Iraq.... and the Nobel Prize
The violence continues without a break... the latest bombing in northern Iraq which targeted the offices of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) is heartbreaking. So many people died, more than 60 by the latest count. It also brings civil war in Iraq closer, this is sure to strengthen the calls from the Kurds for an independent Kurdish state. Which will not be acceptable to the rest of Iraq, never mind Turkey.
I hope the Americans dont let the Kurds down again but I fear they will. It will be the most expedient path for Bush to take.
Dammit, I wish Bush and Blair had thought twice before pulling their stupid stunt. They were warned this kind of situation had a high probability of developing if they invaded, why oh why could they not have settled for the iron hand of inspectors, gradual lifting of sanctions and pressure (via other Arab states) for Hussein to abdicate... or some such action. But no, the cowboy and the evangelical world saviour just had to do it. Now the threat of terrorism is increasing by the day, the Arab region is teeming and becoming more unstable and I for one wont be getting on a plane anytime soon, air travel is becoming a farce what with the armed marshalls on planes, restricted lines at the toilets, flights cancelled for no clear reason and general paranoia at airports resulting in even longer check-in times than during Easter weekends!
It seems Bush learned an important lesson from the Hutton enquiry which left Tony Blair whiter than white:
Bush will name members to the commission to review the prewar intelligence and that he had consulted some "appropriate" members of Congress about the appointments
I heard on the news today, the virtuous twosome were nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.
If they actually win, think I'll hurl... something through the window!
How did the world become so arse-about-face??!!
SARS and Bird flu
SARS keeps popping up in China, the world is becoming bored with this bug. Which is when it becomes dangerous...
The bird flu also has potential for becoming a very dangerous epidemic, it is spreading like wildfire.
Those clever little flu viruses, so quick to change, to take advantage, to spread, to kill hundreds of thousands. Today, on the news, two German women, just back from their holiday in Thailand, were hospitalised with possible avian flu. Quite probably they dont have it... but it could happen that fast.
Monday, February 02, 2004
Iraq.... and the Nobel Prize
The violence continues without a break... the latest bombing in northern Iraq which targeted the offices of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) is heartbreaking. So many people died, more than 60 by the latest count. It also brings civil war in Iraq closer, this is sure to strengthen the calls from the Kurds for an independent Kurdish state. Which will not be acceptable to the rest of Iraq, never mind Turkey.
I hope the Americans dont let the Kurds down again but I fear they will. It will be the most expedient path for Bush to take.
Dammit, I wish Bush and Blair had thought twice before pulling their stupid stunt. They were warned this kind of situation had a high probability of developing if they invaded, why oh why could they not have settled for the iron hand of inspectors, gradual lifting of sanctions and pressure (via other Arab states) for Hussein to abdicate... or some such action. But no, the cowboy and the evangelical world saviour just had to do it. Now the threat of terrorism is increasing by the day, the Arab region is teeming and becoming more unstable and I for one wont be getting on a plane anytime soon, air travel is becoming a farce what with the armed marshalls on planes, restricted lines at the toilets, flights cancelled for no clear reason and general paranoia at airports resulting in even longer check-in times than during Easter weekends!
It seems Bush learned an important lesson from the Hutton enquiry which left Tony Blair whiter than white:
Bush will name members to the commission to review the prewar intelligence and that he had consulted some "appropriate" members of Congress about the appointments
I heard on the news today, the virtuous twosome were nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.
If they actually win, think I'll hurl... something through the window!
How did the world become so arse-about-face??!!
SARS and Bird flu
SARS keeps popping up in China, the world is becoming bored with this bug. Which is when it becomes dangerous...
The bird flu also has potential for becoming a very dangerous epidemic, it is spreading like wildfire.
Those clever little flu viruses, so quick to change, to take advantage, to spread, to kill hundreds of thousands. Today, on the news, two German women, just back from their holiday in Thailand, were hospitalised with possible avian flu. Quite probably they dont have it... but it could happen that fast.
The violence continues without a break... the latest bombing in northern Iraq which targeted the offices of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) is heartbreaking. So many people died, more than 60 by the latest count. It also brings civil war in Iraq closer, this is sure to strengthen the calls from the Kurds for an independent Kurdish state. Which will not be acceptable to the rest of Iraq, never mind Turkey.
I hope the Americans dont let the Kurds down again but I fear they will. It will be the most expedient path for Bush to take.
