Why is it that the world has rallied behind Zelaya?
Because he was the democratically elected leader and technically what happened could be construed as a military coup by those people around the world, by world "leaders" mind you who probably couldn't even find Honduras on a map, let alone tell you anything about it's history.
Media outlets the world over keep using rhetoric to make the event sound like a military coup. Here's a question though: Doesn't the military need to take over and keep power for it to really be a military coup? This seems more like a method of maintaining constitutional integrity and removing from power and ineffective and unloved leader.
Micheletti isn't a new dictator. He just happened to be the next in line, and has thus far found approval from every branch of government and the military. There is also an understanding that he will not stand for election come January. He doesn't sound like a military dictator in the sense of past favorites like Gaddafi or Pinochet.
Then there is the popular notion that the overthrow was committed illegally. This seems difficult to prove for some. The Supreme Court of Honduras issued an order for the military to remove Zelaya from office. The National Congress duly swore in Micheletti after Zelaya was removed to Costa Rica (with no physical harm coming to the man.) So, we have the Supreme Court issuing an order to remove a dangerous leader from power... and somehow this is illegal?
It's not like they removed Zelaya because he was a populist and was attempting to turn the country into a dictatorship. He wasn't even popular with an estimated 30% approval rating. He was however attempting to thwart legal channels. A popular referendum is no way to change a constitution. There are too many things that can go wrong with them, for example- fraud, ignorance of the electorate, fraud and of course the old time favorite for democracies- fraud.
Now, we have an argument from some that is sound. They say that Zelaya should have been tried in court instead of being forcibly removed from office. That sounds great on the surface, but with elections coming up in January the remainder of his term would have been bogged down in legal battles. With the forcible removal, the country can continue not wasting a lot of congressional time trying to wrap their minds around the legality of Zelaya's proposal.
It was a bad idea to try and change the constitution. It was a bad idea to forcibly remove Zelaya from power. It would be a terrible idea to allow him back as president. However, the EU and President Obama are trying to get him put back into power. They are ignoring the mood of the Honduran people- most of whom say that while it was probably wrong to remove Zelaya, bringing him back would cause turmoil and it shouldn't happen.
On the sidelines we also have Hugo Chavez. He is rooting for the return of his pal Zelaya. There is even an underlying threat of military intervention. How would Obama react to that? Mr Chavez has already denounced the weak response by the US. That's a leader I can get behind. With one face he is saying the US needs to leave Latin America alone, with the other face he denounces them for not doing more. Ah Chavez, you make me glad I live in America.
But, with the help of Costa Rican President Oscar Arias, it seems that there might be an end in sight. Arias is an amazing leader and I truly hope that a good biography of him comes out in the near future, in English mind you so we can issue it to students and tell them, "This guy is the kind of guy we should respect." He managed a difficult situation but it seems Zelaya will be allowed back into Honduras, but taken directly to the courts. So, I guess we won't avoid the disgusting legal battles after all. We will avoid Mr Chavez doing anything stupid militarily though. I hope.
Micheletti also removed the de facto Foreign Minister after he called Obama a "negrito." This is a derogatory term translated roughly as "little black man." In case we couldn't figure that out.
So, the changes that took place will stand, but Zelaya gets to be put on trial. He still won't be president, Micheletti will retain that position. But now Zelaya has the opportunity to be imprisoned. I would much prefer that than to having the world as my oyster.
Honduras is still struggling to overcome a crippling drug-gang epidemic and I think the populace will show that they want a strong leader in office the next go-round. So, keep your eyes on Honduras and look for the elections in January, because until then its just going to be one ridiculous legal accusation after another.
Peace.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Why Mogadishu matters more than Tehran
Over the past few weeks there has been quite a bit of media coverage of the situation in Iran. Apparently, the dictatorial regime in charge has been accused of rigging the "democratic" elections. There have been massive street protests and horrendous amounts of police brutality and repression of freedom-loving democratons. Wait. Let's get the facts straight here...
True- Ahmadinejad's election was probably rigged.
According to polling results, the actual number of voters in some regions is twice the number of inhabitants. And these massive numbers of voters voted for Ahmadinejad. This seems to be in keeping with the percentages he won in the 2005 elections. Which it does a very good job of. So, the ruling elite can point and say, "He got the same percentage of votes as last time." This is in fact a farce.
False- Ahmadinejad's opponents would herald a new era in Iranian politics.
To be perfectly honest, the presidential election in Iran is more like the caucuses here in the US. You have a bunch of elites running on essentially the same platform, all of whom have to be selected by the party elite in order to run. Except in Iran, there aren't two parties working against each other. There's just the one. So it turns out that we just get an Obama v. Gore, or Bush v. Cheney sort of election. While the election was rigged, it really doesn't matter. What matters is way beyond anything this election could fix.
Iran has some pretty serious issues. None of these relate to the elections. The protests in the streets are a waste of energy and are detrimental in the long run. Iran will not change over night. Two years from now (sans intervention of course) it will still be the Middle East's "Bad Guy." It will still want nukes, it will still be run by clerics and it will still have no chance in hell of a place at the international family table.
So, nothing has changed. Nothing will change. And Obama can't do a damned thing about it. Neither can Gordon Brown, albeit if Obama was in Brown's shoes that might be another story...
This brings me to my main issue with the coverage of Iran: IT'S NOT THAT IMPORTANT!!!
Look at what has been happening in Somalia.
-Hasn't had a stable government since 1991
-An extremist Islamic group al-Shabab controls roughly 1/3 of the country
-Pirates control the northern coasts
-The AU, the EU, the UN and the US all say,"But... we just don't know if you're worth it..."
Here's an idea: Let's all sit idly by while a new Taliban sets up camp next door to the Suez Canal. That seems like a brilliant concept right? That way they can bomb ships much easier and have greater access to, well, everything. Afghanistan doesn't have a coast on one of the busiest shipping corridors in the world!! Somalia does!!
The worst part? Al-Shabab is not a homegrown group. Most Somalians are moderate or just really laid back about religion. These terrorists/militants/bad people are pouring in from other countries because they can. They seem to know that the US/UN/EU/AU/NATO/insert acronym here won't do a damned thing to stop them. At least until it's too late.
