The UN Security council's vote over the weekend to sanction the DPRK was expected after the flagrant disregard for the calls around the world to "Lil Kim" not to carry out a nuclear test. Proper enforcement of this sanction is equally important. The UN and the Security council should learn from the failed Iraqi sanction effort. The Iraqi administration, though sanctioned by the UN, was able to fly under the radar and conducted business with several governments and individuals around the world and that made the government solvent. The governments of China, South Korea and Japan, because of their borders with North Korea have a great role to play in enforcing these sanctions.

The Pyongyang continues to defy the world and there are claims that activity consistent with another nuclear test is on-going right now and that the North Koreans are eager to prove to the world that their nuclear weapons program is successful and very much alive. What is wrong with this man? He is certainly crazy. There is indescribable poverty and deprivation in North Korea and there is flagrant abuse of human rights. Basic amenities are lacking and people are dying from preventable diseases, yet Lil Kim finds enough time and money to down several shots of Hennessey daily. Maybe if he gets sober someday soon, the world may be a better and safer place.

The Iraqi debacle is dangerously spinning out of control. News of American, coalition and Iraqi army and policemen dying everyday is heart breaking. There is a deliberate attempt to avoid the use of the words "Civil War" to describe the Iraqi situation. However, the escalating violence between the Sunni's and Shiite's seem to suggest that regardless of how we describe the situation, the situation is dire and in need of quick action. According to the BBC, the James Baker committee that is working on helping the White House get out of this jam are considering involving the Syrians and the Iranians in resolving this issue. The non inclusion of the regional powers in the middle east in resolving the Iraqi problem, in my opinion, is misplaced hubris.

Dr. Peter Ayodele Fayose impeached finally. The rogue, according to news from Nigeria, tried escaping through the Idiroko border. I'm happy for the people of Ekiti State who can now focus on healing and fixing the damaged and neglected infrastructures during the mega-kleptomaniac rule of Fayose. The moral of this story is that the endemic culture of corruption and personal enrichment from public funds is finally becoming unpopular and Nigerians are pushing back and asking questions. All looting public officials should be brought to justice.

On a sad note, the OBJ/Atiku soap opera continues and unfortunately the future of democracy in Nigeria is dependent on how these clowns resolve this problem that threatens the stability of the nation. I read on Nigeriaworld.com that OBJ is offering Atiku amnesty if Atiku abandons his presidential ambition come 2007. What is going on fellas? Let the truth be told. Some school of thought suggests that OBJ should be investigated as to the source of the money he is investing in his (Bell) private university. Secondly, there are some (including governor Kalu of Abia State) who are suggesting that Temperance Farms owned by OBJ got a new lease on life after OBJ became the president and that the link should be investigated. Why not? Let us see the facts.