the Saudi ambassador to the U.S. on American soil. The supposed plot is so ridiculous, it's laughable. Serious analysts have begun to question its authenticity, but to no avail: Obama has passed judgment and sentenced Iran to "pay the price." Here we go again...

It's become "fashionable" to fault Venezuela for everything that it does or does not do. A worldwide campaign has seen to it that the country is held in low regard by most accounts. The most recent one is the report by the U.N. Human Rights Commission, which includes 148 recommendations, 98 of which have been accepted by Venezuela. Still, the emphasis is being put on the ones that it has "rejected." What I find interesting is, first of all, this practice of some countries judging others, as if they were somehow blameless and their record spotless.Would, say, France, Germany, Spain or the United States fare well, if their civil or human rights record were to be put under the same scrutiny as Venezuela or Cuba, another one of the "bad guys" in the international arena? Are all these countries and many more like them so pure in their dealings with immigrants, minorities and their own citizens? Surely not. So, I suggest that the world stop beating on Ch

When the so-called "Arab Spring" had its first "success" in Egypt, I urged caution, fearing that the mob-rule mentality would bring further trouble. Once again, Egyptians have taken to the streets, frustrated with the people who just a few months ago were hailed as patriots and saviors from the Mubarak regime. Now, the U.S., which, as usual, dictated that Mubarak had to go, is, to say the least, embarrassed at the turn of the events that it helped in no small part to bring about. Obama, with enough troubles of his own at home, is pleading with Egypt's protesters and the government that he helped set up to behave sensibly, but to no avail. As time goes by, Mubarak doesn't seem so bad, after all. At least he kept religious extremism in check. Meanwhile, Obama has turned a blind eye to his protesters at home, who grow by the minute and refuse to go away. Ironically, everyone seems to agree that the protests in the U.S. have been inspired by the ones in Egypt

Not to knock the awarding of the Nobel Prize for Economics to the two Americans, but it seems rather awkward, given the state of the U.S. economy. Maybe this is the reason why one of them rushed to make it clear that their work has no short-term practical application. Well, Obama would surely need some ideas to improve things, so I guess he will have to turn to somebody else for that. Ironically, the work for which they have been honored has to do with the effect of government policies on the economy and vice versa, which, quite frankly, is a relationship that shouldn't surprise anyone. Although I majored in economics some 40 years ago before studying law, I don't claim to be an economist. Nevertheless, I do have a working knowledge of  the matter, and I always felt that a lot of it has to do with, on the one hand, common sense and, on the other hand, questionable assumptions about real-life decisions. Too much emphasis on mathematical formulas and models very often obscures

It's estimated that, in the last 16 years, 168 people have disappeared from cruise ships . They have vanished into thin air or, most probably, the ocean. It's a most disturbing figure, given that this is supposed to be a safe way to travel for people of all ages, from the very old to the very young. And yet, there's something rather mysterious in all this. People go on these cruise ships and disappear without any explanation from the crew, the company that owns the ship or the police. Like on an episode of The Twilight Zone. No one is ever indicted for a crime, because there is no evidence of one. Those people could have had an accident and fallen overboard. Or they could have committed suicide by jumping overboard. Or, most likely, someone threw them overboard, dead or alive. But, who? Are there serial killers on these cruises? Or have some people found a way of getting away with murder? A puzzling question indeed.

While people are singing Steve Jobs' praises as an inventor and innovator, it's worth noting how flawed he was as a human being, not just because he wouldn't give the time of day to the father that gave him up for adoption, but, most importantly, because, for a long time, he refused to recognize a child born out of wedlock, going so far as to claim that he was sterile, while having three children with his wife. Although one can understand his attitude toward his father, there is simply no excuse for not acknowledging his daughter to the extreme that he did. By doing so, he ended doing something akin to what he blamed his father for. He may have been a "genius", as some claim, but he failed a critical test of being a decent human being.

Hyperbole is a valid and useful form of expressing one's ideas and opinions forcefully, but, taken to the extreme discredits the one that indulges in it. This is what has happened to Desmond Tutu in his tirade against the South African government for refusing to issue a visa to the Dalai Lama, a friend of his invited to the bishop's 80th birthday celebration. Even if he's right in criticizing the government for this decision, comparing it to apartheid is clearly an outrageous exaggeration without any rational basis. Tutu has done himself a disservice by throwing this public tantrum and using an inappropriate analogy in the country that suffered so much under that system. I think the time has come for the bishop to take a vow of silence.

