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Posted: 23:19 17/07/2008
"Ultimately, apathy is the real specter haunting Central Europe, not corruption." Tallis couldn't be more correct. The fact that Czech newspapers are written to further stupify the masses doesn't help. Even if you read a paper like MF Dnes or Lidove Noviny, which are supposed to be "serious" ones (yet published by the same company - coincidence), they really don't "say" much. 60% is dedicated to banal local news, 20% to culture, 15% to the economy and 5% to international. Compare that to the Guardian or the New York Times. Both have very different agendas, the former leaning a bit towards the left and the latter very much to the right, but at least they try to thoroughly analyze issues from their point of view (just try to read through all the Op-Ed pieces on a Sunday - you simply can't). You just don't get that from Czech media. As Tallis implies, that's probably the goal anyway.

Posted: 19:42 17/07/2008
Dear Editor,
I don't want to sound like a 'disgusted from Tonbridge wells', but I must say that I think that the Czech ministry of finances dubious strong czech crown policy is completely misguided. Prague has become so expensive that many people (not only American's with their even worse USD value problem), just can't afford to visit Prague anymore. Prague has changed from a good value destination to a very expensive one in just a few years! It must be hurting the economy and small businesses that rely on tourism!? When will it stop? When many businesses are bankrupt and unable to get back into business? Many ex pats living here in Prague like myself are paid in euro's, pound's or USD's and it's killing us. My rent has gone from EUR 800 to over EUR 1,500 per month just because of the exchange rate and the mismanagement of the Czech ministry of finance. I'm sure that they don't care with their cushy jobs and expences but us normal people are suffering! Please wake up before it's too late.

Posted: 16:55 17/07/2008
We have the exact same situation here; but, our maternity wards require (read: demand) $5,000-$20,000 just to be admitted. Unfortunately, social medicine means waiting in a queue or, in our case: "Everyone is equal; just some people are more equal than others."

Posted: 03:50 17/07/2008
Ms. Will makes some very good points. I, too, agree that decision to siting these missile bases in the Czech Republic and Poland may pose unpredictable dangers in case of major conflict. Some arguments in favor of such missile sites at the proposed geographical locations are, indeed, far fetched.
Ms. Will was quite modest when she referred to her role in lobbying for the expansion of NATO to include the three Central European countries. She was a leading member of the "Coalition", which worked hard for at least three years (collected signatures, organized meetings with and wrote letters to US. Senators) to convince members of the US Senate to support the inclusion of the Czech Republic, Poland and Hungary in NATO. In fact, Minnesota was one of two states - California the other - to gain support of the State Legislature for the proposed NATO expansion. She, Dr. John Radzilowski and myself testified at two crucial State Legislative Committees about the advantages of such expansion. As the result of gaining the support of Senator Grams, the text of these testimonies were placed in the Congressional records as support material for the NATO Expansion. Paulette Will, along with Dr. Radzilowski, Agnes M. Fulop and myself received a "NATO Victory Commendation Medal" from the "Ethnic Leadership Council" transmitted to each of us in 1999 by Dr. Géza Jeszenszky, Ambassador of Hungary to the US.

Posted: 23:05 15/07/2008
The most broke country in the world (USA) spends $100 billion more on defense than every other country in the world combined. It is fiscally irresponsible to have this missile defense system and if it is so badly needed, NATO members should pick up the tab or at least their share.

Normally I am thrilled at at anything that makes the Russians mad but in this case, its just too much money at a time when we can least afford it.

Posted: 18:38 15/07/2008
"I am proud of the U.S. and the Czech Republic for our governments agreement toward collective defense."

Before the missile "shield" the Czech Republic had no enemies and didn't need defending against anyone.

Posted: 22:04 11/07/2008
I am proud of the U.S. and the Czech Republic for our governments agreement toward collective defense. It is making a safer world for Europe and North America. Yes, more money should be sent to help the flood victims. That money can come from other budgets such as the U.S. Coast Gaurd, the C.I.A., and NASA. See what a slippery slope that is?
Ohio should have budgeted for a flood disaster more than 200 million dollars. American States make billions in budget surplus every year and to think that Ohio did not have a "rainy day" fund is simply bad fiscal management on that State. Federal money should go there, but the accountability for building cities in flood zones is not every American taxpayers' problem. The possible threat of ICBMs carrying nuclear payloads is!

Posted: 20:14 16/07/2008
Imperial Rome had the same problem some 2000 years ago. They (the Roman Senate) abolished all forms of transport in the day time so that the clatter of horses hooves did not spoil their musings. Unfortunately, the shops had no goods, and when they did stock up it was at night, guess what, the Senate (and the good people) couldn't sleep at night due to the clattering of hooves! Is there a lesson here?
Herbert S Booth (prof. retd)

Posted: 18:37 16/07/2008
I dont know how old this article is but some of the people commenting should do more research!!

