465. Free Syria

Marie Catherine Colvin (12 January 1956 – 22 February 2012) was an award-winning American journalist who worked for the British newspaper The Sunday Times from 1985 until her death. She was killed while covering the siege of Homs in Syria.
(tags: Political Series, Politics, Syria, War, Marie Colvin, AF Flag, Obituary Series, democracy)

278. New START Agreement Signed

The U.S. and Russia have agrred to the New Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (START)  signed by Presidents Barack Obama and Dmitry Medvedev. It reduces the U.S. and Russian nuclear warhead stock by about one third, to 1,550.

Future republican presidential candidate Sarah Palin criticized Obama's pledge not to strike non-nuclear nations who abide by the nonproliferation treaty; "It's unbelievable, no other administration would do it." And then she likened it to kids on the playground. She said you're like a kid who says, "Punch me in the face, and I'm not going to retaliate."

277. Virginia's "Confederate History Month"

Virginia Governor Robert F. McDonnell proclaimed April "Confederate History Month. Here's an excerpt of the proclimation from his website:

WHEREAS, this defining chapter in Virginia's history should not be forgotten, but instead should be studied, understood and remembered by all Virginians, both in the context of the time in which it took place, but also in the context of the time in which we live, and this study and remembrance takes on particular importance as the Commonwealth prepares to welcome the nation and the world to visit Virginia for the Sesquicentennial Anniversary of the Civil War, a four-year period in which the exploration of our history can benefit all;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Robert McDonnell, do hereby recognize April 2010 as CONFEDERATE HISTORY MONTH in our COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of all our citizens.

276. Hamid Karzai: The Prodigal Puppet

KABUL - Afghan President Hamid Karzai threatened over the weekend to quit the political process and join the Taliban if he continued to come under outside pressure to reform.