The Alabama courts have upheld the toughest immigration law this side of Arizona, prompting a stampede of Latinos getting out of town. So, one would suppose that everything's right with the world of the bigots. Well, not quite. It's being reported that the sudden and massive disappearance of all those people is having a disruptive effect in many aspects of Alabama life, such as agriculture, commerce and just everyday chores that Latinos, many of them illegal residents, performed. Either the people behind the bill didn't anticipate such a quick and stunning reaction, or their bigotry is too strong for them to care. Time will tell how this plays out, but, for now, a lot of Alabama whites aren't too happy with the law.

The Puerto Rican family that leased a property to the pharmaceutical company Baxter for 15 years must have thought that it had a pretty sweet deal. Instead, it discovered that, true to form, the company dumped radioactive waste and contaminated the property, rendering it useless. In response to the $50 million suit, Baxter denies any wrongdoing. There's just one problem with Baxter's position. In 2004 and 2008, it was ordered to pay fines for polluting and mishandling radioactive material, so, its protestations of innocence sound a bit hollow...

The news that a Spanish judge has released, although not freed entirely, some suspects of aiding and abetting terrorism, for insufficient evidence, pending further investigation, is a welcome development for all those who believe in the rule of law. It is absolutely critical that the judiciary everywhere maintain its professional cool head  in the midst of all this hysteria about terrorism, that has turned mere suspicion into certainty of guilt. Evidence must still be weighed carefully and dispassionately, not bending the rules to accommodate the State's case, thus making it easier to prove it. Although the pressure to go along with the police and prosecutors in these national security cases is enormous, judges must stand firm in doing their duty to decide on the evidence and honor the presumption of innocence.

Hugo Chávez is absolutely right in describing his "death watch" as morbid and inhumane. Ever since he was diagnosed with cancer, and all through his treatment, there has been a sick and sickening reporting on his health, the most recent of which had him hospitalized at death's door. This is a perfect example of the irresponsible journalism that, under the guise of freedom of speech, publishes falsehoods, spreads rumors and does everything it can to bring him down. One doesn't hear a word of condemnation from the Inter American Press Society, always so eager to lash out at Chávez or Fidel for interfering with the press. Which goes to show that these supposed watchdogs of democracy and human rights are not really interested in offering a truthful and balanced presentation of the facts, but are instead watching out for the interests of the landed gentry and the ruling class, and, of course, those of their ultimate masters, the Americans. Much to their frustration, Cháv

Now, you know the story. Repressive regimes are intolerant of home-grown dissidents and foreigners who are openly critical of them. Thus, they won't allow these troublemakers in their countries. The U.S. constantly condemns countries that act in such a retaliatory fashion against those who exercise their freedom of speech. This, it's pointed out, is a sign of weakness of a government or a political system. Well, interestingly enough, the U.S. has been denying visas to, of all people, human rights activists from several parts of the world, including one on Kurdish rights that has a long history of going to the U.S. to lecture and seek aid for his cause. In this particular case, the man has been waiting a year for his visa, without a word of explanation for the unusual delay. It seems that the State Department finds it inconvenient to let the man into the country, to do what the U.S. is supposedly admired for: letting people speak freely. I wonder what someone like Yoany Sánc

The privatization of security in all its aspects, worldwide, has turned into big business. Also, into a big problem. Dumping what is, essentially, a public responsibility on the private sector is very convenient for governments because it allows them to put the blame on someone else, when anything goes wrong. And plenty is going wrong, especially in the area of detention of illegal immigrants, a vulnerable population if there ever was one. The fact of the matter is that private security companies have been put in charge of countless detention centers with, basically, no supervision and no accountability for their actions, which range from neglect to torture. Paying someone else to do a job that is distasteful often ends up alienating oneself from it. Governments have become exasperated with illegal immigration and they would rather not deal with it hands-on. So, they hire these companies to do their "dirty work" for them. And look the other way, while the companies do their

How's this for a "speedy trial"? It has taken the U.S. nine years  to bring to trial a detainee at Guantánamo, with the possibility of a death sentence, for good measure. The man, accused of a terrorist activity in 2000, was tortured in a couple of sites used by the Americans to carry out illegal activities on foreign soil, before holding him in the Cuban detention camp. The defense counsel has pointed this out, but to no avail. The man is as good as dead, even before he has been tried, let alone convicted. The military tribunal who will hear the case is just a firing squad in disguise. He has been selected to die, and there is no way that that is not going to happen.