The people of Somalia are suffering because of past interventions, but will we step in to help? Will Europe? Will Somalia's neighbors? The US just announced a shipment of arms to the UN-backed government. That kind of action hasn't helped over the last 18 years, why would it help now? A lot of the pirates and terrorists are using weaponry we sent there over the last two decades against us and the Somali government.
Somalia - 10; Iran- 0
Look at what is happening to Roma across Europe:
-Kicked out of Northern Ireland by a bunch of racist morons
-Living in slums across Europe for little reason (including Italy, France, Germany- all of the "enlightened" European countries)
-Laws are being passed stripping them of their rights- see Italy
Where is the press coverage of this? Well...they don't have the right popular appeal...
Where is the press coverage? Watching South Carolina governor's talk about infidelity. Scrutinizing how that will affect his chance of becoming president. It didn't hurt Bill. And he came from Arkansas!
Who cares about IRAN? People are dying in Somalia at a much faster rate- due primarily to pathetic attempts in the past to "help." Roma are living in poverty unlike that of most of Iran. 150 people are massacred in Zimbabwe last year- we are just now hearing about it... makes me glad I purchased a "bloodless" diamond (considering the Kimberley Process is bullshit.)
Sorry. That rant was justified. I'm sick of hearing about the oppression in Iran. It's actually pretty similar to some scenes from earlier in the year... at the G20 in London... albeit different, because it's Tehran.
I'm tired. Peace.
True- Ahmadinejad's election was probably rigged.
According to polling results, the actual number of voters in some regions is twice the number of inhabitants. And these massive numbers of voters voted for Ahmadinejad. This seems to be in keeping with the percentages he won in the 2005 elections. Which it does a very good job of. So, the ruling elite can point and say, "He got the same percentage of votes as last time." This is in fact a farce.
False- Ahmadinejad's opponents would herald a new era in Iranian politics.
To be perfectly honest, the presidential election in Iran is more like the caucuses here in the US. You have a bunch of elites running on essentially the same platform, all of whom have to be selected by the party elite in order to run. Except in Iran, there aren't two parties working against each other. There's just the one. So it turns out that we just get an Obama v. Gore, or Bush v. Cheney sort of election. While the election was rigged, it really doesn't matter. What matters is way beyond anything this election could fix.
Iran has some pretty serious issues. None of these relate to the elections. The protests in the streets are a waste of energy and are detrimental in the long run. Iran will not change over night. Two years from now (sans intervention of course) it will still be the Middle East's "Bad Guy." It will still want nukes, it will still be run by clerics and it will still have no chance in hell of a place at the international family table.
So, nothing has changed. Nothing will change. And Obama can't do a damned thing about it. Neither can Gordon Brown, albeit if Obama was in Brown's shoes that might be another story...
This brings me to my main issue with the coverage of Iran: IT'S NOT THAT IMPORTANT!!!
Look at what has been happening in Somalia.
-Hasn't had a stable government since 1991
-An extremist Islamic group al-Shabab controls roughly 1/3 of the country
-Pirates control the northern coasts
-The AU, the EU, the UN and the US all say,"But... we just don't know if you're worth it..."
Here's an idea: Let's all sit idly by while a new Taliban sets up camp next door to the Suez Canal. That seems like a brilliant concept right? That way they can bomb ships much easier and have greater access to, well, everything. Afghanistan doesn't have a coast on one of the busiest shipping corridors in the world!! Somalia does!!
The worst part? Al-Shabab is not a homegrown group. Most Somalians are moderate or just really laid back about religion. These terrorists/militants/bad people are pouring in from other countries because they can. They seem to know that the US/UN/EU/AU/NATO/insert acronym here won't do a damned thing to stop them. At least until it's too late.
The people of Somalia are suffering because of past interventions, but will we step in to help? Will Europe? Will Somalia's neighbors? The US just announced a shipment of arms to the UN-backed government. That kind of action hasn't helped over the last 18 years, why would it help now? A lot of the pirates and terrorists are using weaponry we sent there over the last two decades against us and the Somali government.
Somalia - 10; Iran- 0
Look at what is happening to Roma across Europe:
-Kicked out of Northern Ireland by a bunch of racist morons
-Living in slums across Europe for little reason (including Italy, France, Germany- all of the "enlightened" European countries)
-Laws are being passed stripping them of their rights- see Italy
Where is the press coverage of this? Well...they don't have the right popular appeal...
Where is the press coverage? Watching South Carolina governor's talk about infidelity. Scrutinizing how that will affect his chance of becoming president. It didn't hurt Bill. And he came from Arkansas!
Who cares about IRAN? People are dying in Somalia at a much faster rate- due primarily to pathetic attempts in the past to "help." Roma are living in poverty unlike that of most of Iran. 150 people are massacred in Zimbabwe last year- we are just now hearing about it... makes me glad I purchased a "bloodless" diamond (considering the Kimberley Process is bullshit.)
Sorry. That rant was justified. I'm sick of hearing about the oppression in Iran. It's actually pretty similar to some scenes from earlier in the year... at the G20 in London... albeit different, because it's Tehran.
I'm tired. Peace.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Albania Applies to EU
Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha officially submitted the country’s application for EU candidacy status during a visit in Prague to the rotating Czech presidency of the European Union.
This is a big step for this small Balkan country. They still have much to do in the way of reforms in order to bring themselves in line with the EU's standards. Most of the reforms in need of change fall under the categories of justice, freedom and security. These are pretty important categories, but they are also broad and subjective. How do you measure freedom? I'm sure the EU has a very scientific method of devising a citizenry's freedom, but...
Justice is a little easier to define, but it is still a rather vague category. For example, in the US, justice in one state/region can be defined differently in another state/region. Gay marriage in Iowa? Legally approved, so here it's considered just that same sex couples can marry. But in New York? Not so much. Justice varies quite a bit within each region due to different feelings of what constitutes it. It's very subjective, but you can measure "justice" by legal standards, which I'm sure the EU has another awesome scientific/statistical method to devise this.
Security is a tough one. Especially for the region. After all, one would hardly consider Greece "secure" with all of the riots and bombings, but they are a prominent member of the EU. How can you reconcile this? Albania is a relatively secure nation for the region. They are also luckier than neighboring Macedonia, as Greece isn't debating their legal name.
