January 6: United States
U.S. terror suspect Jose Padilla makes his first appearance in civilian court after being held for more than three years in military custody as an “enemy combatant.” Civil rights groups have heavily criticized Padilla’s detention. The government has avoided a legal showdown over its right to hold U.S. citizens as enemy combatants by transferring the case to civilian court.
January 17:United States/Canada/Mexico
U.S. officials announce that they will start issuing a special identification card this year that will allow Americans to continue traveling to Mexico or Canada without a passport. Citing security concerns, the U.S. government had previously stated that it would require travelers to show passports when reentering the country from Mexico or Canada. Critics argued that this could snarl traffic, discourage casual travel, and affect trade. Some industry officials remain concerned about the effects of the new ID requirement.
January 24: Canada
With 36 percent of the vote, Conservatives win Canadian elections for the first time in twelve years. They take 124 seats in parliament, which is more than any other party but short of the 155 seats needed for an outright majority. The Liberal party’s loss follows a public inquiry finding evidence of corruption among Liberal politicians.
February 1: United States
Conservative Judge Samuel Alito is sworn in as the United States Supreme Court Justice after being approved by the Senate. He replaces the swing voter, Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, who has retired. Democrats tried to block Alito’s nomination, arguing that he would swing the Court to the right. Alito is President George W. Bush’s second conservative nominee to enter the Supreme Court.
March 4: United States
The Pentagon releases for the first time the names and nationalities of prisoners held at a controversial detention center in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The names are imbedded in 6,000 pages of documents, which are posted on the Pentagon Web site. The information has been made available in compliance with the Freedom of Information Act. Human rights advocates consider the release a victory against the secrecy of the U.S. government.
March 21: United States
The U.S. Supreme Court rejects an appeal that called for granting Puerto Rico the right to vote in presidential elections. The U.S. territory has a representative in the U.S. Congress who does not vote, except in committees. The appeal is part of ongoing debate on the island’s status. While polls show little Puerto Rican support for independence, there exists the question of remaining a territory or becoming the fifty-first state.
April 17: United States
Somali Prime Minister Ali Mohammed Ghedi granted the United States Navy permission to patrol Somali waters and help Somalia develop its coast guard service. Waters off the Somali coast are the world’s most dangerous, where hijackings and piracy have been on the rise. Somalia has been without a government since 1991, and Prime Minister Ghedi’s transitional administration controls only a part of the country.
May 11: Canada
The Canadian government agrees to pay $1.7 billion to compensate former students of indigenous schools for physical and sexual abuses between the 1930s and 1970s. The schools that were run by the government and Catholic, Anglican, and United churches aimed at indoctrinating the children in Christianity and erasing their native cultures. The compensation is meant to help repair relations with the indigenous groups.
May 15: United States
The United States agrees to renew full diplomatic ties with Libya after removing it from the list of countries that sponsor terrorism. The move recognizes Libya’s efforts to renounce terrorism and adhere to international norms.
May 31: United States
Vietnam and the United States sign a trade deal in which Vietnam agrees to reduce tariffs and import restrictions on U.S. products. It also agrees to drop a plan to subsidize its textile industry. The deal, once approved by the U.S. Congress, is the final agreement needed for Vietnam to join the World Trade Organization (WTO). If it is successful in its bid for membership in the WTO, Vietnam will gain equal access to all other members’ markets.
June 16: United States
The U.S. military and Afghan forces kill about 40 Taliban insurgents during air and ground attacks in Paktika province in southeastern Afghanistan. Paktika is an isolated mountainous province bordering Pakistan and is the main stronghold of Taliban and al-Qaeda rebels.
July 11: United States
Two United States diplomats are expelled from Kyrgyzstan after allegations of inappropriate contacts with non-governmental organizations. The U.S. embassy argues that the allegations are “simply not true” and vows to maintain contact with all sectors of civil society. The expulsions come during disputes over the future of a US military base located in the country.
July 27: United States
The United States House of Representatives approves an agreement to share nuclear technology with India. Critics argue that the deal sends the wrong message to other countries, such as Iran, which are also attempting to build nuclear programs. Some also fear that the deal will set off a nuclear arms race in the region.
August 18: United States
A United States federal court rules that a secret wiretapping program approved by President George W. Bush in 2001 is unconstitutional and orders it to end. Within the program the government monitors phone calls abroad by millions of U.S. citizens. The program was uncovered by the media and brought to court by the American Civil Liberties Union (UCLA). The Justice Department launches an appeal against the decision.