The Chinese are the "new Japanese." What I mean is, of course, that they are everywhere with their cameras, traveling in big groups all over the world. I had the chance to see that for myself these past two weeks while visiting, Paris, London and Berlin. With their new-found wealth and freedom to travel abroad, they have really taken up traveling enthusiastically. No longer a largely backward and reclusive society, China has opened up with a booming economy, and is staking its claim as a major player in the international arena. Faster than anyone expected, the Chinese not only are coming; they have definitely arrived.

The news that Iván Rodríguez has probably played his last game as a Washington National should have been that he has played his last game. Period. Arguably, the best catcher that has ever played the game, Iván should have let this last ovation in Washington be his "last hurrah." But, like so many other great athletes before him, the roar of the crowd has drowned out that little voice that, surely, tells him that he should retire now and stop embarrassing himself, especially at the batter box. Though he is still capable of throwing out almost half of those who dare run against him, his eye-hand coordination, the essential capability to hit consistently, is not there anymore. He has played very few games this year, hit even less, and the idea that he can play three more years, as he has said, is just a fantasy of his. Wanting to reach the 3,000 hit-milestone, being so close, is understandable, but unrealistic, given his diminished capacity to swing the bat properly. In spite of

Life has a funny way of proving you right or wrong, as the case may be. In other instances, of showing you up on your contradictions. This comes to mind with the recent scandal in Spain, where the government and the main opposition party both tried to put a spin on the reporting done by TVE, the State-run news and entertainment television channel. Fortunately, the public outcry and the professional fortitude of management prevented the foul deed. What I find interesting is the fact that Spain has chastised both Castro and Chávez for what they see as improper control of the press and the rest of the mass media. So, while condemning the two regimes, they attempt to do something along those lines. Once again, this is a clear example of the hypocrisy of the supposedly-leading democracies, that lecture the so-called "Third World" on the respect for human rights and freedoms that they themselves violate. Furthermore, when things like this happen in one of their countries, the G-7

In case anyone out there missed it, I'll be on vacation until September 24.

It seems like my mother was right, after all. She used to say that the world was full of crazy people. A new and far-ranging study shows that 38% of Europeans have some kind of mental-health problem. In the U.S. it has been estimated at 26%, although that is way too low, if you go by the everyday insanity that we are all aware of. The whole world --Puerto Rico included-- is full of an irrational violence that is a sure sign of some form of mental illness. People are killed every day on the flimsiest of excuses or for almost no reason at all. Be it alcohol or drug-induced, deranged behavior is rampant and often turns deadly. Tomorrow, I'll be going to Europe for a two-week vacation. I'm sure that I'll feel right at home.

For a while, Tony Blair was perceived very favorably, I dare say, by most people. He was young, bright, handsome and seemed to get along famously with another young, bright and handsome world leader, Bill Clinton. Together, they appeared to be new and exciting politicians that could change things for the better. We all know what happened to Clinton. In Blair's case, his image began to get tarnished when he acted like Bush's lap dog in the war on Iraq, an issue about which he remains unrepentant. Then, after leaving office, he officially became Catholic, the timing being significant in the overwhelmingly Protestant Great Britain. Now, we know that he is even godfather to one of Rupert Murdoch's daughters, another telling choice for Mr. Blair, given the fact that Murdoch supported him through his media empire during his tenure as Prime Minister. Tony Blair: older, less handsome and not-so-bright.

From 1776 onward, the U.S has boastfully proclaimed itself to be the beacon of democracy, freedom, liberty and human rights for the rest of the world. Much of that has been based on the right to vote and choose freely those who govern. Time and time again, the Americans have prompted other peoples to adopt democracy and the principle of "one man, one vote" as its cornerstone, condemning regimes that have no free elections. Having said that, why is it that the U.S. is trying desperately to convince the Palestinians to not seek a vote in the United Nations on whether they should be recognized as a state with certain rights and prerogatives? If a voting democracy is the ideal political system for all people and all time, why not let the democratic process run its course, and respect its outcome, whatever it may be? If the rest of the international community wishes to support the Palestinians, they should be allowed to do so in a democratic and peaceful way. But, trying to prev

Now that everybody and his brother is ganging up on Gaddafi as the worst of the worst, it's interesting to note that, according to documents uncovered in the aftermath of his ouster from power, there was a quite cozy relationship between American and British intelligence and the Libyan government. In fact, the U.S. and Great Britain used the Libyans to carry out some of their dirty work and torture supposed or actual terrorists. They also shared information with that country. So, how come the Libyan regime was good enough to serve Western interests, while it was doing all those awful things to its people? Surely, the Americans and the British were not unaware of what went on in that country. Still, they turned a blind eye to all this during all that time. No wonder Gaddafi had all those pictures of Condoleeza Rice! Now, all of a sudden, they have "discovered" how bad the Colonel really was, and, in what is a monumental display of cynicism and hypocrisy, Obama and Camero

