Interesting Articles from around the World

I really began to take notice of foreign newspapers after the invasion of Iraq. Our media reported that the United States was losing respect around the world and I wanted to view it first hand. Seeing our country through the eyes of people on the other side of the pond is an enlightening experience. Here's a few articles that caught my eye today. Enjoy.

Johann Hari: Here's how to tune in to both Muslims and the Deep South from The Independent

I have a confession to make. I love not one despised style of music, but two: heavy metal, and country& western. As they scroll down my iPod, my friends weep – and retch. And it gets worse: I believe these eruptions of noise offer a political parable. Really: set aside your prejudices and your earplugs and stock up on metal and country. You will slowly see we have misunderstood two of the most politically charged, politically reviled places on earth: the Muslim world, and the Deep South. Don't turn the page over; stay with me.

Global realignment: How Bush inspired a new world order by Ramzy Baroud in the Tehran Times

The series of unfortunate and costly decisions made during the two terms of the Bush administration, combined with economic decline at home, might devastate the United States’ world standing much sooner than most analysts predict. What was difficult to foresee was that the weakening of U.S. global dominance, spurred by erratic and unwise foreign policy under Bush, would re-ignite the Cold War, to a degree, over a largely distant and seemingly ethnically-based conflict -- that of Georgia and Russia. Who could have predicted a possible association between Baghdad, Kabul, and Tbilisi?

Overplaying the 'Blame American' Card by Alexei Bayer in the Moscow Times

Last month's blitzkrieg against Georgia unleashed a stunning wave of anti-Americanism in Russia. Russians obviously like to think that their country not only roughed up a small, poor neighbor but, more important, dealt a blow to U.S. efforts to encircle Russia with military bases. Superpower rivalry is back and, by extension, Russia is once more a superpower.