September 7: United States
The United States begins to transfer control of Iraq’s military to Iraqi authorities. The handover includes control of the Iraqi navy and air force and the 8th division of the army. More transfers are likely in the near future and are expected to follow the timetable set by Iraq’s leaders.
September 7: United States
In a televised speech, US President George Bush confirms the existence of secret CIA prisons, a program that has been controversial. President Bush notes that terror suspects had not and would not be tortured. The Pentagon issues new guidelines on the treatment of terror suspects, representing a significant change in policy. The Pentagon previously argued that the detainees were unlawful combatants and did not qualify for protection under the Geneva Convention.
September 12: United States
US-Syrian relations receive a small boost when the US thanks Syria for its defense of the US embassy in Damascus during a recent attack. Syrian security forces were able to halt an attempted bombing of the embassy, killing three of the attackers and capturing a fourth. Relations between the two countries are tense, and the two governments have very little contact. The United States also considers Syria a state sponsor of terrorism.
September 27: United States
California becomes the first state to set targets to reduce its level of greenhouse gas emissions, hoping to achieve reduction of 25% by 2020. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger says the bill is necessary to begin a “bold new era of environmental protection.” The move puts Governor Schwarzenegger in conflict with the Bush administration’s position that mandatory reductions are harmful to the economy.
September 29: Canada
The head of Canada’s national police force apologizes for falsely labeling a Syrian-born Canadian man as a terrorist. U.S. customs agents deported Maher Arar after the Canadian police listed him as an Islamic extremist. A public inquiry into his deportation revealed that the police spread misleading and false information about Arar. He spent a year imprisoned in Syria, and underwent torture during his incarceration.
October 5: United States/Mexico
President George W. Bush signs a bill that will pay for a fence blocking one-third of the U.S. border with Mexico. Mexico condemns the seven-hundred-mile fence, saying it will harm relations between the two countries. In 2005, 1.2 million illegal immigrants were arrested while trying to cross the border into the United States.
October 11: United States
The U.S. government sets up a new task force to police its trade sanctions with Cuba. Consisting of law enforcement units from several departments, the new task force will aggressively pursue those who travel illegally to or trade with Cuba. Violators could face up to ten years in prison and a large fine. The U.S. embargo against Cuba has been in place since the 1960s.
October 23: United States
The United States grants asylum to thousands of refugees from the Chin state in Myanmar. Currently living in camps in Asia, the refugees will be allowed to relocate despite having supported rebel groups in Myanmar. The United States has previously opened its borders to many disaffected by the Myanmar military regime.
November 4: United States
Katharine Jefferts Schori, 52, becomes the presiding bishop and primate of the U.S. Episcopal Church at an investiture service in Washington, DC. She is the first female leader to take office in the Anglican denomination. Most Anglican Churches around the world do not permit female bishops, and seven conservative U.S. dioceses have already rejected her authority.
November 9: United States
Democrats win control of the U.S. House of Representatives in mid-term polls for the first time in 12 years. Democrats also win control of the U.S. Senate. Analysts say the gains reflect voter discontent over Iraq, government corruption, and the economy. Given the election results, the U.S. government says it is willing to discuss a new direction in Iraq.
November 23: United States
President Bush signs a multi-billion dollar free trade agreement with Colombia. The deal has yet to win approval from Congress, which opposes the pact since Colombia fails to comply with international worker rights. If passed, it will be the US’s largest trade deal in the Western Hemisphere since 1994’s North American Free Trade Agreement.
November 28: Canada
Canada’s parliament recognizes the people of mostly francophone Quebec as a nation within a united Canada. Amid the contested issue of the status of Quebec, the gesture seeks to reconcile with the separatist Bloc Quebecois, and further recognizes Quebec’s unique cultural heritage. However, cabinet minister Michael Chong resigns in protest, refusing to support what he calls “ethnic nationalism”.
December 1: Mexico
Felipe Calderon takes office as president of Mexico, succeeding Vicente Fox. Opposition politicians accuse Calderon of winning the election by fraud and threaten to disrupt the upcoming official inauguration. Calderon recognizes divisions in Mexican politics, and calls for an end to prolonged disagreements.
December 20: United States
The U.S. military hands security of Iraq’s Najaf province to Iraqi forces. U.S. officials state the transfer signals the growing capability of Iraqi security forces. Najaf, which lies south of Baghdad, is the third province to come back under Iraqi command.