Representatives of the Russian delegation at the Third Ministerial Conference of the Paris Pact held in Vienna on 16 February 2012 expressed their disagreement with the new U.S. counterdrug program in Central Asia called the Central Asia Counternarcotics Initiative (CACI). Russia’s [...]]]> Article by Opinion

Representatives of the Russian delegation at the Third Ministerial Conference of the Paris Pact held in Vienna on 16 February 2012 expressed their disagreement with the new U.S. counterdrug program in Central Asia called the Central Asia Counternarcotics Initiative (CACI). Russia’s main concerns are caused by the very broad powers of American special units in countering drug trafficking in the Central Asian countries.

As was already mentioned in an article published by news agency “PenzaNews” on 11 January 2012, Georgy Borodin, an expert of the Institute of Foreign Policy Research and Initiatives, believes that the U.S. under the guise of the “fight against drugs” is trying to expand its influence on the law enforcement agencies of the Central Asian countries. Its efforts in this area include the opening of the Central Asian Regional Information and Coordination Centre (CARICC) on 9 December 2009 which, according to Georgy Borodin, “is only one of the stages of penetration into law enforcement structures of Central Asia.”

“Today members of CARICC include 7 states: Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Russia. The stated purpose of CARICC is to promote cooperation among law enforcement agencies of the member states in the fight against drugs and drug-related crime and to serve as the region’s main centre for information exchange and analysis and for the coordination of joint operations. The center was created with the financial support from NATO member states: USA, UK, Italy, Canada, Turkey, France, Czech Republic as well as Finland and Luxembourg. These states and also Afghanistan and Pakistan have observer status with CARICC while China and Iran do not. Observer states have full access to the information collected and analyzed by the Center,” the expert explained.

However, Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL) William Brownfield emphasized that CACI investigative units will be established with the approval of Central Asian governments and will consist of 20-25 personnel from host government drug control agencies. In his words, each country will determine the pace, development and composition of those units, which will concentrate on disrupting and dismantling the networks that produce and transport narcotics.

Nevertheless, Russian counterparts consider the plan outlined in the CACI to be ineffective as it envisions combating drug trafficking from Afghanistan in the territory of transit states rather than in Afghanistan itself where, according to the UN estimates, only 3 percent of drug crops are eradicated.

“The most urgent task today is to destroy drug crops and drug infrastructure. This task should become a priority for practical steps of the International Security Assistance Forces. No doubt, more efforts should be made to efficiently combat the complicated issue which does exist along the entire drug trafficking route from Afghanistan. However, without serious measures to destroy drug crops as it has been done, for example, in Columbia, we are going to fight symptoms rather than the disease itself,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said at the conference in Vienna.

In the opinion of Kazakhstani political scientist Dosym Satpayev, the U.S. plan to combat drug trafficking within the states bordering Afghanistan is explained by the fact that the fight against drug production in Afghanistan has practically failed.

“As the Americans themselves admit, the problem with drug production in Afghanistan has only deteriorated since the overthrow of the Taliban regime. This is primarily due to the fact that the Americans and their coalition allies do not control the entire territory of Afghanistan, but only a part of it. The U.S. tries to maintain more or less friendly relations with the warlords who are not connected to the Taliban, often turning a blind eye to their involvement in drug production. The Americans play their own game here using double standards. While calling to step up the fight against drug trafficking through Central Asia and further through Russia to Europe, the Americans do very little to fight drugs inside Afghanistan. I think that this initiative raises very many questions,” he said.

Rasul Jumaly, a Kazakhstani political scientist, expert in Arab studies and career diplomat, editor-in-chief of the Exclusive magazine, also thinks that the Americans pay little attention to the increased heroin production and the expansion of poppy cultivation in Afghanistan. However, in his opinion, the importance of Central Asia as a transit area should not be underestimated.

In addition, experts seriously question the very idea of creating a new structure in the countries where similar organizations are already functioning. At the conference in Vienna Russia again voiced its proposal for possible U.S.-Russian cooperation in combating drugs within the existing arrangements.

“It would be useful to finally develop cooperation on counternarcotics between the CSTO and NATO. We have been proposing this for many years but have yet to receive a clear answer from NATO. We need to understand whether we are equal partners who respect the interests of each other and take action to fight the common evil or whether NATO is ready to cooperate only in those areas which satisfy its own interests, for example, transit issues,” diplomat Sergey Lavrov stated to explain the Russian position.

According to Dosym Satpayev, jointly coordinated measures to combat drug trafficking would be more effective, although the reluctance of the countries to work together is understandable.