To the list of disappointing decisions by Obama now add his overruling of the Environmental Protection Agency on new standards for clean air. The reason, of course, is taken from the private sector's talking points: they impede economic growth and recovery. Because that is a "no-no" at this time, Obama has, once again, betrayed a good portion of those who voted for him, believing in his message of change and hope. He is, after all, very susceptible to the message that he hasn't done enough or the right things to pull the country out of the deep hole it's in. So, he has chosen to accept as true the idea that business is weighed down by too many rules and regulations that prevents it from expanding and hiring more workers. Of course, we all know that eliminating consumer and environmental protections won't produce more jobs. It will only make businessmen richer. But, it's nice to pretend that it will benefit the economy in general. It also helps to keep th

Today's paper brought two news items that are in stark contrast and speak volumes about the U.S. and its priorities. On the one hand, there is the news about the billions of dollars that will be needed to repair the damage and restore to normalcy the East and the Northeast after tropical storm "Irene." On the other hand, there is the information on the billions of dollars--roughly, ten times the other amount--that has been wasted on projects of all kinds in Afghanistan and Iraq that have come to nothing, as well as the outright corrupt practices by American contractors over there, who, in essence, have stolen money from the U.S. government and taxpayers. So, while millions of people are in dire need of assistance due to the storm, their government keeps throwing away money overseas in two wars that only benefit a select group of private individuals and companies.

In what has to be the worst nightmare for most Americans, the prediction that the U.S. will become mostly non-white in a few years' time is already true in a host of cities around the country, including the capital. Between Latinos, Asians and Africans, the "browning" of America is a fact of life. Sooner than they realize, WASPs will be the new minority in the USA, and the image of Americans as white, blond and blue-eyed will have changed forever. In a country as racist as the U.S., it's going to be fun watching how this plays out.

Now, this is the kind of medical news that is right up my alley. A British medical journal reports that chocolate is good for the heart. I knew it! Something that feels so good has to be good. Of course, this is not to say that one should overindulge in it, but, still, it's good news for chocolate lovers all over the world, who may feel guilty about their passion for it. The trouble is that it's not good for diabetes or, I suppose, those who have somewhat high blood sugar, like yours truly. Fortunately, sugar-free chocolate is pretty good these days, so I don't have to go without it. Anyway, maybe one of these days they might find out that chocolate is also good for diabetes. Stranger things have happened...

Rules are rules, and we should all abide by them. But, sometimes, by being extremely strict, they are not in the best interests of what the rules are for. The new false-start rule--"one mistake and you're out"-- in the sprints has prevented the world from seeing Usain Bolt display his amazing running prowess. The sport gains nothing from a rule that can produce such a result. Two other sprinters were also disqualified in other events. There are, to be sure, rules that have been changed for the better. The one about scoring in volleyball regardless of who's serving is a case in point. Baseball needs desperately to adopt a rule for a wide use of filmed replay of controversial decisions by the umpires, so that the game is decided by what has really happened, not on account of the faulty perception of an umpire. In the final analysis, rules should ensure that the game or sport is played fairly, without hampering its major players unnecessarily.

Time was when the Walter Reed Army Medical Center was an icon of the American mythology of superiority in all things. For close to a century, it was, supposedly, one of the best medical facilities in the world, where even Presidents went for medical attention and, yes, to die. The operative word is "close", because, for quite some time, the hospital had gone downhill, not just its facilities but the medical care provided there to veterans who were getting the short end of the stick health wise. Still, it kept operating, although in an increasingly diminished capacity. It took a long time to die out, but it has finally closed its doors, to be merged with a Navy facility. I guess this is another sign of the hard times on which the U.S. has fallen.

