Uncertain furture for Ted Rogers' company

Even though he had suffered many health problems, many investors and employees found it difficult to imagine a business without their founder, Ted Rogers. However, that day has become today, with Rogers passing away at the age of 75 due to heart problems. In late October, he stepped down from the position, with Alan Horn as the interim chief executive. The company has said that they will look for a new CEO, and will consider internal and external candidates. However, many analysts believe that the new CEO will come from the company's office of the president, including the CFO and the COO of communications. Rogers itself has already stated that the position would most likely go to an insider. Ted Rogers has continuously stressed the fact that he wanted to see one of his own children become the CEO one day.

Ted Rogers was a remarkable man, building a company whose cell phone service is better than its competitors combined. Rogers also offers high-speed internet and a good TV service. I know this sounds like a Rogers commercial, but to be honest, Rogers is consistently better in all areas of communications I use than services like Bell or Telus. I think the future for Rogers is certain, that it will continue to succeed as it is already. This is similar to an Apple-Steve Jobs issue. No matter who will be the CEO, as long as the company turns out great products, it will continue to succeed.

http://www.thestar.com/business/article/547008

Another province back in Iraqi hands

Today, Thursday, October 23, 2008, another province has formally been returned back to control from coalition command to Iraqi local security control. Babil, in central Iraq, is the 12th out of 18th province that the coalition handed security control back to the hands of the Iraqis. It is also where the ancient city of Babylon is located. Each Iraqi province handed back to the local security force means that progress is being made. This also means peace is progressing, and it is best for both parties, Taliban and American, that less killing will occur. Everyone in the world wants less killing to occur, but the Taliban and the Americans will not stop killing each other until one is defeated. American troops will still assist the Iraqi security force "as needed", but the main job will be given to the Iraqis. Violence has decreased overall in Iraq, which means progress is being made.

I think the US will need to defeat the Taliban militarily to truely win the war in Iraq. Many people thought that the reason Germany fought world wars I and II was that the German people did not truely know the horrors of war, as most battles were fought on French, Italian, and Austrian soil. Many military experts think Germans believed that they could still win because their country had never been in devastation, as the others did. Therefore, when they saw the devastation after WWII, they have never waged open war again. Now, I'm not saying that the US should Iraq into ruins, but I think that if the Taliban faces the US long enough, they will realize that this war will do them no good. I don't think any of the Taliban or Al-Qaeda's goals will be realized just by forcing the US out of Iraq. However, with growing stability in Iraq, the war may be coming to a finish. We all hope that way.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/10/23/iraq.attack/index.html

Oracle of Omaha buying stocks

Warren Buffet, also known as the Oracle of Omaha, is one of the, if not the best, best investors in the world. He has been able to hold through many economic recessions, and is right now one of the world's richest men. With the economy in a recession, and stocks heading for all-time lows, Warren Buffet is starting to buy U.S. stocks again. Earlier, the only American investments he held were treasury bonds. Because stock prices are falling, Buffet has converted almost all of his portfolio to US stocks. He says, "Be fearful when others are greedy, and be greedy when others are fearful." He also states that the worst may not be over for the economy. Many investors, even the most-seasoned veterans, are cashing in their stocks, taking the hit and not risking much more money. However, bad news can also be good news. As Buffet says, "Bad news are an investor's best friend. It lets you buy a share of America's future at a marked-down price.

Even though this concerns the American economy, Canadians may also benefit. The Canadian economy, though severely hit, as not been hit as hard as the Americans had, and Canadians can better afford to buy a portion of the US economy. Even though people can't afford to invest into the stock market like Warren Buffet, they can still put some money into the stock market as it continues falling. Buffet is right- the best news for investors occur during stock falls. This allows investors to buy when stocks are close to worthless, and wait for the market to turn back up again.

http://money.cnn.com/2008/10/17/news/economy/buffett_op_ed/index.htm?postversion=2008101709

Senior Al-Qaeda chief killed in Iraq

The US military announced that one of Al-Qaeda's senior "charismatic" leader has recently been killed by coalition forces in Northern Iraq. Abu Qaswarah, also known as Abu Sara, was killed on October 5 during an operation in Mosul. The Moroccan citizen was Al-Qaeda's second in command. He had "historic ties" to Al-Qaeda's former senior leaders, and therefore had been the target of October. He was discribed by the US military as a "charismatic leader that rallied the ists in Iraq" after major setbacks to the entire ist organizaiton. The US military also credits former Sunni insurgents that have turned against Al-Qaeda, because the "Sons of Iraq" has helped stablize regions in Iraq.

I think that the progress is finally being achieved in Iraq. Even though Al-Qaeda still has influence over a large part of Iraqis around the country, their power is waning. I personally believe that Al-Qaeda cannot fight a long-term war with the United States. Only one force, the North Vietnamese, has done so, and that was because of the jungles and their expertise at gureilla warfare. In the desert, a person cannot hide very well. However, I think that peaceful negotiations could also help to the ending of the war. When Al-Qaeda and the US is ready to go to the negotiation tables, we can be sure that the war will almost be over.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/10/15/iraq.alqaeda.leader/index.html