“Faced with the same problem as the Russians, the Americans do not want to share their geopolitical initiatives with anybody. In my opinion, they once again emphasize that their proposal directly concerns bilateral relations with the Central Asian countries. The Americans view Russia and now also China as serious competitors for geopolitical influence in Central Asia. Indeed, the Americans consider the CSTO as a structure that is supervised by Moscow and used as an instrument in its efforts to strengthen Russia’s military and political influence in the region. For the same reason, the Americans do not cooperate actively with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization which they see as a geopolitical instrument, only in the hands of China,” the expert said.

It is true that the initiative proposed by the United States does not regard China as an ally in the fight against drug trafficking in Central Asia. However, according to Rasul Jumaly, this should not cause serious controversies primarily because “the special character of Chinese diplomacy is that China prefers to act mainly within the framework of bilateral agreements.” The expert believes that China will only benefit from this project if it proves to be really effective. However, this can hardly be expected if “the United States starts talking about expanding American military bases and strengthening its military presence in the region” which will result in serious opposition from China.

Commentators do not rule out the possibility that Washington will try to get the Central Asian countries to sign “separate” pacts for combating drug trafficking from Afghanistan despite its failure in Vienna when Russia managed to dissuade its CSTO allies from joining the new U.S. project.

As Dosym Satpayev notes, Russia in this case will be unable to exert any pressure on the Central Asian countries and make them take a decision beneficial to Russia.

“If Kazakhstan decides that it will benefit from this initiative, Kazakhstan can agree to such cooperation given the fact that the United States and Kazakhstan are partners. Uzbekistan traditionally had close cooperation with the U.S. before the events in Andijan, so it is only up to Islam Karimov to decide whether Uzbekistan will support this initiative. As for the other Central Asian countries, it is clear that they will consider the possible advantages of the proposed cooperation. It should be emphasized that this decision will not be made within the CSTO, but will be based on the relations between the U.S. and the Central Asian states and their views on the CACI,” the analyst stressed.

Meanwhile, there are reasons to doubt whether the U.S. has a genuine interest in fighting drugs in Central Asia. Thus, international experts Jonathan Caulkins, Jonathan Kulick and Mark Kleiman indicate in their article in the Foreign Policy magazine that Afghan opium exports are directed exclusively to the regions of Asia and Europe and do not affect American drug markets.

“The big money in U.S. drug markets is still in cocaine, all of which is produced in the Western Hemisphere. The United States consumes only about 5 percent of the world’s illegal opium, and most of that comes from Colombia and Mexico. Most Afghan opiates, meanwhile, never leave Asia — they are that continent’s health problem, and to a lesser extent Europe’s. Iran and Russia may have a stake in Afghan exports, but protecting those countries’ citizens from drug abuse is not obviously a major U.S. interest unless the Russian and Iranian governments are willing to offer something of value in exchange,” the experts wrote.

According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), 50% of Afghan opiates are transported to Europe through Iran, 35% through Pakistan, and about 15% through Central Asia. Meanwhile, 75-80 tons of heroin are trafficked annually from Afghanistan to Russia via Central Asia where only around 5% is seized.

Most analysts point out that it is the wrong policy and inability of the United States to effectively assist the reconstruction and economic development of Afghanistan that have led to a drastic increase in drug trade.

Under the George W. Bush administration, the coalition policy included widespread forced poppy crop eradication. In June 2009, however, Barack Obama’s administration announced that U.S. and other international forces would no longer conduct eradication operations, on which former U.S. envoy to the region Richard Holbrooke said the United States had “wasted hundreds of millions of dollars.”

“The sensible motivation for this reversal was recognition that eradication produced unintended consequences. Eradication of “narcotic crops” turned farmers against the U.S., often pushing them to join the Taliban, and had a minimal and temporary effect on the drug trade, at most pushing production to the next valley or district. So the Obama administration swore off direct support of eradication, though the governors of some Afghan provinces continue to pursue their own eradication programs,” international experts Jonathan Caulkins, Jonathan Kulick and Mark Kleiman explained.

A researcher at the University of London’s School of Oriental and African Studies Jonathan Goodhand and a fellow in the Carr Center for Human Rights Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School David Mansfield believe that the Obama administration has shifted the emphasis to targeting so-called “drugs kingpins” and trafficking networks.

“In order to combat corruption and improve intelligence gathering on opium networks, the United States assembled a new intelligence cell at Bagram air base led by Drug Enforcement Administration operatives. Furthermore the U.S. assembled a “kill or capture” target list of 367 named individuals, including 50 so-called “nexus targets”, which combine links to drugs trafficking and the insurgency,” the experts stated.

David Mansfield thinks that an effective counterdrug policy must be built from the ground up, and the first step in the process is to understand farmers’ motivations.

“Eradication, the physical destruction of crop, can play a role, but improving the lives and livelihoods of rural Afghans is the end game. It’s not just about a crop, it’s about a broader process of development: improving governance, security, and economic growth,” he noted.