The bid to join the EU comes on the heels of Albania's admittance into NATO as full member on April 1st. Proof that they are making strides in their international relations, and their desire to be accepted by the West.
This is a big step for this small Balkan country. They still have much to do in the way of reforms in order to bring themselves in line with the EU's standards. Most of the reforms in need of change fall under the categories of justice, freedom and security. These are pretty important categories, but they are also broad and subjective. How do you measure freedom? I'm sure the EU has a very scientific method of devising a citizenry's freedom, but...
Justice is a little easier to define, but it is still a rather vague category. For example, in the US, justice in one state/region can be defined differently in another state/region. Gay marriage in Iowa? Legally approved, so here it's considered just that same sex couples can marry. But in New York? Not so much. Justice varies quite a bit within each region due to different feelings of what constitutes it. It's very subjective, but you can measure "justice" by legal standards, which I'm sure the EU has another awesome scientific/statistical method to devise this.
Security is a tough one. Especially for the region. After all, one would hardly consider Greece "secure" with all of the riots and bombings, but they are a prominent member of the EU. How can you reconcile this? Albania is a relatively secure nation for the region. They are also luckier than neighboring Macedonia, as Greece isn't debating their legal name.
The bid to join the EU comes on the heels of Albania's admittance into NATO as full member on April 1st. Proof that they are making strides in their international relations, and their desire to be accepted by the West.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
News updates because I haven't posted in a while
There have been several developments of late that I wish to weigh in on, so here it is.
Pirates of Somalia
These brilliant little fellas decided to attack a US flagged merchant ship for the first time last week. The result? A bunch of dead pirates. The aftershock of dead pirates? A lot of hub-bub about the pirates becoming nastier because of harsh US and French (I know right?) responses.
Why this is a load of crap: A firm slap to the Somalian pirates is just what is needed. Sure, they might get more violent in the future, killing merchant sailors that stray too far off the path laid out for them. The US Navy needs to stick to a hard line when it comes to piracy. Let them know that a ship destroyed is more acceptable than a ship in enemy hands. When have we dealt with terrorists so even-handedly as some of our wimpier allies? Never, unless you go back to pre-Madisonian days when we had NO navy to speak of. Then it was a matter of Tripoli pirates, now its Somali pirates. We have the naval capacity to bombard their safe-havens on shore.
Which leads me to the second point. Somalia's government demands sovereignty in dealing with the pirates. This government needs all of the help in can get. The US should work with them to pinpoint and destroy known pirate bases. The government is on a knife's edge with the withdrawal of AU forces. Muslim extremists, and some general nut-jobs, are threatening to turn this country into a new Afghanistan. If you think Afghanistan was an important trade route because of the oil, wait until the Red Sea becomes impassable. Even the French have their panties in a wad of this region, they and the British have a vested interest in the trade through the Suez Canal. In addition, if this region becomes even more destabilized, with Egypt losing revenue from trade, what will happen to the ME peace processes?
Somalian pirates lead to more than a hijacked vessel every now and then. This problem needs to be dealt with firmly by the UN, with the US, UK and France at the fore. Otherwise it could lead to dire consequences down the road.
Swat valley welcomes Shari'a law
Oh come ON PAKISTAN!!! They don't like the US bombing, rather accurately, Taliban bases within their borders. Now they are allowing territories to dictate legal matters based on religious doctrine? Women are being stoned to death for not wearing veils, or attempting to go to school!
I don't care if they DO have nukes. Let India eat them alive. The problem with this region stems from Pakistan. Now that we don't have a strong alliance like we had under the Bush regime, allied with Musharraf, we have no control over them and no one in the region trusts them. They are the destabilizer in the region.
Israel shows promising signs under bizarre circumstances
This is a strange one. With the arrival of a hard-line, right wing, nigh on extremist regime in Israel, things are looking up for Palestine. Is it all a ploy to garner public support? Maybe, but Netanyahu really appears genuine in his desire to establish a Palestinian state. He might not come right out and say it, but his actions definitely support this hypothesis. In a meeting with Tony Blair, he expressed his interest in overseeing the foundation of new era in Palestinian relationships.
The government has been laying more blame on Iran for instability in the region, claiming that Iran’s primary objective is to expand its power in the Middle East. Israel almost seems to be forgiving of Palestinians. Almost saying, “It’s okay, we know that deep down inside, it was Iran talking.”
What does this mean for the peace process? Moderation for one thing. Perhaps the Israelis can deal with the Palestinian problem ethically and take away the primary battle cry of their enemies. They would gain much more by effectively helping the Palestinian cause than they would ever gain by undermining it. Even in the face of rocket attacks, the peace initiative will prove more fruitful in the long run.
Rebound in the US economic outlook
While there hasn’t been a lot of great news coming from Wall Street, there have been substantial signs of improvement. Several banks and financial institutions are planning on repaying their debts to the Federal Government using profits from the last quarter. This won’t lead to an instant rebound in the realm of unemployment, but this type of turnaround wasn’t expected until at least the fourth quarter of ‘09. Some of us might have predicted that it wouldn’t be as bad as all that, but we can’t all be rockstars right?
And how’s the news from retail? Crappy mostly. But Hobby Lobby recently announced that they would be upping their corporate minimum wage to ten dollars an hour, which is quite a bit higher than the federal minimum wage of chicken feed. Ten dollars an hour does not equate to a king’s ransom, but for retail workers, it’s pretty freakin’ nice. Believe me, as a department manager, I made around that and was damned glad for it.
Pirates of Somalia
These brilliant little fellas decided to attack a US flagged merchant ship for the first time last week. The result? A bunch of dead pirates. The aftershock of dead pirates? A lot of hub-bub about the pirates becoming nastier because of harsh US and French (I know right?) responses.
Why this is a load of crap: A firm slap to the Somalian pirates is just what is needed. Sure, they might get more violent in the future, killing merchant sailors that stray too far off the path laid out for them. The US Navy needs to stick to a hard line when it comes to piracy. Let them know that a ship destroyed is more acceptable than a ship in enemy hands. When have we dealt with terrorists so even-handedly as some of our wimpier allies? Never, unless you go back to pre-Madisonian days when we had NO navy to speak of. Then it was a matter of Tripoli pirates, now its Somali pirates. We have the naval capacity to bombard their safe-havens on shore.
