The end of the European Union?

As many of you are aware, the European Union (EU) is not in good economic shape.  The French and Germans are working to support the core of the EU, while other countries sap their resources whilst working through their various economic woes.  This predicament seems to be predominantly due to the economic malaise in Greece, Ireland, Spain, etc.  These economic conditions are creating political issues within the member nations of the EU, such that I believe that the future of the European Union is in jeopardy.  The Germans are getting tired of bailing out the rest of the EU, and I can imagine that this would foment their eventual catastrophic departure from the EU.  I found this curious article on Stratfor.  It seems to firmly indicate that the trust and faith of the nations in and near the EU are wavering in their confidence in the EU and NATO.  This kind of distrust is the beginning of cracks in the framework that currently exists to cement the unity of the EU.  Should these manner of events continue to escalate, the future of the European Union is less than certain.

What kind of effects will this have on regional stability?  If everything that is presented in this article comes about, one can easily see the Germans aligning themselves with the Russians, thus fracturing the European Union and redrawing the lines in the Eurozone.  France and the rest of the EU will be left to fend for themselves economically and militarily.  Hopefully, a break such as this will not produce hostility between the newly redrawn factions, but I would not count on that.  Perhaps, we will one day be dealing with a Russo-Germanic coalition.

The full article is posted below >>

The death of a wicked man

A week ago, Osama bin Laden, leader of the world-wide terror network Al-Qaida died in a U.S. Navy SEAL raid on his highly secured compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan.

Everyone in the country reacted in a different way, many rejoiced, many sat silent, and many felt relief but sadness.  I felt some comfort in the fact that the American way of life is safer now with bin Laden gone, but I feel sad that he died without a chance to redeem himself in God's eyes.

I cannot agree with those who rejoiced; for although I felt some comfort at the news, I remained somber to the fact that there is yet another broken family somewhere.  To feel only joy at his death is most certainly a sign of callousness to the truth of the fact that, despite his horrible crimes, Osama bin Laden was still a human being.

This article reflects the range of complex emotions that passed through people around the country at this news.