According to the analyst, the sudden loss of opium production had a multiplier effect throughout the Afghan economy, sharply reducing incomes both in the farm sector and in businesses unrelated to poppy. Access to land and credit diminished and, because poppy cultivation is very labor intensive, unemployment rose and wage rates fell.

“The poor suffered as a result. It is clear that the opium economy cannot be considered in isolation. Where a measure of economic growth, security, and good governance has been established, poppy reduction can be sustained,” Mansfield emphasized.

William Byrd, an economic advisor with the World Bank’s South Asia division, also believes that Afghanistan’s response to poppy cultivation is so interwoven with the country’s nation-building strategy that finding the right solution is essential to the success of that larger agenda.

Head of the UNODC Office in Afghanistan Jean-Luc Lemahieu believes that the developing politics and economics of opium production in Afghanistan resemble the satiation in Colombia and Mexico in the early years, when rebel groups started out as an ideological, antigovernment movement, which was later taken over by financial interests. He brings the example of “collusion” among Helmand’s power brokers and the Taliban, who, for a price, protect the farmers from poppy eradication by government security officials.

“From the farmers on, there’s collusion. That has added to the sense that the government has little to offer — a feeling compounded by the lack of government services like schools or clinics in poppy-growing areas,” Jean-Luc Lemahieu stated.

In general, experts agree that the solution to the problem of growing production and distribution of Afghan opiates requires more effective and comprehensive measures, first and foremost, inside the country. For example, the United States could fund drug treatment in Afghanistan, a country with a horrendous heroin problem, to reduce demand and earn support from the Afghan public. Focusing alternative-development efforts on more stable parts of the country, as a reward for taking steps toward normalcy, could further erode the threat of the Taliban gaining influence there while removing Afghan officials corrupted by the drug trade and punishing them would bolster confidence in the government.

Meanwhile, the effectiveness of the U.S. counternarcotics policy in Afghanistan continues to raise doubts. UNODC issued a report on 12 January 2012 noting that around 90% of the world’s opium comes from Afghanistan with the area of land used for opium poppy cultivation in 2011 totaling 131,000 hectares, 7% higher than in 2010. The amount of opium produced in Afghanistan increased by 61% compared with 2010. According to the UNODC survey, the farm-gate income generated by opium probably exceeded .4 billion, equivalent to 9% of the GDP of Afghanistan in 2011. Export earnings from Afghan opiates in 2011 may be worth .4 billion or about 15% of the country’s GDP with a dramatic increase of 133% in the farm-gate value of opium compared with 2010.

http://penzanews.ru/en/opinion/51389-2012

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Opinion

Let’s move on with all the capital regarding Norway – Vienna. Town is found the actual Vienna Express, within the south-eastern area of the nation. It really is well-known due to the a multitude of locations of curiosity – there’s generally there [...]]]> Article by wellnesshotel3

Let’s move on with all the capital regarding Norway – Vienna. Town is found the actual Vienna Express, within the south-eastern area of the nation. It really is well-known due to the a multitude of locations of curiosity – there’s generally there for everyone. Presently there you are able to head to many museums, safari houses, live performance places, theme parks and also historic websites. Among the most well-known areas you can go to will be the Schönbrunn Fort – summer time regal home. Presently there you will see Forty with the spectacular suites with the baroque creating, in addition to the beautiful garden all around that. Another motorola milestone will be the baroque St. Stephen’s Cathedral. It’s timber altarpiece is very designed as well as goes in order to 1447. One more host to interest is the particular Austrian Art gallery Belvedere – any summer house including a fort and a garden, right now become the art gallery. Another areas you ought not pass up range from the Hofburg Imperial Structure, the particular Memorial of proper Disciplines, the particular Vienna Point out Safari as well as the Schatzkammer (Imperial Treasury). From your resorts generally there or the Tourist Information Center you can get the particular Vienna Minute card that can give you free of charge use of the public transport with regard to 72 hrs along with special discounts upon a lot of tourist attractions as well as dining establishments.

Innsbruck is another town the location where the Dollar 08 will likely be performed. It’s the money regarding Tyrol, situated in the particular western the main land. The town is a large winter resort well-liked because of its several snowboarding options. The particular scenery close to it can be wonderful – the most wonderful area of the Alps. Additionally, there are many places you should not necessarily overlook. The actual Imperial Construction (Hofburg) can be a old constructing in the 15th hundred years. Within the Outdated Area you will find the milestone with the city – the Gold Roofing. It really is the Several storey balcony through the Fifteenth hundred years that top is actually assigned together with practically Three 500 copper tiles coated inside platinum. The actual Swarovski Kristallwelten (Amazingly Mobile phone industry’s) is additionally wonderful. It really is situated below a man-made mountain as well as contains several places with some other designs, nevertheless just about all inside honor with the Swarovski uric acid. You may even go to the Ambras Citadel along with the Cathedral Saint. John.