Which leads me to the second point. Somalia's government demands sovereignty in dealing with the pirates. This government needs all of the help in can get. The US should work with them to pinpoint and destroy known pirate bases. The government is on a knife's edge with the withdrawal of AU forces. Muslim extremists, and some general nut-jobs, are threatening to turn this country into a new Afghanistan. If you think Afghanistan was an important trade route because of the oil, wait until the Red Sea becomes impassable. Even the French have their panties in a wad of this region, they and the British have a vested interest in the trade through the Suez Canal. In addition, if this region becomes even more destabilized, with Egypt losing revenue from trade, what will happen to the ME peace processes?
Somalian pirates lead to more than a hijacked vessel every now and then. This problem needs to be dealt with firmly by the UN, with the US, UK and France at the fore. Otherwise it could lead to dire consequences down the road.
Swat valley welcomes Shari'a law
Oh come ON PAKISTAN!!! They don't like the US bombing, rather accurately, Taliban bases within their borders. Now they are allowing territories to dictate legal matters based on religious doctrine? Women are being stoned to death for not wearing veils, or attempting to go to school!
I don't care if they DO have nukes. Let India eat them alive. The problem with this region stems from Pakistan. Now that we don't have a strong alliance like we had under the Bush regime, allied with Musharraf, we have no control over them and no one in the region trusts them. They are the destabilizer in the region.
Israel shows promising signs under bizarre circumstances
This is a strange one. With the arrival of a hard-line, right wing, nigh on extremist regime in Israel, things are looking up for Palestine. Is it all a ploy to garner public support? Maybe, but Netanyahu really appears genuine in his desire to establish a Palestinian state. He might not come right out and say it, but his actions definitely support this hypothesis. In a meeting with Tony Blair, he expressed his interest in overseeing the foundation of new era in Palestinian relationships.
The government has been laying more blame on Iran for instability in the region, claiming that Iran’s primary objective is to expand its power in the Middle East. Israel almost seems to be forgiving of Palestinians. Almost saying, “It’s okay, we know that deep down inside, it was Iran talking.”
What does this mean for the peace process? Moderation for one thing. Perhaps the Israelis can deal with the Palestinian problem ethically and take away the primary battle cry of their enemies. They would gain much more by effectively helping the Palestinian cause than they would ever gain by undermining it. Even in the face of rocket attacks, the peace initiative will prove more fruitful in the long run.
Rebound in the US economic outlook
While there hasn’t been a lot of great news coming from Wall Street, there have been substantial signs of improvement. Several banks and financial institutions are planning on repaying their debts to the Federal Government using profits from the last quarter. This won’t lead to an instant rebound in the realm of unemployment, but this type of turnaround wasn’t expected until at least the fourth quarter of ‘09. Some of us might have predicted that it wouldn’t be as bad as all that, but we can’t all be rockstars right?
And how’s the news from retail? Crappy mostly. But Hobby Lobby recently announced that they would be upping their corporate minimum wage to ten dollars an hour, which is quite a bit higher than the federal minimum wage of chicken feed. Ten dollars an hour does not equate to a king’s ransom, but for retail workers, it’s pretty freakin’ nice. Believe me, as a department manager, I made around that and was damned glad for it.
Monday, March 30, 2009
The Mideast Conflict in 27 Words
"There are two sides in the Middle East conflict: Jews and Arabs who want compromise, and Jews and Arabs who want to demonize and eradicate their neighbors."
-Rob Eshman
Editor of the Jewish Journal of Los Angeles
-Rob Eshman
Editor of the Jewish Journal of Los Angeles
Football Riot in Northern Ireland
For once the violence in Belfast wasn't caused by religious/sectarian parties. It was caused by football (soccer, if you will.) More specifically, in a recent World Cup 2010 qualifier between Poland and Northern Ireland, police say a group of hardcore hooligans from Poland started a riot outside the game at Windsor Park. Northern Ireland won the game 3-2, leaving it at the top of group 3 in the Euro zone qualifiers. But the riot is picking up more of the headlines.
Before you ask the question, "It's a football riot, who cares?" let me tell you a little more. Ireland is dealing with its own immigration troubles these days. No longer is it the young Irish lad in America trying to work his way up from the gutter. In Northern Ireland, Polish immigrants are struggling to live and work in relative peace ad prosperity with their neighbors. This can be said about most "Western" countries, but Northern Ireland is the case for the day.
The hooligans that threw bricks, bottles and fireworks at riot police, injuring 11, had traveled from Poland for the game. They were not the locals trying to make a better life for themselves. But who carried the blame? Locals.
Police Superintendent Chris Noble stated: “A number of homes were attacked and these are being treated as racially motivated incidents. We believe there was a hard core of Polish nationals who came to the game without tickets but with a clear intent to cause trouble to genuine supporters and residents. Unfortunately, their actions may well have put the safety of law-abiding and local Polish residents in jeopardy.”
This comes at a time when Northern Ireland is trying to keep a positive outlook on life. The state has already lost one officer and two soldiers this month due to civil strife. Combine this with the riot, and add in a little bit of horrible economic downturn and you are going to be left with a bit of social tension. And who will this tension be turned against? Polish immigrants. Just like in America, it's the immigrant that takes the fall. Questions like,"Why are the immigrants taking jobs from hard-working Americans/Irishmen?" or "How could we let so many immigrants in?" will begin to run rampant.
Mostly espoused by people that don't fully understand that a person is a person no matter where they hail from. And people have the right to work hard so that their family can prosper.
Either way, hopefully Northern Ireland can move past this debacle with good grace. It's been shown in the past. It's not too much to hope for. Besides, they won the game and they are doing pretty good in the Euro qualifiers. So that's something to celebrate.
Peace.
Before you ask the question, "It's a football riot, who cares?" let me tell you a little more. Ireland is dealing with its own immigration troubles these days. No longer is it the young Irish lad in America trying to work his way up from the gutter. In Northern Ireland, Polish immigrants are struggling to live and work in relative peace ad prosperity with their neighbors. This can be said about most "Western" countries, but Northern Ireland is the case for the day.
