Volume 90, Issue 12 | December 1, 2010
the
Charger Bulletin The official student newspaper of the University of New Haven since 1938.
www.ChargerBulletin.com
South Korea Cancels New Artillery Drill on Tense Island
and urged Seoul to call off last associated press week’s exercises. The artillery –––––––––––––––––––––––––– attack that came after South Korea went ahead with its drills SEOUL, South Korea – South killed four and injured 18 peoKorea’s military announced pro- ple. vocative new artillery drills on Earlier Monday, President the front-line island shelled in Lee Myung-bak gave his first a deadly North Korean attack, address to the nation in nearly a then immediately postponed them Monday in a sign of disarray hours after the president vowed to get tough on the North. Similar live-fire maneuvers by South Korean troops one week earlier triggered the North’s bombardment that decimated parts of Yeonpyeong Island, killed four people and drew return fire in a clash that set the region on edge. The new drills originally planned for Tuesday could have had even higher stakes: week, taking responsibility for South Korean and American failing to protect his citizens, exwarships are currently engaged pressing outrage at the North’s in separate military exercises in “ruthlessness” and vowing tough waters to the south. consequences for any future agOfficials at the Joint Chiefs of gression. Staff told The Associated Press Lee has come under witheron Monday that the latest drills ing criticism for what opponents were postponed after the marine have called lapses in South Kounit on the island mistakenly an- rea’s response to the attack just nounced them without getting eight months after the sinking of final approval from higher mili- a South Korean warship in neartary authorities. The cancellation by waters that killed 46 sailors. had nothing to do with North Hours after his speech, auKorea, and the drills will take thorities on Yeonpyeong (yuhnplace later, one official said. The pyuhng) announced new liveofficials spoke on condition of fire drills for Tuesday morning, anonymity, citing agency rules. warning residents by loudspeakPyongyang had warned last er to take shelter in underground week that it would consider any bunkers well in advance. AnSouth Korean drills off Yeonpy- other announcement later in the eong Island a deliberate provo- evening said there would be no cation and territorial violation, exercise. By HYUNG-JIN KIM
Elections in Haiti Amid Cholera Epidemic and National Disarray By LIZ DE LA TORRE STAFF WRITER
–––––––––––––––––––––––––– After the magnitude-7.0 earthquake destroyed Haiti earlier this year, the Nov. 28 Election Day for a new president, 99 deputies, and 20 senators never seemed so promising or necessary for the ravaged country that has been struggling to rebuild. But some people are wondering whether political interest is a
smart, or rather realistic, strategy during a time of anarchy, hostility, and the recent cholera outbreak in the Caribbean country which has claimed the lives of 2,000 and left 70,000 others infected. Resident Johnny Freleng expressed his anger over the relief situation and said that elections would only lead to more
strife: “We are living in shit and the UN does not do anything except give us cholera. Where is the aid America and everyone promised? But our politicians are no better; they are just a bunch of thieves. This election does not matter.” The betrayal by Haiti’s own leaders is not felt by just Freleng. In fact, Mario Joseph of the Bureau des Avocats Internationaux, called the entire political spectrum an “immoral
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system manipulated for fraud” in which corrupt leaders use fabricated stories and intimidation to achieve their goals. Casual laborer, Etienne Gilbert, concurs, “Of course, they will steal votes from those who have gone. Those who are living are selling See ELECTIONS page 5
Meanwhile, a nuclear-powered U.S. supercarrier and a South Korean destroyer carried out joint military exercises in the waters south of the island in a united show of force by the longtime allies. Jets roared off an aircraft carrier as part of drills to practice
Ireland Faces a Series of Crises After Banks Loan Too Much Ireland’s debt will cost it 98.5% of its entire economy this year, –––––––––––––––––––––––––– and that’s after the government has cut $20 billion from its budIreland is in a state of disaster get since 2008. as the government is pressured Intending to cut another to hold elections and bailout its $20 billion over the next few reckless banks. years, the government is lowerOn Nov. 16, Irish Prime Min- ing the minimum wage and the ister Brian Cowen told the coun- social welfare budget, as well as try’s parliament that “Ireland has eliminating over 24,000 public made no application for external sector jobs. The unemployment support.” Just five days later, on rate is currently at about 13%, Nov. 21, however, the European causing many people to emiBy KAIT RICHMOND STAFF WRITER
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air defense, combat warfare and search-and seizure drills, said Rear Adm. Dan Cloyd, commander of the USS George Washington Carrier Strike Group. Lee observed the drills Monday from the U.S. Army’s command center in Seoul, along with Gen. Walter Sharp, the top commander in South Korea, in a pointed show of unity. “This exercise demonstrates our interoperability and how closely integrated the ROK-US forces are along with the capability both bring in defense of the peninsula that is the cornerstone of regional stability,” Sharp said in a statement posted by the military, using the acronym for See KOREA page 6
Union accepted Ireland’s formal request for a rescue package worth more than $100 billion. During the Celtic Tiger, a term referring to Ireland’s economic boom between 1995 and 2007, Irish banks handed out loans for real estate that ended up depleting the country’s financial sector. The government is set to take control of two of the largest banks, the Bank of Ireland and the Allied Irish Bank, to get a grip on the failing economy. According to CNN Money,
STAFF WRITER
grate and look for work abroad. To secure the bailout money, Ireland announced an austerity plan that is supposed to bring the country’s 32% deficit down to 3%. While Cowen said the plan would essentially tax the rich and go easy on the poor, he noted that everyone should expect to feel the increase. “The size of the crisis means that no one will be sheltered from the contribution that has to
See IRELAND page 4
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Boycotts over Body Scans
Society of Travel Agents, according to the Associated Press. –––––––––––––––––––––––––– Transportation Security Administration Chief John Pistole said The White House and the that protesting the scans would Transportation Security Admin- only “tie up people who want istration dodged a big bullet to go home and see their loved over the Thanksgiving holiday ones.” after preparing to tackle an Internetorganized boycott against full-body scans in airports. Many passengers asserted their mistrust of the fullbody scans and gathered enough online support to alarm the federal government. They dubbed the protest “National Opt-Out Day” and scheduled it for November 24, 2010, the day before Thanksgiving and one of the busiest travel However, it turns out that days of the year. If successful, this boycott was less developed it would have caused countless than originally thought. Airport delays in major airports, includ- security was met with little oping those in New York, Los An- position towards the full-body geles, and Chicago. “Just one scans; it did not significantly or two recalcitrant passengers at hinder flight times or create an airport is all it takes to cause multiple delays. But despite the huge delays,” said Paul Ruden, failed protest, the TSA is now a spokesman for the American forced to acknowledge the conBy LIANA TEIXEIRA
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cerns of many travelers. Passengers mainly claim that the use of full-body scans is an invasion of personal privacy and creates a virtually naked image of the scanned person. While in Lisbon, Portugal, President Obama asked TSA officials if there
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was a less intrusive way to ensure travel safety. “I understand people’s frustrations,” Obama said. “You have to constantly refine and measure whether what we’re doing is the only way to assure the American people’s safety.” Although passengers are See BOYCOTTS page 6