February 15th, 2011

If we thought that the conflicts in the Middle East was going to leave along with Mubarak and his family, we were wrong. There are lots of tense events happening around the world in the Middle East.  Ever since I was very young, “Peace in the Middle East” has seemed like a dream – and now moreso than ever.

A US Embassy worker is being held in Pakistan after shooting and killing two Pakistani guards who were allegedly trying to rob him. Under diplomatic immunity, the worst thing that is supposed to happen to this embassy worker is that they will be deported to the US.  However, Pakistan is holding the worker and refuses to let him go.  Thousands of citizens have protested, chanting that they want him hanged for killing one of their own – Senator John Kerry (D-Mass) is on his way to Pakistan to try to negotiate his release as we speak, and if Pakistan doesn’t release the US citizen, President Obama says he will cut off their aid.  We will be making yet another true enemy in a region that already hates us.

In Iran, thousands of protesters have been arrested for protesting for Iran’s dictator to step down.  After protests were successful in Egypt, it’s going to be interesting to see what else occurs with the regions dictators.

With the tension in the Middle East, it’s not a good time in the world.  Hopefully the Embassy worker will be released and able to come home to the United States, and hopefully the situation in Iran will diffuse instead of escalate.