The hooligans that threw bricks, bottles and fireworks at riot police, injuring 11, had traveled from Poland for the game. They were not the locals trying to make a better life for themselves. But who carried the blame? Locals.
Police Superintendent Chris Noble stated: “A number of homes were attacked and these are being treated as racially motivated incidents. We believe there was a hard core of Polish nationals who came to the game without tickets but with a clear intent to cause trouble to genuine supporters and residents. Unfortunately, their actions may well have put the safety of law-abiding and local Polish residents in jeopardy.”
This comes at a time when Northern Ireland is trying to keep a positive outlook on life. The state has already lost one officer and two soldiers this month due to civil strife. Combine this with the riot, and add in a little bit of horrible economic downturn and you are going to be left with a bit of social tension. And who will this tension be turned against? Polish immigrants. Just like in America, it's the immigrant that takes the fall. Questions like,"Why are the immigrants taking jobs from hard-working Americans/Irishmen?" or "How could we let so many immigrants in?" will begin to run rampant.
Mostly espoused by people that don't fully understand that a person is a person no matter where they hail from. And people have the right to work hard so that their family can prosper.
Either way, hopefully Northern Ireland can move past this debacle with good grace. It's been shown in the past. It's not too much to hope for. Besides, they won the game and they are doing pretty good in the Euro qualifiers. So that's something to celebrate.
Peace.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Gul visits Talabani- First such trip in 30+ years
SE Times article - Gul makes landmark visit to Iraq
Turkish President Abdullah Gul embarked on an important visit to see Iraqi President Jalal Talabani on Monday. What makes it important? Other than the fact that it is the first visit from Ankara to Baghdad in over thirty years, the two leaders have some pretty daunting issues to deal with.
The first and foremost of these issues is the Kurdish Worker's Party (PKK.) Operating out of northern Iraq, this group launches attacks into Turkey's southeastern provinces. The goal of the PKK is to establish an independent socialist Kurdistan. Were it not for their Marxist-Leninist leanings, drug trafficking, kidnappings and bombings, this group could almost be considered freedom fighters. In fact, American politicians constantly use Saddam Hussein's mistreatment of Kurds in this region as a reason for the American-led invasion.
Gul wants Iraq to take a strong stance and eliminate the threat of the PKK to Turkish civilians. Iraq's constitution prohibits armed activities, but dealing with the Kurds is something very difficult because of the past atrocities committed against them. Also, it is important to note that Talabani is himself of Kurdish descent, which may or may not alter his perspective on the situation.
Also on the agenda for these two leaders are economic concerns. Trade between the two nations will be crucial to their success in the years to come. They will be dealing with water allocation from the Tigres and Euphrates as well.
Turkish President Abdullah Gul embarked on an important visit to see Iraqi President Jalal Talabani on Monday. What makes it important? Other than the fact that it is the first visit from Ankara to Baghdad in over thirty years, the two leaders have some pretty daunting issues to deal with.
The first and foremost of these issues is the Kurdish Worker's Party (PKK.) Operating out of northern Iraq, this group launches attacks into Turkey's southeastern provinces. The goal of the PKK is to establish an independent socialist Kurdistan. Were it not for their Marxist-Leninist leanings, drug trafficking, kidnappings and bombings, this group could almost be considered freedom fighters. In fact, American politicians constantly use Saddam Hussein's mistreatment of Kurds in this region as a reason for the American-led invasion.
Gul wants Iraq to take a strong stance and eliminate the threat of the PKK to Turkish civilians. Iraq's constitution prohibits armed activities, but dealing with the Kurds is something very difficult because of the past atrocities committed against them. Also, it is important to note that Talabani is himself of Kurdish descent, which may or may not alter his perspective on the situation.
Also on the agenda for these two leaders are economic concerns. Trade between the two nations will be crucial to their success in the years to come. They will be dealing with water allocation from the Tigres and Euphrates as well.
Friday, March 20, 2009
Move aside Bushisms, OBAMAnations are HERE!
With the remark about his bowling skills being akin to the Special Olympics, Obama has successfully made George W. Bush saying "nucular" a non-issue. But it's okay my liberal friends, he is the golden one after all, not some crazy "Texan." So, for a run-down, from Slate.com, I give you the complete list of Bushisms followed by a list of the top 25 Bushisms.
What did you find on those lovely links? Bushisms. Sometimes a poor understanding of grammar, or a bizarre, colloquial way of saying things. You know what you probably don't see? The President of the United States of America demeaning mentally handicapped people with an off the cuff remark that would land a third-grader in detention for a week. Bush flubbed his ability to properly pronounce things, use the correct pronoun, but never once did he blatantly snub an entire section of our populace. Before you get up in arms about Katrina, just don't.
It's apparently okay though, because Obama is in fact, OBAMA!!! He can do no wrong, no matter how grievous the slip of the tongue. He gave us HOPE and other such awesome catch phrases (which grab Gen-Xers by the cojones and never let go.) So, how can this man renowned for his eloquence fall so far from grace in so few seconds with an interviewer not widely regarded as a trickster? Obama was so widely regarded as an amazing speaker that he beat Billary, and he can't even make it through an interview with a big-chinned late-night host without insulting mentally handicapped people?
This man is the leader of the free world, and he needs to do something more than a simple apology. He needs to donate his entire salary to helping this underfunded and misunderstood community. But hey, he's got the economy to worry about. And finding secretaries that don't have undisclosed tax issues. And closing Gitmo so Osama can laugh at us. And talking to Iran. And finding his daughters a dog. And putting a basketball court in the White House.
So, I look forward to more of these slip-ups from our silver-tongued demigod. I'm sure they will come out in the future. Americans will forget Bush ever misspoke because when it comes to doing some serious damage to the office of POTUS, Obama shall be king.
Peace.
PS- Most of what he said other than the Special Olympics comment was intriguing, but it was primarily political rhetoric (which he excels at) and not worth even commenting on.
