Seven more nations are joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and three more Central European nations have their applications pending. Although the Bush administration has set an overall course in foreign and military policy of treaty-breaking and unilateralism, it remains a strong proponent of NATO expansion.

Founded in 1949 as a security buffer against the Soviet Union, NATO has not only survived the end of the cold war. It is flourishing. Despite criticism that a post-cold war NATO would unnecessarily propagate the West-East security divide that shaped international relations for the four decades of the cold war, the U.S. government has led the drive to energize and expand NATO. In 1999, after contentious debate in the U.S. Senate, the U.S. approved the accession of Poland, Czech Republic, and Hungary to NATO. Leading the NATO enlargement lobby was the neoconservative Committee to Expand NATO, which brought together several prominent neocons now serving in the Bush administration, along with conservative Democrats such as Will Marshall of the Progressive Policy Institute and the Democratic Leadership Council.

The Libertarian Party of the Mahoning Valley will host its second annual Tax Day Eve Dinner on Wednesday, April 14, 2004, at the Comfort Inn and Suites in Austintown, Ohio. Libertarians believe the income tax creates more problems than it solves, and is an inefficient source of government revenue.

"We're really looking forward to this event," says John Fockler, Secretary of the LPO and a past Chair of the LPMV. "This is a great chance for Libertarians - and those concerned about the future of liberty in America - to meet, share a meal, and participate in some stimulating conversation."

Vice-Presidential candidate Richard Campagna will be the banquet's guest speaker. Dr. Campagna is a multi-disciplinary professional who has a long and distinguished record in public and community service. He is also an international businessman, a university instructor and a legal/psychological counselor.

A native New Yorker, he has lived in Iowa for 13 years with his wife, Odalys (also an attorney and college instructor) and his son Robert. Campagna is

AUSTIN, Texas -- Strange peaches. All of us out here in the boonies should be aware this is a truly weird political year. For one thing, nobody has ever seen this much money involved. What can $200 million do in a political race, answered, we presume, by at least $100 million by the Democrats? No one knows.

            And now brace yourselves for the really bad news. All this money, intensity and advertising is not going to be spread out across 50 states. There are only 14 to 19 states considered "in play" in this election, not either solidly red or blue, Republican or Democrat. What that means is that all this money is going to hit relatively few citizens like a tidal wave.

            Most of us, in most of the states, will barely be aware there is a presidential election going on -- we're out of this loop, team. Nobody will be talking to us. Because we're not "in play," this election is not about us. For reasons established by supposedly skilful polling, none of us even get to be part of this election. We're taken for granted.