Vladimir Putin Scores Major Victory as President Obama Decides to Scrap Missile Shield for Czech, Poland

Vladimir Putin scores a major victory at the expense of President Barack Obama, who has decided to scrap plans for a U.S. missile defense shield in the Czech Republic and Poland that had deeply angered Russia. Personally, I think it was a good move on the part of President Obama, but I am sure the right wing will find that this diminished the president in the eyes of the world. I think this move will prove to the Russians that America wants to work closely with them and it will, essentially, increase the chances that Russia will cooperate more closely with the US in the dispute over Iran's nuclear program. I guess only time will tell if this was a shrewd move on Obama's part.

You will recall that the plan was proposed by the Bush administration and aimed to defend the United States and its European allies against a possible missile attack from Iran or elsewhere in the Middle East. A total of 10 interceptor rockets were to have been stationed in Poland and a radar system based in the Czech Republic. Russia was irate over the idea of having U.S. interceptor rockets in countries so close to its territory, and the Obama administration has sought to improve strained ties with the Kremlin. President George W. Bush just really didn't care who he trampled to get his way. Under his administration, diplomacy was taboo.

On the flip side, the decision to scrap the plan could have future consequences for U.S. relations with eastern Europe. I guess this is a gamble the Obama administration is willing to take. Brace yourselves folks, the right wing will see this as Obama capitulating to Russia and they will run with this.

Microsoft Corp. Edits Black Man Out of Photo, Replaces with White Man, Company Apologizes

Software giant Microsoft Corp. has a new controversy on its hands. The company is apologizing for altering a photo on its Web site to change the race of one of the people shown in the picture -- from black to white.

A photo on the company's U.S. Web site shows two men, one Asian and one black, and a white woman seated at a conference room table. But on the Web site of Microsoft's Polish business unit, the black man's head has been replaced with that of a white man. The color of his hand remains unchanged. Ooops! You can't have black folks showing up on your Polish website, now can you? That's a low-down dirty shame and I am appalled at Microsoft for this.

The company has apologized and said that they are looking into the matter. Doesn't the company pride itself on being exclusive and diverse? I am sure they will try to blame it on Poland's ethnic homogeneity.

Michal Grzes, a Polish Politician, Lashes out Local Zoo for Spending Big Bucks on Ninio, the "Gay Elephant"

On a lighter note, it never ceases to amaze me over the idiots we elect into office, worldwide even. Michal Grzes, a Polish politician with nothing better to do with his time, has blasted his local zoo for spending big bucks on Ninio, the "gay" elephant.

Grzes lashed out over the acquisition of Ninio, who prefers the company of other male elephants and is unlikely to procreate, local media reported.

"We didn't pay 37 million zlotys ($11 million) for the largest elephant house in Europe to have a gay elephant live there," Grzes was quoted as saying. "We were supposed to have a herd, but as Ninio prefers male friends over females how will he produce offspring?" Source: Sky News

The head of the Poznan zoo said Ninio may be too young to decide whether he prefers males or females. Ninio is only 10 years old but elephants do not reach sexual maturity until they are 14. Grzes, lay off the elephant. Stick to your day job! Hah. Michal Grzes, you are Hinterland Gazette's IDIOT OF THE WEEK.

Poland has been Forced to Deny Radek Sikorski, Foreign Minister, 'Joked' that Barack Obama's Grandparents were Cannibals

Photo: UK Telegraph

Barack Obama's historic win in the presidential election has opened my eyes to a lot of things. First of all, it gives our young people across this country, especially African Americans, Latinos, Americans of Indian, Asian descent, and many other ethnicities, hope that they can dare to dream. The flip side is the election has brought out so much racism, both here in the United States and overseas. The latest racist smear against Barack Obama comes courtesy of Poland, which could potentially strain relations between the country and Washington. Radek Sikorski, an Oxford-educated politician who has lived in the US, was reported to have made the jibe by an opposition politician, Ryszard Czarnecki.

Writing in his blog, Mr Czarnecki, an MEP, quoted the foreign minister as saying: "Have you heard that Obama may have a Polish connection? His grandfather ate a Polish missionary."

A spokesman for the Polish foreign office conceded that Mr Sikorski had made the controversial comment, but denied that the foreign minister had intended to insult Mr Obama, whose father was Kenyan.

"Mr Sikorski did not tell a racist joke," said Piotr Paszkowski, the spokesman. "He was only giving an example of the unpalatable and racist 'jokes' that surround President Elect Obama." Source: U.K. Telegraph

Everyone's a comedian nowadays. According to the U.K. Telegraph, Donald Tusk, the Polish prime minister, has made no comment on the affair. It appears that Mr Sikorski's position is not under threat despite calls from opposition politicians for an investigation to deter if the foreign minister broke anti-racism laws.

What a bunch of idiots. Again, is this the best Poland could do? Don't they have bigger issues to worry about? Like Russia breathing down their back. Say what you will, Barack Obama will still become the next President of the United States.

Poland has been Forced to Deny Radek Sikorski, Foreign Minister, 'Joked' that Barack Obama's Grandparents were Cannibals

Photo: UK Telegraph

Barack Obama's historic win in the presidential election has opened my eyes to a lot of things. First of all, it gives our young people across this country, especially African Americans, Latinos, Americans of Indian, Asian descent, and many other ethnicities, hope that they can dare to dream. The flip side is the election has brought out so much racism, both here in the United States and overseas. The latest racist smear against Barack Obama comes courtesy of Poland, which could potentially strain relations between the country and Washington. Radek Sikorski, an Oxford-educated politician who has lived in the US, was reported to have made the jibe by an opposition politician, Ryszard Czarnecki.

Writing in his blog, Mr Czarnecki, an MEP, quoted the foreign minister as saying: "Have you heard that Obama may have a Polish connection? His grandfather ate a Polish missionary."

A spokesman for the Polish foreign office conceded that Mr Sikorski had made the controversial comment, but denied that the foreign minister had intended to insult Mr Obama, whose father was Kenyan.

"Mr Sikorski did not tell a racist joke," said Piotr Paszkowski, the spokesman. "He was only giving an example of the unpalatable and racist 'jokes' that surround President Elect Obama." Source: U.K. Telegraph

Everyone's a comedian nowadays. According to the U.K. Telegraph, Donald Tusk, the Polish prime minister, has made no comment on the affair. It appears that Mr Sikorski's position is not under threat despite calls from opposition politicians for an investigation to deter if the foreign minister broke anti-racism laws.

What a bunch of idiots. Again, is this the best Poland could do? Don't they have bigger issues to worry about? Like Russia breathing down their back. Say what you will, Barack Obama will still become the next President of the United States.