Day 340

Persistence of Memory

On a visit to Berlin, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu received the blueprints of the Auschwitz concentration camp from German officials.  This gesture was called a "gift of truth" by Netanyahu.  I think the Holocaust will always be a stain on the collective German psyche, but I'm glad to see an attempt at making amends with the past.  Please excuse me if my tone comes off as nonchalant, but I guess it's something for which the country will always be apologizing.  Such is life.  I think it is also important to remember and honor the other side of that dark period in history as well.  For that, I offer this link: The White Rose- an organization that gave their lives in resistance to the Nazi Regime..... 

Democratic Republic of Congo

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, currently on a 7 nation tour of Africa, is in the DRC calling for the cessation of sexual crimes against civilians.  The estimates from the UN report that over 3,500 people have been victims of assault and is helping to spread HIV.  

Day 164

Omar al-Bashir

President of Sudan, Omar al-Bashir has been issued an arrest warrant by the International Criminal Court for war crimes and crimes against humanity.  Crimes of genocide charges, sought by Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo were not included on the list of charges.  This is the first time the ICC has issued a warrant for the arrest of a Head of State.