1. Jan Novak, your comment "Serbia as a country was complicit in a near genocide committed against several ethnic groups in former Yugoslavia" is complete rubbish, Serbs were massacred by the Croatian Ustasha during World War 2, well at the same time cleansed by the Nazi's in Kosovo and lets not forget that was with the help of your drug dealing, people trafficking organ harvesting friends from Albania or as they called them selves back then SS hanzar division (Hanzar meaning to cut ones throat). So after the Allies won the war, Serbia was offered to annex land from Croatia but did not accept, instead they joined together in union, a union of slavs which you might know as Yugoslavia. It was first Slovinia's succession and then Croatia's that lead to the breakup of Yugoslavia and Serbia was simpley trying to hold it together. At this time Croatia was lead by Franjo Tudjman a man who glorified the holocaust and reminisced back to the old days of the Ustasha (even adopting the old Ustasha checkered flag, the equivalent of Germany readopting the Swastika). Under his leadership took place the biggest act of ethnic cleancing since WW2, the cleansing of the Serbians from Krajina!!! I could go on and on....

German forensic experts have declared the supposive Serb massacres as being fabricated, it is also well documented that Criminal Hasim Thaci has admitted this. When you support an independent Kosovo you support not only the cleasing of Serbs but Roma, Turks, Croats and Albanians who are not loyal to the KLA.

2. Fact, there is no such thing as a Kosovan's just Serbs (Kosovo is part of Serbia) and Albanians living in Kosovo.

If you want to increase your political knowledge checkout on Youtube CZECH documentary STOLEN KOSOVO for the real truth concerning this issue, also Byzantinesacredart.com/blog subheadings Croatia and Bosnia are a very good read

Posted: 16:05 16/07/2008
I'd like to work in your summer campus, Please send me details if it's possible.

Posted: 12:53 16/07/2008
>>to the socialist (Russian) fifth column who long to be reunited with their ex-soviet cousins.

I am not sure how valuable "political comment" can be if the person writing it is unaware that Russia is no longer socialist.

Posted: 09:29 16/07/2008
"Bravo to the Czech government for standing up to the socialist (Russian) fifth column who long to be reunited with their ex-soviet cousins."

I thought that this week it was the "War on Terror". Don't say that we are back to "Reds Under the Bed".

Posted: 09:28 16/07/2008
All nuns are fake. At no point is in mentioned in the Bible that people should give up sex, wear funny clothes and live in isolation from the rest of society.

Posted: 23:14 15/07/2008
I hope the Russian move last week to cut gas supplies to the Czech Rep will serve as a reminder the danger Russia poses as an energy supplier. The Russians have and will continue to use energy as a weapon. Green energy and alternative suppliers must be utilized to their fullest extent, while minimizing the role that Russia plays as an energy supplier to the country. This is advice and common sense that I hope my own country will adopt.

Posted: 18:35 15/07/2008
Given that EU laws are written and approved by unelected bureaucrats, it probably doesn't matter very much who is the nominal "president".

Posted: 18:31 15/07/2008
When will our fair city finally stand up and ban graffiti!

Posted: 10:06 15/07/2008
Not wishing to sound unsupportive of the wonderful Czech Republic, and knowing nothing about the radar base.

From the announcement of the radar base, the project struck me as a pointless scheme. Hearing of Russia's objection, it then did strike me as a provocative action.

If the base is for the purpose of deterring Iran, perhaps the USA intelligence operatives have gotten it t wrong again. I heard that the furtherest missiles tested over in Iran last week had a range of 2000 kilometres.

This reminds me of the time when the USA suddenly announced their certainly of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, and therefore the need to eliminate Saddam Hussein by the most brutal kind of invasion. At that time, I knew within me that the pronouncement of the WMD and....particularly....the idea that Saddam Hussein would ever fraternise with Al Quaeda....were both illogical and that the the announcement were too sudden to be true.

Beware brothers!

Posted: 17:16 13/07/2008
The Jazz Club was not a dissident organization. See the AP report on the court proceedings with Karel Srp.

Posted: 16:53 12/07/2008
For Ondrej:

Your article is particularly interesting to me. In the Spring of ´68, I was a foreign student at a small college in Indiana USA and while sweeping my room I heard on the radio the schocking reaction of the Soviets at the spontaneous wishes of the then Czechoeslovaquians wishing to free themselves from what amounted to be bondage. I am glad that the Czech Republic now enjoys inmense measures of well deserved freedom, although scars remain. On the anniversary you depict here,it is pleasure to express my congratulations to all Czechs for all they have achieved recently.

Many people, even outside the C.R., have benefited from the new state of things. I am the father of a son of mine who graduated two years ago from Townshend International School at Hloboká: Thanks,to the great Czech Republic.

Cheers!

Posted: 08:05 12/07/2008
>>pollution levels not up to EU standards

Um...perhaps you meant to say "not as low as EU standards".

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