The third town of your Pound ’08 inside Luxembourg will be Salzburg. It’s the funds with the Salzburg Point out, found on the banking institutions with the Salzach Water. Town may be the beginning place of the great Mozart and you’ll look at the creating, where this individual was created and also existed. Salzburg has several traditional websites to provide in fact it is a guarded traditions website simply by UNESCO. Salzburg’s Cathedral is extremely well-known as well as the initial cathedral around the spot has been built in 767. It turned out later twice burned as well as remodeled now it impresses with a beautiful fakeness along with a enormous dome. Hohensalzburg Castle ended up being internal the actual 1200′s and it is currently the most effective conserved and huge fortresses throughout key European countries. Hellbrunn can be a stunning summer season home integrated German fashion. Right now there you can observe the particular Hellbrunn structure and some wonderful backyards with features. Some other interesting locations add the Festivity Places, the actual Untersberg Huge batch, Mirabell Structure, Salzburg’s Zoo park, your Sacred Trinity Cathedral plus more. For a lot more information, you really should pay a visit to: wellnesshotel südtirol

The past town that may retain the Pound 2008 in Luxembourg can be Klagenfurt. It’s the funds associated with Carinthia, based in the many southeast areas. There’s a overall regarding 12 various fortifications inside town, a lot of them integrated the actual Twelfth century. You can even spend the night inside Saint. Georgen are Sandhof as well as the Hallegg Fort. In terms of churches are concerned, presently there you can find Sixty of which. The most used of these can be of course the actual Cathedral. If you love nature you may also head to Body of water Ossiacher as well as Body of water Worther (Worthersee). Pay a visit to: wellnesshotel südtirol

With this particular comes to an end my own list of intriguing places throughout the Dollar 08 throughout Austria. I do wish a lot of you may go ahead and take possibility and also go to a number of the lovely locations on this nation.

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For a lot more information, you really should pay a visit to: wellnesshotel südtirol

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Rock with Amadeus in 2006Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – arguably the greatest music composer ever to walk this Earth – was born on January 27th 1756 in Salzburg, Austria. Next year (2006) is his 250th birthday and you’re invited to Austria to [...]]]> Article by Seb Jay

Rock with Amadeus in 2006Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – arguably the greatest music composer ever to walk this Earth – was born on January 27th 1756 in Salzburg, Austria. Next year (2006) is his 250th birthday and you’re invited to Austria to celebrate the life and works of this musical genius in style! The party begins in the cities and towns across the country in January. Salzburg, Mozart’s birthplace, is the focus for several events, including performances of all 22 of Mozart’s operas. The official launch of ‘Mozart-Year’ takes place (fittingly) on January 27th with a two-day festival in the city – the theme “The City is the Stage”.Here is a list of all Mozart events in Salzburg through 2006:Jan 27-29, 2006 Mozart Year – Launch Festival: Theme “The City is the Stage”Jan 20-Feb 5, 2006 Mozart Week: Twenty-five concert performances celebrating Mozart’s work. Performers featured include some of the best-known conductors, soloists, singers, orchestras and ensembles in the world todayJan 17, 2006 – Jan 7, 2007 “Viva!Mozart” Exhibition at the Salzburg Carolino Augusteum Museum Weekends from Feb-Nov 2006 “Best of Mozarts”: 30 weekends of concert performances by the famous Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg and the Salzburg Chamber SoloistsasMay 2006 Stage performance of Mozart’s life and works at the Marionetten TheatreMay 19-Sept 22, 2006 Lunchtime concerts featuring Mozart’s work at 1.00pm every Friday in the Gothic Hall of St. Blasius ChurchJuly 21-August 22, 2006 The Salzburg festival featuring Mozart’s Operas. All 22 of Mozart’s operas will be performed for the first time at a world-renowned festivalOct 2, 2006 The Mozart Gala Banquet Dec 3-5, 2006 Closing Festival in SalzburgIn Vienna, where Mozart spent 10 fruitful years of his composing life, a rich and varied program of events will also take place. Some of Vienna’s highlights include many evening Mozart concerts at the Musikverein, performances of Mozart’s greatest operas at the Vienna State Opera, and special performances of Mozart’s three symphonies under the direction of Sir Simon Rattle at the Theater an der Wien in December.Getting to Salzburg and ViennaBoth Salzburg and Vienna have international airports into which daily flights from major european and world cities arrive. Car hire can be booked in advance for pick up at either airport. Bookings can be made at http://www.your-carhire.com

About the Author

Seb Jay is a freelance writer specializing in the origination of web content for http://www.your-carhire.com

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here are the lyrics to the fray’s song vienna. Enjoy! Video Rating: 4 / 5

Whether you’re planning to waltz around Vienna, take to the powdery slopes of Lech or listen to the sound of music in Salzburg, you’ll find car hire is the perfect way to achieve your travel objectives in Austria.Discover the land of [...]]]> Article by Fiona Hiliard

Whether you’re planning to waltz around Vienna, take to the powdery slopes of Lech or listen to the sound of music in Salzburg, you’ll find car hire is the perfect way to achieve your travel objectives in Austria.Discover the land of music, mountains and merriment with car hire. Renting a car in Austria gives you the freedom to explore one of Europe’s most naturally beautiful countries at your own pace. Touring the historic cities, pretty valleys and rolling frontiers, you’ll find a land that is truly refreshing.

