The Olympic Games are just that, games–they can’t stop world hunger, find a cure for AIDS or put an end to war. But for a couple weeks they can make things seem a little brighter. This isn’t a new idea, it’s been reported on in the past and I’m sure it’ll be reported on in the future, but that doesn’t make it a tired topic.

Iraq has seen war, and little else, for the past six years. But come August 8, two Iraqi athletes may be just what the country needs to find a release from the hardships it faces.

Iraq is lucky to have any athletes competing in these summer games at all; in June the country’s national Olympic committee was suspended by the International Olympic Committee for what it called “political interference” by the Iraqi government. And with deadlines for the submission of athlete names for competition looming it seemed likely that no Iraqi athletes would be able to beat it. Read more

After receiving what he felt to be “unfriendly treatmentâ€? at Columbia University, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmandinejad has decided to return the favor by extending an invitation to President Bush to speak at an Iranian university. Ahmandinejad, who has finished up his visit to New York, offered the invitation to show the world how much more respectful Iranian students are toward visiting dignitaries, as opposed to the United States where he was met with protests. President Bush, most likely and rightfully, declined the invitation. Read more