What did you find on those lovely links? Bushisms. Sometimes a poor understanding of grammar, or a bizarre, colloquial way of saying things. You know what you probably don't see? The President of the United States of America demeaning mentally handicapped people with an off the cuff remark that would land a third-grader in detention for a week. Bush flubbed his ability to properly pronounce things, use the correct pronoun, but never once did he blatantly snub an entire section of our populace. Before you get up in arms about Katrina, just don't.
It's apparently okay though, because Obama is in fact, OBAMA!!! He can do no wrong, no matter how grievous the slip of the tongue. He gave us HOPE and other such awesome catch phrases (which grab Gen-Xers by the cojones and never let go.) So, how can this man renowned for his eloquence fall so far from grace in so few seconds with an interviewer not widely regarded as a trickster? Obama was so widely regarded as an amazing speaker that he beat Billary, and he can't even make it through an interview with a big-chinned late-night host without insulting mentally handicapped people?
This man is the leader of the free world, and he needs to do something more than a simple apology. He needs to donate his entire salary to helping this underfunded and misunderstood community. But hey, he's got the economy to worry about. And finding secretaries that don't have undisclosed tax issues. And closing Gitmo so Osama can laugh at us. And talking to Iran. And finding his daughters a dog. And putting a basketball court in the White House.
So, I look forward to more of these slip-ups from our silver-tongued demigod. I'm sure they will come out in the future. Americans will forget Bush ever misspoke because when it comes to doing some serious damage to the office of POTUS, Obama shall be king.
Peace.
PS- Most of what he said other than the Special Olympics comment was intriguing, but it was primarily political rhetoric (which he excels at) and not worth even commenting on.
Monday, March 9, 2009
Ciudad Juarez Welcomes Troops, Atlanta Welcomes Cartels
The mayor of this desperate border town, Jose Reyes Ferriz, announced that killings were already down 90% since federal army troops had moved into the city. Which means that they are experiencing a homicide rate of around one or two a day, down from the ten plus they had been seeing. The soldiers haven't had much time to set up, but a respite such as this is one that has many residents breathing easier.
The city has put out a large public awareness campaign instructing its civilians on how to interact safely and efficiently with the new troop forces. These instructions include passing through checkpoints smoothly. The government wants everything to go well during the troops long stay. The mayor admitted that they were unsure as to the duration of the operation.
Most of the citizens of Juarez were accepting of the presence. The general feeling is that as long as killings go down, troops are very welcome. There were 6290 drug related killings in Mexico last year, with many of those falling in Juarez. The proximity to El Paso has not done much to bring this spate of killing to light here in the US. Even the story of the Daughters of Juarez, where over 400 women were raped, murdered and left in the desert outside the city, barely caused a stir far from the border.
So, the situation is dire and the mayor has called in the national army. Will this be effective? The army needs to be called in because the police force has failed. It has failed through corruption and it has failed in the face of stout opposition. The public has lost confidence in the police force. Even when a police officer is killed in the line of duty, there is no public outpouring of feeling as in the US. Why? People are never sure if the officer died doing his job, or died due to involvement with a cartel.
In the past, when the Mexican army has been called in to deal with this sort of situation, it has struggled with the same issues as the police. The Economist ran a story last year on this topic. So, I won't beat it to death here. The question I wish to raise is this.
What will it take for the US citizenry to recognize the problem our southern neighbors are struggling with, and how long will we wait before we admit that it's largely our addiction to illicit drugs that brought them to this point?
Well, maybe when the cartels start causing major issues stateside? Hello Atlanta. This wonderful town of Coca-Cola, UPS and... Ted... has had some pretty serious problems when it comes to the cartels operating within their city limits. Mexican drug cartels have decided that Atlanta is useful for distribution, just like a lot of other businesses. Except for they are using it to supply the entire east coast with illegal drugs, not delicious bubbly beverages. There was also a US citizen among others decapitated in Tijuana... The impact needs to be felt in America in places other than Atlanta and Texas. Despite what these regions may feel about themselves, most people do not pay a whole heckuva lot of attention to them (being from Iowa, I sympathize.)
So, how can we help? There are some out there that think that legalization of illegal drugs would help. As a matter of fact, I believe that was a major thrust in a recent Economist. As far as that all goes... I doubt it would be much help. The main argument used is that prohibition of alcohol led to crime, so, the illegality of our modern day drugs is what causes the current level of crime. The thing is, prohibition led to homebrewers doing what they do best. We weren't establishing long pack-trains to bring in beer from Latin America (rum yes, beer no.)
There are a lot of issues involved with the legalization campaign, and a great many factors are completely ignored by proponents. The simplest solution then, is to stop using drugs. Stop smoking pot and snorting blow. When a celebrity gets caught, hold them responsible to the fullest extent of the law. The reason the war on drugs has failed (in some respects) is the lack of effective enforcement. If I were caught with some marijuana, my punishment would probably be steeper than if Lindsay Lohan were caught with copious amounts of cocaine. So, stop using the drugs, drink some beer if you're feeling stressed, and don't pour money into the hands of criminals. That should help.
In the meantime, pay attention to what's happening south of the border. These are trying times for Mexico, and the role the US plays in the coming years could completely reshape our relationship with Central America. If we offer a stabling hand, no strings attached, we could be welcomed back into the hearts of our neighbors. If we use their instability to make controlling inroads, we will lose their faith yet again, and the turmoil will continue.
Also, go UNI. It hurts to say that, but Iowa's team is terrible, endemically, so go UNI. I wish you the best.
Peace.
The city has put out a large public awareness campaign instructing its civilians on how to interact safely and efficiently with the new troop forces. These instructions include passing through checkpoints smoothly. The government wants everything to go well during the troops long stay. The mayor admitted that they were unsure as to the duration of the operation.
Most of the citizens of Juarez were accepting of the presence. The general feeling is that as long as killings go down, troops are very welcome. There were 6290 drug related killings in Mexico last year, with many of those falling in Juarez. The proximity to El Paso has not done much to bring this spate of killing to light here in the US. Even the story of the Daughters of Juarez, where over 400 women were raped, murdered and left in the desert outside the city, barely caused a stir far from the border.
So, the situation is dire and the mayor has called in the national army. Will this be effective? The army needs to be called in because the police force has failed. It has failed through corruption and it has failed in the face of stout opposition. The public has lost confidence in the police force. Even when a police officer is killed in the line of duty, there is no public outpouring of feeling as in the US. Why? People are never sure if the officer died doing his job, or died due to involvement with a cartel.