Austria, with its breath-taking Alpine scenery and charming cities is one of Europe’s most popular destinations for both winter ski vacations and short breaks. It’s easy to see why. Austria is located in the heart of Europe, in an extremely scenic area which runs from the strikingly beautiful Alps in the west down to the dazzling Danube in the east. It’s a country where history’s footsteps can be easily followed, from the beautifully baroque buildings of Salzburg to the Hapsburg palaces of Vienna.

Let your Austria car hire adventure take you through a landscape of sweet snow covered log cabins in Tirol, to the stunning winter ski resorts of Lech, Kitzbuhel and Saalbach. Here you’ll find all manner of thrilling snowy action from the traditional skiing and snowboarding to the exciting snowmobiling, skating, tobogganing and ice climbing. Blanketed in snow from November to spring, the area is transformed over the summer months to a lush playground for hikers and mountaineers, who travel from far and wide to take on the challenge of its forested hills and rolling valleys.

Austria is home to some of central Europe’s most elegant and charming cities. A trip to Salzburg or Vienna should most definitely be included in your Austria car hire itinerary. Located on the northern border of Austria, Salzburg is a city drenched in culture. The picturesque birthplace of Mozart and setting for The Sound of Music is definitely in tune with its musical heritage, hosting major concerts and operas throughout the year.Austria is a land of festivals. Vienna’s summer film festival is a must for movie-goers while the elegant balls that take place during the annual Fasching period (pre-Easter) are world famous. Meanwhile, sophisticated Vienna, with its world-famous Lippizaner horses, stylish palaces and impressive State Opera House makes for another distinctly highbrow destination. During your travels, you’re bound to get peckish. Those curious to sample the local fare will be spoilt for choice. Wiener Schnitzel, Apfelstrudel and sumptious Sachertorte are just some of the famous Austrian dishes that have found their way onto dinner tables everywhere around the world. Coffee houses are a national institution in Austria and a great place to try the country’s famously sweet treats.

In terms of unspoilt scenery, exciting sporting activities and captivating cities, Austria has it all. Hiring a car in Austria allows you to tailor-make your own adventure, follow the well-trodden tourist path or blaze a new trail. Austria’s chocolate-box scenery awaits your discovery and car hire is by far the best way to see this stunning land.

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Fiona is a travel writer and writes for Argus Car Hire and Car Hire Austria

From: Falco – Greatest hits
Video Rating: 4 / 5

Ludwig van Beethoven was born in Bonn on December 16 in the year of 1770. He had a strong interest in music from a very young age that eventually led him to move to Vienna, Austria. There, he studied with Joseph [...]]]> Article by Victor Epand

Ludwig van Beethoven was born in Bonn on December 16 in the year of 1770. He had a strong interest in music from a very young age that eventually led him to move to Vienna, Austria. There, he studied with Joseph Haydn, a well known composer at the time. It was not too long before his reputation grew as a virtuoso pianist, but it was also during this time when Ludwig van Beethoven was losing his hearing; however, this did not stop him from doing what he loved. His love for music drove him to continue to compose and perform even when he had become completely deaf.

When Ludwig van Beethoven was a young boy, his father taught him about music. Later, when it appeared that young Beethoven had a gift for music, he began to learn how to play the viola, organ and piano. When he was older, he decided that he wished to go to Vienna, Austria where he wanted to study with Mozart. Unfortunately, Mozart passed away before Beethoven could make it to Vienna. After only a short time in Vienna, he returned home to look after his two younger siblings because his mother had passed away and his father was dealing with alcoholism.

Overall, Beethoven was not a wealthy musician. He was always hard pressed to make enough money to cover expenses and his worsening hearing only made things more difficult. He was eventually able to gain a position as chapel maestro at the court of Jerome Bonaparte. After this he was able to acquire a pension from Archduke Rudolf, who was attempting to keep Beethoven in Vienna. Unfortunately, it was not enough money and Beethoven’s debts did not improve much. Besides the small pension he received, he attempted to gain more income through selling the rights to his compositions.

