Brooke Bellah

International: Confessed Rapist Castrated to Avoid Life Sentence

A man in Panama confessed to three counts of armed sexual assault and has requested castration to avoid signifigant jail time. The court system will pay for the $2000 procedure. The man can expect hormonal changes, possibly the development of breasts, osteoporosis and hot flashes. His castration will result in sterility and a decline in sexual interest.

Opinion: I think rapists, only when convicted and proven to have committed that crime should have this option. Castration should be forced punishment in cases involving children, because that's just sick. Rape will affect the lives of the victim forever, so rapists should receive maximum punishment.

International: Iranian President's request to visit Ground Zero denied.
From: FOX news

Iranian President Ahmadinejad will be visiting the US on Sunday, and has requested permission to lay a wreath on Ground Zero in New York. US officials say that this action may bring harm to Ahmadinejad, and others. Iranian officals say they will respect this denial. However, he has also planed to speak as an honored guest at Colombia University, but this may or may not be allowed. John Mccain cited the irony of allowing Ahmadinejad, a man who denies the Holocaust, to speak as an honored guest at a place where the ROTC program has been kicked off campus.

Opinion: Ahmadinejab, the President of Iran, shouldn't speak as an honored guest anywhere on US soil. Many people believe he shouldn't even be allowed to land here. I believe we should allow him to come here, but respectfully request that he be limited to the places he goes. You could say exactly what the US officials said: that it would put him in danger (which is just an excuse to not let him go to Ground Zero because that would be disrespectful to hallowed ground). The threat is there, but I believe it isn't the real reason why he's not being allowed to go. The United States must maintain some diplomacy, because he is a public figure in the Middle East and not doing so would cause too many issues.