BBC NEWS | Middle East | Iran 'unable to take Australians'
The SECRET is out! All this colonisation and cricket was not for nought. Indeed. Her Majesty's forces went quietly were the Australians resisted. The Iranian Revolutionary Guards were unable to to capture and ransom for political capital these intrepid Australian sailors.
That "political capital" is an illusion. The UK had 15 sailors taken prisoner by a country who's president had to be seen releasing the prisoners before a serious standoff with Her Majesty's Naval Forces. Now we can understand it was due to a brewing fear of the Aussies who really take this kind of thing seriously. One can imagine their earnest roughness all bruising into action at the clanging sounds of ships alarm battlestations, smoke, fire and explosions all about to erupt - but because its sort of "local" we (in New Zealand) remain unshocked - as though by a cloud of non-reality. The "war games in the Gulf" sneaking into recent news items and the mad scientists sponsored by a Persian sheikdom play shadows in our fear.
The hardest and most worthwhile battle of all is to solve things without weapons and soldiers. The West has a tendancy to view itself as the "civil" side of the equation. The side that is the "natural winner" that has convinced its populace of its right and legitimacy.
Germany was high jacked by an evil, authoritarian, insane war monger given confidence of the fear he could engender by killing people. And American fears of a sponsored repeat of this in Saddam Hussein justifies a war that will soon justify more skirmishes.
The point is not who is right or wrong. America is in a foreign land and establishing itself as a viable military force permanently. One of these days it will simply be able to react anywhere in the world. No wonder Putin gets a little edgy. America has beaten the Soviet dream into insignificance.
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Friday, June 15, 2007
Hamas - entitlement to power?
Do Hamas have a right to power despite them perhaps being destructive to the future of a settled Palestine? They were voted in by the popular vote. Democratic action by the people and their election set the scene for more potential grief for Palestine. Things are getting worse before they improve. Much worse it seems.
Democracy is not perfect. It is an evolutionary system - meaning that it is self correcting. If the Palestinians need a stupid terrorist Government in control - they are facing the unbalanced Israeli control regime with fire. Bad choice. But it was a choice, was it not?
The entry of militia into politics is unfortunate and really the same thing as a military dictatorship. It is the mandate of an oppressed, excluded and therefore angry people.
Without damage to Israel, a solution that causes progress may be more tenable after Hamas has convinced the poor of Palestine that the struggle is not the solution. Until they hit rock bottom, how will they disclaim their addiction to violence?
Democracy is not perfect. It is an evolutionary system - meaning that it is self correcting. If the Palestinians need a stupid terrorist Government in control - they are facing the unbalanced Israeli control regime with fire. Bad choice. But it was a choice, was it not?
The entry of militia into politics is unfortunate and really the same thing as a military dictatorship. It is the mandate of an oppressed, excluded and therefore angry people.
Without damage to Israel, a solution that causes progress may be more tenable after Hamas has convinced the poor of Palestine that the struggle is not the solution. Until they hit rock bottom, how will they disclaim their addiction to violence?
Thursday, June 14, 2007
7/7/07
The concert to save the world. I remember the Concert for Bangladesh - put on by George Harrison - while Bono was still a schoolkid. Joe Cocker, Leon Russell. Yes - remember it. 7/7/07 signals the age of terror is going to have to make way for saving the world.
The actual world. It coming down with a fever and it will cost humanity more than money, it will change nearly everything - health, commerce, trade, the value of commodities, most of all, water. If parts of the world become less and less habitable then what will we be able to do about it? We need habitats to support life. We need to be alive to do anything about it. So 7/7/07 seems the time for the world to wake up to the fact that the addiction to oil, SUVs and pollution will murder their own grandchildren.
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The actual world. It coming down with a fever and it will cost humanity more than money, it will change nearly everything - health, commerce, trade, the value of commodities, most of all, water. If parts of the world become less and less habitable then what will we be able to do about it? We need habitats to support life. We need to be alive to do anything about it. So 7/7/07 seems the time for the world to wake up to the fact that the addiction to oil, SUVs and pollution will murder their own grandchildren.
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Monday, June 4, 2007
The Green Bush
So, George Bush, having polluted the world with wars over oil wants us to suddenly believe that his heart is in it when he suddenly proclaims that China, India, Russia and the major pollution culprit America will respond to his sudden "decision" that they will somehow control the forces that affect our world?
It's a horrible sham, and a very dangerous one at that.
It's a horrible sham, and a very dangerous one at that.