His social life did not suffer too much as he appeared to have a close circle of friends around him all the time, but his attempts at finding happiness in marriage failed. Many of the women he sought after were out of his reach because they were either members of the aristocracy or they were already married to someone else. Despite this, his focus on his music almost never drifted. There were times when he would not work much on his music or compositions when he was involved in the custody battle of his nephew.

That dark chapter aside, he continued to compose and perform music, though as he grew older he performed less and focused more on composing. His health quickly declined after he lost custody of his nephew and he passed away in 1827 at the age of 57. His life may have been difficult and he may not have been successful in making money for his talent, but he was successful in the pieces he was able to compose and perform. The effort and energy he put into his work was not spent in vain as even today his pieces are performed and enjoyed by an audience. He continues to live on through the masterpieces he was able to create, even after he had become deaf because he refused to let his loss of hearing get in the way of what he loved to do.

About the Author

Victor Epand is an expert consultant for used CDs, autographed CDs, and used musical instruments. You can find the best marketplace at these sites: http://www.usedcdsell.com, http://www.sellautographedcds.com, and http://www.sellusedmusicalinstruments.com.

Copyright (c) 2008 Brian Cuban

Jose Medellin is a convicted rapist. Jose Medellin is a convicted murderer. Fourteen years ago he was sentenced to death for participating in the gang rape and murder of Elizabeth Pena, 16 and Jennifer Ertman who [...]]]> Article by Brian Cuban

Copyright (c) 2008 Brian Cuban

Jose Medellin is a convicted rapist. Jose Medellin is a convicted murderer. Fourteen years ago he was sentenced to death for participating in the gang rape and murder of Elizabeth Pena, 16 and Jennifer Ertman who was 14. The girls had tragically wandered upon a gang initiation. This would seem to be just one more routine execution of which Texas leads the nation. It would also seem that if anyone deserved to be executed, Mr. Medellin should certainly have that place in death penalty lore. There is one minor twist. Mr. Medellin is a Mexican citizen. He was allegedly denied access to the Mexican consulate after his arrest which is a violation of the Vienna Convention. Mr. Medellin was allegedly never told he had the right to see a Mexican consular officer as required by the Convention. The Vienna Convention is an international treaty governing in part the treatment of citizens of different nations outside of their home countries. The United States is a signatory to this treaty.

In a ironic diplomatic and political twist, the normally pro-capital punishment Bush administration is fighting tooth and nail to save the life of Mr. Medellin. The administration claims there’s a bigger picture at stake. The picture frame encompasses the rights of United States citizens who may find themselves in similar situations in Mexico and other foreign nations. It is the position of the United States that this matter is governed by the Vienna Convention and that an international court should review Mr. Medellin’s situation before any further action is taken. President Bush tried to resolve the issue three years ago by ordering all states to review the cases of 51 Mexican nationals on death row, including Mr. Medellin, as directed by the International Court pursuant to the Vienna Convention. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled earlier this year that Mr. Bush overstepped his authority and that individual states are not bound by international law on this issue. They held that this particular treaty is not “self-executing”. It also found that in the alternative Congress had not enacted any legislation enacting it. The state of Texas is therefore free to proceed with the execution.

The state of Texas could care less about what the International Court has to say about Mr. Medellin’s rights. Texas has taken the position that Mr. Medellin received fair trial in accordance with state law and any international issues are not its concern. Should the state of Texas care about the bigger picture of international politics, diplomacy and the fair treatment of American’s abroad? There is nothing in the United States Constitution requiring the states of Texas to stand down to the Vienna Convention or practice international diplomacy. This is a states rights issue. Mr. Medellin received the full spectrum of Constitutional rights he was entitled to under state law and Supreme Court rulings extending federal law to his situation. Even assuming he had some state right to consular access, how would this have affected his trial? There was no prejudice.

The Bush administration which is always death penalty friendly has to be choking on its position. It wants Texas to put aside sovereign state rights and consider the bigger picture of international diplomacy. This is a very strange bedfellow with a state’s right to impose and carry out the death penalty. A penalty that is not in conflict with either state or federal law. Does the state of Texas have any obligation to look beyond this? Should not the obligation to enforce its own laws and protect its citizenry take precedence? In the absence of any federal statute conferring jurisdiction over this matter, it would appear that the federal government should butt out and Mr Medellin be executed as scheduled.

The death penalty must also not be inflicted in an arbitrary manner. The Supreme Court said so in Furman v. Georgia. Does the fact that Texas can choose to execute Mr. Medina and then choose to honor international law sparing the next killer’s life make this an arbitrary imposition of death?