I find it fascinating that an issue can be made of the fact that using any communication medium menacingly is protected by the right to free speech. As a lawyer, I can appreciate the legal subtleties involved in the speech area, but I am appalled at the misuse of legal discourse and reasoning behind the efforts to justify improper behavior in it. The far-reaching and pervasive nature of media such as Facebook and Twitter makes truly distressing messages a concern for the peace of mind and safety of those who receive and are the object of such communications. To suggest--as has been the case of a U.S. woman subject to 8,000 menacing Twitter posts-- that this is akin to an unkind book review or some other unpleasant expression is an outrageous comparison. Granted that everyone is entitled to a legal defense, but there is a moral dimension to the law, and it shouldn't be ignored, lest we end up giving aid and comfort to those who are bent on causing harm on a person or society at la

I think that there's much to be said for politicians from the East who resign over their failures, big and small. The Japanese Prime Minister is quitting because he is perceived as having been ineffectual in the handling of the tsunami crisis in his country. This was, to be sure, a great disaster, and the government has come under fire for its performance in some of its aspects. On the other hand, the mayor of Seoul is stepping down because he said he would --wow, a politician who keeps his word--if he lost a referendum on free school lunches. Since his option of reducing it to 50% was rejected by the voters in an election that failed to register the minimum number of voters to take action, he is leaving his post. The West should take notice of such a civilized and decent respect for public opinion on the part of politicians.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: one way or another, the U.S. is behind most, if not all, those demonstrations and protests against governments that are not to its liking. Especially, in Latin America, which Uncle Sam considers his "backyard." Washington's dirty tricks, in-house and abroad, didn't end with the Nixon presidency; they are still going strong. The U.S. will identify the opposition, fund it--directly or indirectly, through all sorts of private groups--and provide technical assistance, to make trouble for the regime, even it it's a duly-elected one. So, I'm pretty sure that Evo Morales is not paranoid in his concern over the role that the Americans are playing in Bolivia. The U.S. doesn't play fair; it never has and it never will.

The U.S. Armed Forces are learning the hard way that not knowing other languages besides English is quite a handicap. After all these years of warfare, American soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq are basically unable to communicate with the people from those countries, making it almost impossible for them to protect themselves better, as well as to establish a reasonable working relationship with the population. This is a reflection of the American mindset towards other cultures. Deeming them inferior, Americans don't think it worthwhile to "waste their time" trying to learn other languages. Instead, they expect the rest of the world to learn English, the only truly "important" language. Not even when it's in their best interest, as is the case when their lives and security are at stake, do they make the effort to learn other languages. Stupid people with money and power are dangerous indeed.

Getting rid of Gaddafi--if that is indeed the case--is just a first step on the road to democracy and freedom, a road that has proved to be a long and winding one. Recent experience in that part of the world is not particularly encouraging. Old habits die hard, and supposedly liberal elements are not always what they seem at first glance. We'll have to wait and see if life in Libya improves markedly after Gaddafi is out of the picture, or if a dictator is replaced by mob rule and chaos, in the name of freedom.

By the looks of it, Catholic nuns are on the verge of extinction, at least in the U.S., and I suspect elsewhere. Specifically, in the health-care context, the once ever-present nuns in Catholic hospitals are no more. There are too few nuns to go around. Most of the ones that remain are old, sick and retired. This has been a long time coming. I remember that, as far back as 50 years ago, nuns at the Catholic school I attended began to leave their teaching positions, in order to dedicate themselves to their religious duties full-time. The reason was that, as in the priesthood, there were too few new vocations. I suppose that the rigors of celibacy had a lot to do with it. People have come to understand in increasing numbers that "doing God's work" shouldn't entail living an abnormal life. So, it has come to this.

Chile continues to give other countries a much-needed lesson in dealing with its dark past. For the last seven years, it has embarked on documenting the abuses and crimes under Pinochet. Instead of burying its head in the sand and taking the cowardly-moral way out of the so-called reconciliation without accountability, it has proceeded to insist on bringing to light every case of disappearance, kidnapping, murder and torture  committed during the 17-year Pinochet regime. In the latest major development, it has updated the list of victims, adding almost 10,000 names, bringing the total to close to 38,000. It's an example of not letting bygones be bygones, when it comes to egregious crimes against humanity and the essential quest for justice.

It's been reported that men all over the world have lower testosterone levels and sperm counts than ever before. And it's not just old guys like me--which  is understandable--but younger men, which is kind of frightening. The culprits are the "usual suspects": pollution and radiation in all its forms. Be it from the outset, as genetic conditions that later develop, or as the result of contamination with the environment, the fact is that men are experiencing more and more problems with their reproductive system and their sexual capability. Add to that the fact that male births are declining, and this has all the makings of a global problem. Which, of course, could be music to our ears of us older guys in reasonably good shape...