In the past, when the Mexican army has been called in to deal with this sort of situation, it has struggled with the same issues as the police. The Economist ran a story last year on this topic. So, I won't beat it to death here. The question I wish to raise is this.
What will it take for the US citizenry to recognize the problem our southern neighbors are struggling with, and how long will we wait before we admit that it's largely our addiction to illicit drugs that brought them to this point?
Well, maybe when the cartels start causing major issues stateside? Hello Atlanta. This wonderful town of Coca-Cola, UPS and... Ted... has had some pretty serious problems when it comes to the cartels operating within their city limits. Mexican drug cartels have decided that Atlanta is useful for distribution, just like a lot of other businesses. Except for they are using it to supply the entire east coast with illegal drugs, not delicious bubbly beverages. There was also a US citizen among others decapitated in Tijuana... The impact needs to be felt in America in places other than Atlanta and Texas. Despite what these regions may feel about themselves, most people do not pay a whole heckuva lot of attention to them (being from Iowa, I sympathize.)
So, how can we help? There are some out there that think that legalization of illegal drugs would help. As a matter of fact, I believe that was a major thrust in a recent Economist. As far as that all goes... I doubt it would be much help. The main argument used is that prohibition of alcohol led to crime, so, the illegality of our modern day drugs is what causes the current level of crime. The thing is, prohibition led to homebrewers doing what they do best. We weren't establishing long pack-trains to bring in beer from Latin America (rum yes, beer no.)
There are a lot of issues involved with the legalization campaign, and a great many factors are completely ignored by proponents. The simplest solution then, is to stop using drugs. Stop smoking pot and snorting blow. When a celebrity gets caught, hold them responsible to the fullest extent of the law. The reason the war on drugs has failed (in some respects) is the lack of effective enforcement. If I were caught with some marijuana, my punishment would probably be steeper than if Lindsay Lohan were caught with copious amounts of cocaine. So, stop using the drugs, drink some beer if you're feeling stressed, and don't pour money into the hands of criminals. That should help.
In the meantime, pay attention to what's happening south of the border. These are trying times for Mexico, and the role the US plays in the coming years could completely reshape our relationship with Central America. If we offer a stabling hand, no strings attached, we could be welcomed back into the hearts of our neighbors. If we use their instability to make controlling inroads, we will lose their faith yet again, and the turmoil will continue.
Also, go UNI. It hurts to say that, but Iowa's team is terrible, endemically, so go UNI. I wish you the best.
Peace.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Milosevic-Era Serb Intelligence Chief Worked with CIA
Balkan Insight Article
LA Times article by Greg Miller
A brief synapsis of this story could go like this: Stanisic worked with the CIA in order to bring a quicker end to the troubled Balkan region during Milosevic's reign. He claims to have never taken money from the CIA. The reason all of this came up? The CIA is attempting to reduce his sentence at the Hague. They submitted a dossier that shows what "help" he was, and a list of all the "good" things he did. Never mind the death squads he established, he was helping the CIA. He is currently back in Belgrade for health reasons, strange how that works.
A brief excerpt from the LAT:
"For eight years, Stanisic was the CIA's main man in Belgrade. During secret meetings in boats and safe houses along the Sava River, he shared details on the inner workings of the Milosevic regime. He provided information on the locations of NATO hostages, aided CIA operatives in their search for grave sites and helped the agency set up a network of secret bases in Bosnia."
So the question is this I guess: Did he aide the CIA and NATO enough to warrant regard in his case? Or, will this be passed over?
If it is passed over and ignored by the Tribunal, what will that mean for future CIA operations? Will the CIA lose possible contacts in the future? What would have happened in Yugoslavia had Stanisic not been a crucial element in the CIAs plans?
How will the outcome of this case affect our sources in Afghanistan and other regions where intelligence will be crucial to victory?
I leave you with those questions to ponder. Especially considering the weak economic state of most of Eastern and Southeastern Europe, we need all the stability and intelligence we can get if something goes amiss. Like, if Serbia gets pissy enough to attack Kosovo, then Albania rides to the rescue or something like that.
Thanks for listening to the rant, and I hope you enjoyed the other articles more than you enjoyed this one.
Peace.
LA Times article by Greg Miller
A brief synapsis of this story could go like this: Stanisic worked with the CIA in order to bring a quicker end to the troubled Balkan region during Milosevic's reign. He claims to have never taken money from the CIA. The reason all of this came up? The CIA is attempting to reduce his sentence at the Hague. They submitted a dossier that shows what "help" he was, and a list of all the "good" things he did. Never mind the death squads he established, he was helping the CIA. He is currently back in Belgrade for health reasons, strange how that works.
A brief excerpt from the LAT:
"For eight years, Stanisic was the CIA's main man in Belgrade. During secret meetings in boats and safe houses along the Sava River, he shared details on the inner workings of the Milosevic regime. He provided information on the locations of NATO hostages, aided CIA operatives in their search for grave sites and helped the agency set up a network of secret bases in Bosnia."
So the question is this I guess: Did he aide the CIA and NATO enough to warrant regard in his case? Or, will this be passed over?
If it is passed over and ignored by the Tribunal, what will that mean for future CIA operations? Will the CIA lose possible contacts in the future? What would have happened in Yugoslavia had Stanisic not been a crucial element in the CIAs plans?
How will the outcome of this case affect our sources in Afghanistan and other regions where intelligence will be crucial to victory?
I leave you with those questions to ponder. Especially considering the weak economic state of most of Eastern and Southeastern Europe, we need all the stability and intelligence we can get if something goes amiss. Like, if Serbia gets pissy enough to attack Kosovo, then Albania rides to the rescue or something like that.
Thanks for listening to the rant, and I hope you enjoyed the other articles more than you enjoyed this one.
Peace.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
The case for Al-Jazeera English
Front page of Al-Jazeera English webpage:
-Fighting in Mogadishu
-Swat Taliban extends ceasefire
-Wall Street slump sparks Asia fall
-Several smaller stories, such as Us to give $900 million in aid to Gaza, N. Korea to launch satellite, etc.