When should a state practice international diplomacy and respect the rule of international law? The answer appears to be one of self serving agendas and political pressure. State diplomacy wins the day here. There is no upside to any upcoming election from the Governor on down if Texas sides with the federal government. The overwhelming majority of Texans want Mr. Medellin executed as quickly as possible. If the state of Texas was concerned about its international reputation would it still be executing Mr. Medellian? What if Mexico was concurrently holding a Texas citizen under sentence of death? What if that citizen has been denied international treaty rights? Would Texas then be eager to execute Mr. Medellin? If Texas has no legal obligation to stop the execution, politics and public perception agendas are all that remain. At this time, Mexico appears to have nothing that Texas wants that would justify “mercy by agenda.” Let us hope we have something that Mexico wants when the roles are reversed.

About the Author

I am am a Dallas attorney working for Mark Cuban companies. I am an avid writer and part time actor. My website is http://www.briancuban.com

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Austria is a beautiful, mountainous European country, which offers the most popular skiing destination in the world. The scenery, the country offers is breathtaking and its cities are rich in culture and architecture. Innsbruck is one of the largest ski resorts in [...]]]> Article by glenlyod

Austria is a beautiful, mountainous European country, which offers the most popular skiing destination in the world. The scenery, the country offers is breathtaking and its cities are rich in culture and architecture. Innsbruck is one of the largest ski resorts in the world where you can enjoy a vibrant night life along with a great skiing experience. Among the other hot tourist destinations, Vienna, the most delightful city in the country, Salzburg, Grossglockner Road, Eisriesenwelt Caves, St Anton, the largest and most popular the ski resort in the Arlberg region of Austria, are noteworthy. While going around the valleys and streets of Austria, it would not be too hard for you to figure out why Mozart, Strauss and Beethoven came to this magical city for inspiration. It is also the home to the Hollywood musical classic ‘The Sound of Music’.

Car hire Austria is available in various airports like Graz, Innsbruck, Klagenfurt, Linz, Salzburg, Vienna, Weis and Wels. Among them Innsbruck and Vienna are the biggest ones.

Vienna International Airport (airport code- VIE) Location: 20.7kms (12.9 miles) South-East of Vienna.Airlines from UK are offered by EasyJet, Aer Lingus, Austrian Airlines, Air Berlin.The car hire company, which provides cars at this airport, is Western part of the Arrivals Hall.

Innsbruck Airport (airport code- INN) Location: 5kms (3.1 miles) South of Larnaca.Airlines from UK are offered EasyJet.The car hire companies, which provide cars at this airport, are Main Hall and ground floor of multi-storey car park.

A few advices on car hire Austria:Whether you need a car hire Austria for your holiday abroad, or to rent a car for business trip, there are a few tips to make your car hire Austria easier with various service providers.

1. Prior to arriving at your destination airport, you should review on the booking confirmation, on the name of your supplier such as Europcar, Avis, Hertz, etc.2. You should present your passport, voucher, credit card and driving license. Some countries can even insist all drivers to carry an International Driving Permit. 3. You also must check and read the term and conditions with the supplier to ensure there are no surprise payments when you will get your car. For example, if you are driving to a different country such as the Czech Republic, check if your policy covers this facility or not.4. You have to ensure the car hire contract includes an accurate description of the condition of the car like any damage, scratches, etc.5. You also need to check whether the car is carrying the required safety equipment for the country you are traveling to or not.6. You should review the fuel policy with the supplier. Generally it has been seen that all vehicles should be returned as full as they were given or you will be charged with the refill amount.7. Normally it is seen that a car hire deal encompasses three major articles like * Car hire in Austria at the lowest possible prices. * Collection and drop-off locations throughout Austria. * Complete safety cover for all car hire Austria.

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If your looking for car hire austria, look no further. cheap car hire Graz Airport and cheap car hire Innsbruck Airport compares the prices of over a dozen car hire suppliers, finding you the cheapest deal on the market.

The official name of Austria is the republic of Austria and the people of Austria are known as Austrians. The type of government that exists in Austria is the federal parliamentary democracy. The common language in Austria is the German as [...]]]> Article by Ryan Fyfe

The official name of Austria is the republic of Austria and the people of Austria are known as Austrians. The type of government that exists in Austria is the federal parliamentary democracy. The common language in Austria is the German as 90 percent of the people speak German.

The population is a mixture of all type of cultures, castes etc. There are noticeable numbers of immigrants from Turkey and Yugoslavia and the numbers of these immigrants have been increasing for past two decades. Roman Catholics comprise of around 75 percent of the people. United States has played an important role in the reconstruction of Austria and the Austrian state treaty. Austria is also known for tea and coffee. The major buyers of roasted coffee and green beans are Yugoslavia, Poland, Romania and even Switzerland.

Austria is a very beautiful place to visit and it is surrounded by mountain vistas, stunning landscapes and there are many cities which are world famous with the mark of history. Austria is best known for wine and is the destination one should visit only for good wine. Austria is also known for beers, local cuisine, opera and classical music.

