A Piece in Ukraine

Leaders meet in Minsk today, regarding the Ukraine.

You're forgiven if you're thinking 'Here we go again.'

Poroshenko, Merkel, and Hollande will all be there

Hoping there's some way they can appease a Russian bear.

President Obama won't be present for the talks;

He's at home considering our move if Putin balks.

Do we arm Ukraine to fight a war they cannot win

If the Russian bear's decided that he's coming in?

Putin wants a piece, alright... A piece of the Ukraine

And he seems prepared to suffer economic pain.

Even if we arm Ukraine - increasing Putin's dead -

There's no way to stop this Russian bear until he's fed.

Would You Trust This Man?

Russia has agreed to meet with Germany and France;

Putin's giving Merkel and Hollande another chance

To negotiate a peaceful ending in Ukraine -

Hoping to curtail the numbers of civilians slain. 

But, although I wish them luck on getting this resolved,

Putin, who's denying there are Russian troops involved,

(Even with the evidence from NATO that's a lie)

Doesn't seem like someone bent on giving peace a try...

Not unless Ukraine agrees that Russia play a role

In the Eastern provinces that separatists just stole.

Give him everything he wants and Putin's fine with peace.

Only then - and not before - will war in Ukraine cease.

Je suis Charlie

 

"God is great," scream terrorists as they prepare to kill;

Claiming that their crimes are an expression of His will.

Preaching retribution; ideologies of hate...

Seems to me the god they follow isn't all that great.

I would never worship any god who says that I

Must become an instrument for innocents to die.

Any god so cruel and petty's not the one for me

('though he seems to fit these brutal killers to a tee.)

Terrorists insist they want to see God glorified;

But a god who's truly great is only horrified

When they slaughter people as a way to spread The Word...

That must be the worst excuse that S/He has ever heard.

Paranoia Will Destroy Ya.

Intercepted by NSA - omg... they know. hide the weed.  (Photo/Getty Images)

To the shock of no one, we've been spying on our friends.

Bugged the German Chancellor, an action that offends

All the European leaders...  Don't forget Brazil.

NSA may keep us safe, but this is overkill.

Edward Snowden told the world how much our country spies,

Putting an enormous strain on diplomatic ties.

Lucky us - recovery in Europe's not robust -

They need us despite the evidence of our mistrust.

Doesn't make us popular, however...  Not at all.

France's President has said we've got a lot of gall.

We don't have that many allies; those we've got are mad.

Fallout from these revelations has been very bad.

Brussels has been buzzing; we have angered all our friends.

They have got a right to be.  We have to make amends.

President must put a stop to this.  He said he would...

Learned that just because you can does not mean that you should.

Across the Pond - Elections

French voters celebrate François Hollande's victory. (Photo credit: BBC.com)

 

Very busy weekend for our European friends;

Several key elections that reflect disturbing trends.

Nicolas Sarkozy lost in France, across the pond;

President's now Socialist.  The first since Mitterrand.

Greece has also voted and they're facing quite a mess.

Parliament's divided so there's no chance of success

Implementing anything.  They'll have to try and make

Allies out of enemies... Won't be a piece of cake.

Putin's Russia's President - again.  He took the oath.

Germany and England held elections where they both

Saw that parties now in charge are losing their support.

E.U. is in trouble, I am sorry to report.

British do not like the cuts their government has made.

Merkel's in hot water for extending German aid.

Seems that Europe isn't thrilled with being so austere.

Worried 'cause what happens there effects what happens here.

Markets will not like this news, I bet... You wait and see.

They believe that those across the pond want lunch for free.

Can't blame hungry Europeans voting for a break;

But I'm still afraid they've made a terrible mistake.

Across the Pond - North Korea

excerpted from an
Article first published as A Little Over 100 Days In - How Is Kim Jong-un Doing? on Technorati.

A little over 100 days in, is Kim Jong-un trying to out-crazy his dad?

President Obama's coming home from overseas.

He was in Korea where he told Kim Jong-un; Please,

Do remember that the food we've promised to you guys

Will not be delivered if your missile system flies.

He was there for meetings with world leaders to discuss

How they can secure their nukes and make it safe for us.

Right next door, a little North, a tin pot loony planned

To continue pushing Us.  Does he not understand

This is an election year - and not just in the States?

China, Russia, France have got a lot upon their plates.

North Korea's pushed too far I think.  I hope they learn

Soon, before they're stuck with watching all their bridges burn.

'though he doesn't face a vote, he does now face a test;

Will this brand new leader fall in line with all the rest?

It's an opportunity to see his people fed

And to show his neighbors North Korea's sanely led.