Here's an item that can give believers and unbelievers some pause. In 2007, a Polish rock singer was tried for ripping apart a Bible on stage. Apparently, Poland, an extremely Catholic country, has a law which makes it a crime to desecrate a religious artifact or symbol. Anyway, the guy was acquitted, but the State appealed, something that is not possible in more liberal legal systems. The appeal has not been successful, and the defendant has been acquitted once again. Her's the kicker: in the interim, the guy was diagnosed with leukemia and has undergone a bone marrow transplant. Do I hear "God is punishing him"?

It's a sad state of affairs when new and useful technology is used to promote criminal or disorderly conduct on a grand scale. Such is the case with the so-called "flash mobs", those gatherings put together through the Internet and other instant communication media. It's becoming a fad for groups of people in various countries to meet on short notice and proceed to loot and engage wantonly in all sorts of antisocial behavior. Human beings always tend to make improper use of tools and things developed for legitimate purposes. This is just the latest example of this unfortunate manifestation of human nature.

The Dutch have begun to look into the deaths of 34 children who were inmates of a Catholic institution for the mentally impaired in the early 1950s. In just three years--1952-1954-- these 34 kids died in circumstances that were never fully explained. Now that the Catholic Church's handling of various charitable institutions around the world has come into question, not just for sexual abuse, but for physical abuse also, the past has to be examined under this new light. For much of its existence, the Church has been a power unto itself, used to having its own way, not answering to anyone. That kind of power corrupts and leads to all kinds of excesses. Including murder of creatures deemed unworthy of going on with their "life."

Warner Buffet, of all people, has come out in support of higher taxes for the wealthy, of which he is one of the top in the whole wide world. At 82, he may have come to realize that the obscenely rich should carry a bigger burden that the one they have gotten away with. I suppose other cynical rich people could say that, at his age, he can afford to have a conscience. That he should have made this proposal 30 years ago. Still, it's a bold move by one of the richest men on the planet, one that should motivate others like him to put aside their greed and selfishness, and think of the greater good.

Much is being made these days about the Pakistani man who contacted the Indian daughter of a man he killed 46 years ago, when, as a fighter pilot, he downed the aircraft piloted by the woman's father. He has apologized for the incident, attributing it to the state of war between their two countries. No doubt that the gesture deserves to be recognized, but there is one thing that is most disturbing in all this: the military pilot shot down a civilian aircraft that he himself realized that presented no danger to him or anybody else. The small plane with eight passengers had gotten off course accidentally into Pakistani territory, and yet, instead of escorting it out of his country's territory, the pilot asked for orders, and was told to, essentially, murder those people. He did. At least since the Nuremberg trials, it's clear that unlawful orders are not to be obeyed. The man knew that what he was doing was wrong, so much so that he has admitted that he hoped that they woul

Well, you know me; always keeping tabs on the goings-on at the Catholic Church. The bishop of Saltillo, Mexico has been summoned to the Vatican to explain himself for ministering to gays, lesbians and other "undesirables." I suppose that the Pope is worried about the Church being labeled "soft" on homosexuals. Anything but that! Sexual molestation of minors and covering it up is one thing, but consorting with "sexual deviates" is quite another. Those people should burn in hell for their "abomination", as the Bible characterizes sodomy, the "infamous crime against nature." What we all should ask ourselves is how many priests, bishops, archbishops and cardinals were ever summoned to the Vatican to explain what they were doing with the pedophiles in their rank and file? Had the Pope --this one and the previous ones--been so inclined, he could've put a stop to this shameful practice. But, in what amounts to a classic double standard w

It's taken 15 years for the families of Nigerian children who died from a drug for meningitis to start collecting their money from a suit against Pfizer, the pharmaceutical company that manufactured it. Although the company still disputes it, the evidence points to either a faulty drug or manipulation of its dosage as a cause of those deaths. In cases such as these, one can't help but notice how these "errors" usually occur in poor countries with non-white populations. It's as if poor, black or brown people are expendable, perfect subjects for testing risky drugs or treatments with a high probability of failure and death.

What the hell is going on in Austria? Judge for yourself. A museum employee in Vienna has been fired for "washing" his hands and face with his own urine. The man, who is a believer in "urine therapy", maintains that this is good for his health and his appearance, and that he had been doing this for a long time at work, something that the museum was aware of. Meanwhile, elsewhere in Austria, a woman whom a masked man with a knife tried to rob of 400 euros finally gave him 90, after he took off his mask, put away his knife and told her that he was homeless and broke. Her husband, on the other hand, called the police and had the guy arrested. There must be something weird in all that strudel...