This is Floyd Wynne with THE VIEW FROM HERE 1/04/05

Well, the New Year has arrived!
And with it we find the usual problems.....the continuing conflict in Iraq....the terrible death toll from the Tsunami in the Indian Ocean....the continuing intertribal warfare in Africa...and on and on.
But....there are also some glimmers of hope in this New Year.
In the Ukraine...they successfully countered a mass fraud election....with one supervised to a great extent by people from other nations...including the United States. They have a government that is more closely allied to Western ideas...than to the outmoded dictatorial government that currently runs Russia.
In the Middle East we have an upcoming election in a few days that could have a great bearing on the possibility of peace in that area of the world. The current favorite is Abbas who was second in command to Arafat. Already, though, in his campaign....he has demanded that Israel tear down the fence they’ve constructed along portions of the Gaza Strip...and also indicated he will demand that East Jerusalem be returned to the Palestinians as their capitol.
Both of these issues are explosive ones....and could well simply continue the kind of terrorist activities that they have engaged in in the past.
It is hopeful, however, that reason will prevail...and that a peace pact can be a part of this year’s accomplishments, leaving Israel and Palestine as peacefully co-habiting the area.
Another big election...will be the January 30th election to be held in Iraq. The terrorists are doing their worst in an effort to persuade at least the Sunnis not to take part in that election. They have targeted those involved in trying to set up election procedures.
Between now and then.....we must establish a better sense of order in the Sunni triangle to protect those who do want to be a part of the next governing body of their country.
Unfortunately, there will be more and more violence. Hopefully the election will be held successfully....all areas of the country be involved...and this will represent a tremendous setback to the terrorists who have been killing fellow iraqis as well as our troops.
So....January could certainly be an historic month...in which
peace might come to not only the Middle East...but to Iraq as well.
Here at home....the devastation in Sri Lanka and other Indian Ocean islands will require all the humanitarian effort that the major nations of the world can muster.
We note that the U.S. effort now has reached over 350 million, in addition to many of our ships being shifted to that area to help in this disaster.
It is interesting that China has not been listed as offering aid to the area. They are also closely allied to the area....but thus far have offered little in the way of aid.
Meanwhile.....virtually all the European nations....have joined the U.S., Australia, Japan and others on the Pacific Rim....in a massive relief effort for the area.
So.....this new year begins. Only time will tell what it produces.

Happy New Year everyone..

This is Floyd Wynne and that’s THE VIEW FROM HERE.