Friday, May 25, 2007
Bush predicts bloody summer in Iraq
Bush predicts bloody summer in Iraq - New Zealand's source for World News on Stuff.co.nz
George Bush finally looks like he has fallen over the edge - the edge when a president no longer wants makeup artists fussing before a camera explores ones frailty. As he predicts a bloody summer of violence in Iraq he does not seem to realise that his actions are not inspiring peace. "Modern war" is still a barbaric excuse for not communicating.
Yes, it is going to be a bloody summer.
Just imagine if George Bush had conceded to Al Gore all those years ago. Al would have been able to do some sums and would have sent 100,000 troops plus into Afghanistan and followed this up with 100,000 civilians to rebuild the country after isolating the Taliban. Iraq was in need of attention, yes, but invasion may be seen as a breach of trust by the citizens.
What gets me is that George Bush has said nothing about how to make things better in Iraq, only how he will wage war on Iraq - and why? To kill terrorists. Where do they keep coming from? They grow up hating those that impose upon their country. It is generally accepted by invading Iraq created more terrorists. Bush is the grand executioner of fools drawn to the battle for reasons of religious zealotry.
What is transpiring is nothing less than a huge waste of humanity and is a great tragedy and a terrible sin, on both sides.
George Bush finally looks like he has fallen over the edge - the edge when a president no longer wants makeup artists fussing before a camera explores ones frailty. As he predicts a bloody summer of violence in Iraq he does not seem to realise that his actions are not inspiring peace. "Modern war" is still a barbaric excuse for not communicating.
Yes, it is going to be a bloody summer.
Just imagine if George Bush had conceded to Al Gore all those years ago. Al would have been able to do some sums and would have sent 100,000 troops plus into Afghanistan and followed this up with 100,000 civilians to rebuild the country after isolating the Taliban. Iraq was in need of attention, yes, but invasion may be seen as a breach of trust by the citizens.
What gets me is that George Bush has said nothing about how to make things better in Iraq, only how he will wage war on Iraq - and why? To kill terrorists. Where do they keep coming from? They grow up hating those that impose upon their country. It is generally accepted by invading Iraq created more terrorists. Bush is the grand executioner of fools drawn to the battle for reasons of religious zealotry.
What is transpiring is nothing less than a huge waste of humanity and is a great tragedy and a terrible sin, on both sides.
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
The Assault on Reason - Al Gore
The Assault on Reason - Al Gore - Book - Review - New York Times
Al Gore has published a book that agrees with pretty much everything written on this blog over the years. Basically it takes George W Bush's presidency to pieces. It criticizes the inaction preceding 9/11, the fruitless war waged on Islam that wastes massive resources and for what?
He criticizes the secret authorization of the National Security Agency to eavesdrop without a court order on telephone calls and e-mail messages between the United States and other countries, and its suspension of the rights of due process for “enemy combatants”. He says these acts demonstrate “a disrespect for America’s Constitution that has now brought our republic to the brink of a dangerous breach in the fabric of democracy.”
This is not a polite criticism. No, like Disturbing Trends, Al Gore has taken a harsher approach to the actions of the man who stole his job.
Al Gore has published a book that agrees with pretty much everything written on this blog over the years. Basically it takes George W Bush's presidency to pieces. It criticizes the inaction preceding 9/11, the fruitless war waged on Islam that wastes massive resources and for what?
He criticizes the secret authorization of the National Security Agency to eavesdrop without a court order on telephone calls and e-mail messages between the United States and other countries, and its suspension of the rights of due process for “enemy combatants”. He says these acts demonstrate “a disrespect for America’s Constitution that has now brought our republic to the brink of a dangerous breach in the fabric of democracy.”
This is not a polite criticism. No, like Disturbing Trends, Al Gore has taken a harsher approach to the actions of the man who stole his job.
Monday, May 21, 2007
More Al Gore
Will Al Gore run for president?
Maybe. But there is a nice sub ed article in the New York Times.
Maybe. But there is a nice sub ed article in the New York Times.
US Embassy in Iraq
It's a city within a city. A citidal housing the American Embassey, larger than the Vatican. Does this seem like some kind of cruel hoax to the Iraqi on the street? How could it be seen as anything other than the Americans snuggling up too closely? Actually, it is better to build am embassey than a fortress, diplomacy may create a pathway to peace now that roadmaps all seem to lead to more war. It seems a typically domainant and agreesive stance that is all to familiar by this Bush administration.
The strict insistence on continuing the war in Iraq is the Cheney doctrine. Do not let one day go by when his frat buddies who run Halliburton could be amassing more cash from "facilitating" Iraq oil distribution.
The strict insistence on continuing the war in Iraq is the Cheney doctrine. Do not let one day go by when his frat buddies who run Halliburton could be amassing more cash from "facilitating" Iraq oil distribution.
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