Dammit, I wish Bush and Blair had thought twice before pulling their stupid stunt. They were warned this kind of situation had a high probability of developing if they invaded, why oh why could they not have settled for the iron hand of inspectors, gradual lifting of sanctions and pressure (via other Arab states) for Hussein to abdicate... or some such action. But no, the cowboy and the evangelical world saviour just had to do it. Now the threat of terrorism is increasing by the day, the Arab region is teeming and becoming more unstable and I for one wont be getting on a plane anytime soon, air travel is becoming a farce what with the armed marshalls on planes, restricted lines at the toilets, flights cancelled for no clear reason and general paranoia at airports resulting in even longer check-in times than during Easter weekends!
It seems Bush learned an important lesson from the Hutton enquiry which left Tony Blair whiter than white:
Bush will name members to the commission to review the prewar intelligence and that he had consulted some "appropriate" members of Congress about the appointments
I heard on the news today, the virtuous twosome were nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.
If they actually win, think I'll hurl... something through the window!
How did the world become so arse-about-face??!!
SARS and Bird flu
SARS keeps popping up in China, the world is becoming bored with this bug. Which is when it becomes dangerous...
The bird flu also has potential for becoming a very dangerous epidemic, it is spreading like wildfire.
Those clever little flu viruses, so quick to change, to take advantage, to spread, to kill hundreds of thousands. Today, on the news, two German women, just back from their holiday in Thailand, were hospitalised with possible avian flu. Quite probably they dont have it... but it could happen that fast.
Wednesday, January 28, 2004
The Hutton report
Well now, the UK government comes out of this shiny white and smelling of roses; Kelly was a nutjob and should (post-mortem) shoulder all the blame together with the BBC.
The dead man and the last large, relatively independent and trustworthy western news source... I should not be surprised but am. I thought Hutton would at least attempt to appear more even-handed.
This past year, especially, the world has been subjected to the most cynical and brazen mindfuck in recent history on both sides of the Atlantic, leaving "the glove does not fit" in the dust.
It just goes on and on and on... and I for one am heartily sick of it all. Do these rulers and their obedient servants really think their populations are braindead? With all the voices calling out that the emperor has no clothes, how long can the naked emperor still walk on as if nothing is the matter?
In fact, does any of this matter? The BBC will start self-censorship which will be more effective than any government effort to do the same and people like me will increasingly tune out and get their info from grassroots sources on the web.
That may be the best solution in the end.
Well now, the UK government comes out of this shiny white and smelling of roses; Kelly was a nutjob and should (post-mortem) shoulder all the blame together with the BBC.
The dead man and the last large, relatively independent and trustworthy western news source... I should not be surprised but am. I thought Hutton would at least attempt to appear more even-handed.
This past year, especially, the world has been subjected to the most cynical and brazen mindfuck in recent history on both sides of the Atlantic, leaving "the glove does not fit" in the dust.
It just goes on and on and on... and I for one am heartily sick of it all. Do these rulers and their obedient servants really think their populations are braindead? With all the voices calling out that the emperor has no clothes, how long can the naked emperor still walk on as if nothing is the matter?
In fact, does any of this matter? The BBC will start self-censorship which will be more effective than any government effort to do the same and people like me will increasingly tune out and get their info from grassroots sources on the web.
That may be the best solution in the end.
The Hutton report
Well now, the UK government comes out of this shiny white and smelling of roses; Kelly was a nutjob and should (post-mortem) shoulder all the blame together with the BBC.
The dead man and the last large, relatively independent and trustworthy western news source... I should not be surprised but am. I thought Hutton would at least attempt to appear more even-handed.
This past year, especially, the world has been subjected to the most cynical and brazen mindfuck in recent history on both sides of the Atlantic, leaving "the glove does not fit" in the dust.
It just goes on and on and on... and I for one am heartily sick of it all. Do these rulers and their obedient servants really think their populations are braindead? With all the voices calling out that the emperor has no clothes, how long can the naked emperor still walk on as if nothing is the matter?
In fact, does any of this matter? The BBC will start self-censorship which will be more effective than any government effort to do the same and people like me will increasingly tune out and get their info from grassroots sources on the web.
That may be the best solution in the end.
Well now, the UK government comes out of this shiny white and smelling of roses; Kelly was a nutjob and should (post-mortem) shoulder all the blame together with the BBC.
The dead man and the last large, relatively independent and trustworthy western news source... I should not be surprised but am. I thought Hutton would at least attempt to appear more even-handed.
This past year, especially, the world has been subjected to the most cynical and brazen mindfuck in recent history on both sides of the Atlantic, leaving "the glove does not fit" in the dust.
It just goes on and on and on... and I for one am heartily sick of it all. Do these rulers and their obedient servants really think their populations are braindead? With all the voices calling out that the emperor has no clothes, how long can the naked emperor still walk on as if nothing is the matter?
