Star Wars

Finally some steps were done to cancel the "Star Wars" missile system, first proposed 30 years ago back in the Cold War era. President Obama cancelled the installation of the radar and missile interception systems in Poland and the Czech Republic, a gesture appreciated by the Russian counterparts. The Iran nuclear threat, used by the Bush Administration to motivate the missile system, is not as stringent and, anyway, there are softer and more efficient ways to deal with it. I fully agree that Russia may eventually become again a threat for Europe, but I think a new arming race can have far more devastating results. It would be good if the total US spending for military would decrease as a result, although I kind of doubt it...

How to

New Scientist publishes a series of issues dedicated on how to change the world. Of course, there are many things that go wrong in our society, and after an analysis of the present situation, ways of action are proposed. If they are only theoretic or will prove practical, time will tell...

Changes?! No, we can't!

The problem is, however, that Obama may not really have the power to make the changes he promised. Both the Democratic and Republican parties were sponsored by high-level interests, lobbyists of Wall-Street giants, who in turn want a share in the new mandate. And a share they had, because Barack Obama nominated mostly people from the "old guard" to put in practice "the change". US army forces are still in Irak, the number of the ones in Afghanistan was even increased, nobody seems to know where the $700 billion bill money went to, the medical care reform is still waiting, and the list could continue. We have to re-evaluate our hopes, and the people in whom we trust.