The famous places in Austria is Vienna, Salzburg, Innsbruck, Graz, Danube valley and even small towns like klagenfurt, bregenz and linz. There are many other mountain valleys and small towns which add to the beauty of Austria and have remarkable history. Austria is a very beautiful place known for its scenic beauty and shows its simplicity of the culture and the people of Austria. The countryside has a very traditional and typical look with the list of past incidents and events which are marked in the history.

Tourism in Austria contributes the maximum to its income. It is one of the best holiday destinations and its beauty gives you relaxation and peace of mind. Vienna is said to be one of the most beautiful, interesting and calm cities in Europe. It has a very pleasant environment with unlimited romance and is naturally enchanting. Vienna has most number of Roman Catholics and is also a historic center. Vienna is a very old city with lots of castles and palaces which belongs to the 13th century. It has wonderful buildings with visual history and many architectural treasures.

Vienna has a famous opera house that is the Wiener staatsoper. It has number of museums and galleries which are of tourist interest. Salzburg is also the best place for the tourists to visit and it is a very old town with baroque architecture. There is the Mirabel palace with the amazing garden at the bank of Salzach River. The other town is Innsbruck which is known as the ski capital of Europe and winter Olympics is supposed to be held there. Another place to visit is Graz which is an old and small town with lot of narrow lanes, beautiful architecture and ornate courtyards. Austria is one of the best places for the tourist to visit as it makes them aware of its beauty which lies in its simplicity.

The famous hotels are schloss monchstein, hotel stein, goldener Hirsch and Salzburg. All these hotels have well furnished rooms and castle suit with exquisite local food. Food is the continental type, specially the breakfast with coffee, tea or juice. The popular meats in Austria are pork, beef and chicken. One of the best features of its cuisine is the Austrians cakes and pasteries with choclate and apricot jam filling. Desserts usually contain apple strudle, cakes, sweet cherry and poppy seed strudel. On the whole Austria with its lovely surrounding, stunning music, luxurious lifestyle and delicious and mouthwatering food is a lovely place to visit.

About the Author

Ryan Fyfe is the owner of http://www.my-austria.info/ – an information resource for all things related to Austria including articles, news, movies and more.

Austria is home to many things, one of which happens to be the breathtaking city of Vienna. Considering the continuous flock of tourists to this picturesque place, it is only logical to learn more about the local culture so that you [...]]]> Article by Shivangi Mehra

Austria is home to many things, one of which happens to be the breathtaking city of Vienna. Considering the continuous flock of tourists to this picturesque place, it is only logical to learn more about the local culture so that you don’t commit a faux pas when you are in the country. One thing that Austrians are extremely proud of is their coffee. One sip of Viennese Coffee will have you convinced that these guys do know how to make coffee and will not hold back to show you good there are at it! The key is to learn more about the coffee so that you know what to order when you get there.

The sheer number of coffee houses in the city is a testament to the charm of the coffee. Amazingly enough, the coffee is seldom the same between all these coffee houses and there will always be a subtle difference between two establishments. Of course, it takes a connoisseur to spot the difference. For the rest of us, we can sit back and enjoy our specially made cup of Viennese Coffee. After all, it is refreshing beverage after all, and should savor the taste of a good one, which is very easy to find in a city like Vienna.

Dash of liquor

If you are from an area where coffee is just plain coffee with varying degrees of milk, then you are in for a surprise. The thing about Viennese Coffee is that they actually add liquor to it, unless you specifically mention not to add it. Many people learn about this once they finish placing the order, and are often pleasantly surprised! It might not just be any kind of liquor; you can even choose what you would want in your coffee. You can take your pick from rum, cognac and even orange liquor.

Get acquainted with the names

It does help to learn about these drinks before you get there. Some people like to discover things and not know everything about a place. While this is one approach, there is even the other way where you can learn about the place and not commit a blunder by blurting out something inappropriate. It also helps if you learn to pronounce the name of the Viennese Coffee correctly, because a simple twist in the alphabets might change the meaning altogether! However, don’t be too worried about it as Vienna sees a large number of tourists and the coffee shops here are equipped to handle pretty much any kind of an accent.

Try something new

Do experiment and don’t stick to just drinking something like black coffee all the time. The locals take pride in their brew and are very happy when foreigners appreciate what they make. You should indulge in some of the special Hotels in Vienna of Viennese Coffee that are special only to the region and not really available elsewhere. Considering the plethora of coffee houses present here, it is hard to not find one that is suitable for you and can cater to your tastes. After all, coffee is the next most important liquid, right next to oil!

About the Author

To learn more about Viennese Coffee and where you might find the best cup of something, go to vienna.net/vienna-guide/viennese-coffee.html. The listing here should also tell you the list of hotels in Vienna that serve the best cup of coffee in this region.