In fact, does any of this matter? The BBC will start self-censorship which will be more effective than any government effort to do the same and people like me will increasingly tune out and get their info from grassroots sources on the web.
That may be the best solution in the end.
Sunday, January 18, 2004
Iraq
Saw this article in today's Independent:
Coalition uses 1918 British report on tribal system
HA! Why am I not surprised ?!?
Now that Ayatollah Sistani is piling on the pressure and things seem to be on the verge of going bust, the US is trying to get the UN to jump in and organise elections.
I sincerely hope that the UN will not get involved here.
Things will end badly no matter who ends up holding the can and as far as I am concerned, the UN has not not exactly played an exemplary and independent role in Iraq in the past, what with enabling those killer sanctions.
I suspect in the end the lure/push of the US will be too strong to resist, as usual, and the UN will go in and try to salvage what they can.
From where I'm sitting, they will be lucky if the country does not end up as a repressive theocracy or in an all-out civil war, resulting in the north being invaded and occupied by Turkey. The latter of course, a 'humanitarian' effort, in the interest of bringing stability to the region.
Saw this article in today's Independent:
Coalition uses 1918 British report on tribal system
HA! Why am I not surprised ?!?
Now that Ayatollah Sistani is piling on the pressure and things seem to be on the verge of going bust, the US is trying to get the UN to jump in and organise elections.
I sincerely hope that the UN will not get involved here.
Things will end badly no matter who ends up holding the can and as far as I am concerned, the UN has not not exactly played an exemplary and independent role in Iraq in the past, what with enabling those killer sanctions.
I suspect in the end the lure/push of the US will be too strong to resist, as usual, and the UN will go in and try to salvage what they can.
From where I'm sitting, they will be lucky if the country does not end up as a repressive theocracy or in an all-out civil war, resulting in the north being invaded and occupied by Turkey. The latter of course, a 'humanitarian' effort, in the interest of bringing stability to the region.
Iraq
Saw this article in today's Independent:
Coalition uses 1918 British report on tribal system
HA! Why am I not surprised ?!?
Now that Ayatollah Sistani is piling on the pressure and things seem to be on the verge of going bust, the US is trying to get the UN to jump in and organise elections.
I sincerely hope that the UN will not get involved here.
Things will end badly no matter who ends up holding the can and as far as I am concerned, the UN has not not exactly played an exemplary and independent role in Iraq in the past, what with enabling those killer sanctions.
I suspect in the end the lure/push of the US will be too strong to resist, as usual, and the UN will go in and try to salvage what they can.
From where I'm sitting, they will be lucky if the country does not end up as a repressive theocracy or in an all-out civil war, resulting in the north being invaded and occupied by Turkey. The latter of course, a 'humanitarian' effort, in the interest of bringing stability to the region.
Saw this article in today's Independent:
Coalition uses 1918 British report on tribal system
HA! Why am I not surprised ?!?
Now that Ayatollah Sistani is piling on the pressure and things seem to be on the verge of going bust, the US is trying to get the UN to jump in and organise elections.
I sincerely hope that the UN will not get involved here.
Things will end badly no matter who ends up holding the can and as far as I am concerned, the UN has not not exactly played an exemplary and independent role in Iraq in the past, what with enabling those killer sanctions.
I suspect in the end the lure/push of the US will be too strong to resist, as usual, and the UN will go in and try to salvage what they can.
From where I'm sitting, they will be lucky if the country does not end up as a repressive theocracy or in an all-out civil war, resulting in the north being invaded and occupied by Turkey. The latter of course, a 'humanitarian' effort, in the interest of bringing stability to the region.
Friday, January 16, 2004
Afghanistan
In a TV broadcast this past Monday, a clip was played of a female artist called Parasato - singing a song without a headscarf!
The Supreme Court immediately lodged a formal complaint at the Ministry of Information and Culture.
Almost faster than it took to sing that song, the ban on television broadcasts of artistic performances by women was reimposed.
You see, even though the brand-new constitution, which was ratified earlier this month, guarantees men and women equal rights, it also stipulates that no law is above the beliefs of Islam.
Well, hey, at least women are still allowed to read the news on TV in Afghanistan.
For now...
In a TV broadcast this past Monday, a clip was played of a female artist called Parasato - singing a song without a headscarf!
The Supreme Court immediately lodged a formal complaint at the Ministry of Information and Culture.
Almost faster than it took to sing that song, the ban on television broadcasts of artistic performances by women was reimposed.
You see, even though the brand-new constitution, which was ratified earlier this month, guarantees men and women equal rights, it also stipulates that no law is above the beliefs of Islam.
Well, hey, at least women are still allowed to read the news on TV in Afghanistan.
For now...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