Front page of CNN webpage:
-Obama speech will be sober, hopeful
-Advertisements, advertisements, advertisements
-9 year old bride walks down aisle in Texas
-Possible octuplet dad wants DNA test
If that stark comparison doesn't do it for you, compare it to other mainstream mass market news agency webpages. Here's what you are likely to find on MMMNAs: proof that people are crazy, some white girl died, Obamaobamaobama, gloom and doom about how poor off Americans are. Here's what you find on Al-Jazeera: people with real problems, information on countries that are actually struggling, a brief glimpse at the next Taliban (Mogadishu?)
For those of you that actually care about world news, the real news, not the crap CNN and other MMMNAs spoon-feed people, take a chance on Al-Jazeera. It's not Al-Qaeda for crying out loud! Not everything that sounds remotely Arabic or Middle Eastern is a terrorist. The majority of terror attacks on American soil come from crazy Americans, not crazy foreigners.
The news is not something you watch to keep yourself entertained until the next episode of "Who Wants to be a Millionare" comes on. It's a vital public service that American news agencies fail miserably at. I seriously get more enjoyment out of my local news. At least they can tell me the weather.
So, again, give Al-Jazeera English a chance.
Peace.
-Fighting in Mogadishu
-Swat Taliban extends ceasefire
-Wall Street slump sparks Asia fall
-Several smaller stories, such as Us to give $900 million in aid to Gaza, N. Korea to launch satellite, etc.
Front page of CNN webpage:
-Obama speech will be sober, hopeful
-Advertisements, advertisements, advertisements
-9 year old bride walks down aisle in Texas
-Possible octuplet dad wants DNA test
If that stark comparison doesn't do it for you, compare it to other mainstream mass market news agency webpages. Here's what you are likely to find on MMMNAs: proof that people are crazy, some white girl died, Obamaobamaobama, gloom and doom about how poor off Americans are. Here's what you find on Al-Jazeera: people with real problems, information on countries that are actually struggling, a brief glimpse at the next Taliban (Mogadishu?)
For those of you that actually care about world news, the real news, not the crap CNN and other MMMNAs spoon-feed people, take a chance on Al-Jazeera. It's not Al-Qaeda for crying out loud! Not everything that sounds remotely Arabic or Middle Eastern is a terrorist. The majority of terror attacks on American soil come from crazy Americans, not crazy foreigners.
The news is not something you watch to keep yourself entertained until the next episode of "Who Wants to be a Millionare" comes on. It's a vital public service that American news agencies fail miserably at. I seriously get more enjoyment out of my local news. At least they can tell me the weather.
So, again, give Al-Jazeera English a chance.
Peace.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
World Bank still Screwing!
BalkanInsight Article
Brief summary of the article.
The World Bank finally admitted that a project meant to safeguard Albania's coastal zones was used to selectively demolish houses in Jale, Albania. It's going to be launching an investigation into the handling of the project. An earlier investigation by the International Development Organization showed that it seemed likely that the project was being abused to develop the land into resorts. This all took place back in April 2007, and since then several families have had to struggle with displacement and homelessness.
Brief summary of my reaction to World Bank's reaction.
Um... how did this not a bigger splash? Can we get any decent coverage of events like this in the states? Not that it really matters because homelessness is becoming pretty trendy here as well. But this seems like something that should have been noticed as it was happening (back in April 2007) and at least a minor uproar heard by someone.
If VP Biden plans to make an impact in the Balkans, the first step might be to prevent the World Bank from completely screwing these people to set up resorts for rich snobs to come and enjoy the beautiful beaches.
But hey, we have Hillary Clinton as Sec of State, and we all know how much the Balkans looooove her! That whole campaign lie about bullets flying past her head, that didn't ruffle any feathers...no...
Oh right, the World Bank's statement issued on the whole thing- TA-FREAKING-DA
My reaction to that? Mostly swearing.
In it, the President of the Bank, Robert Zoellick, himself states that the handling of the situation was "appalling." You'd think the president of an organization that powerful would be able to stop this kind of crap from happening right? Then I get more ranty, because I want to know who these Presidents and CEOs and COOs are! How do such incompetent people get into places of such power. It's like giving the keys to a Bugatti to a five year old and turning them loose on the freakin' Autobahn!!!
I digress.
Peace.
Brief summary of the article.
The World Bank finally admitted that a project meant to safeguard Albania's coastal zones was used to selectively demolish houses in Jale, Albania. It's going to be launching an investigation into the handling of the project. An earlier investigation by the International Development Organization showed that it seemed likely that the project was being abused to develop the land into resorts. This all took place back in April 2007, and since then several families have had to struggle with displacement and homelessness.
Brief summary of my reaction to World Bank's reaction.
Um... how did this not a bigger splash? Can we get any decent coverage of events like this in the states? Not that it really matters because homelessness is becoming pretty trendy here as well. But this seems like something that should have been noticed as it was happening (back in April 2007) and at least a minor uproar heard by someone.
If VP Biden plans to make an impact in the Balkans, the first step might be to prevent the World Bank from completely screwing these people to set up resorts for rich snobs to come and enjoy the beautiful beaches.
But hey, we have Hillary Clinton as Sec of State, and we all know how much the Balkans looooove her! That whole campaign lie about bullets flying past her head, that didn't ruffle any feathers...no...
Oh right, the World Bank's statement issued on the whole thing- TA-FREAKING-DA
My reaction to that? Mostly swearing.
In it, the President of the Bank, Robert Zoellick, himself states that the handling of the situation was "appalling." You'd think the president of an organization that powerful would be able to stop this kind of crap from happening right? Then I get more ranty, because I want to know who these Presidents and CEOs and COOs are! How do such incompetent people get into places of such power. It's like giving the keys to a Bugatti to a five year old and turning them loose on the freakin' Autobahn!!!
I digress.
Peace.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Israeli Elections and the Future of the Peace Process
The elections are almost finished and the final votes are soon to be tallied from Israeli service personnel. There is little doubt though that Likud has won the most seats and Chairman Benjamin Netanyahu is trying to lure Kadima into a coalition. Kadima leader Tzipi Livni has thus far refused to join any coalition that would be of a far-right religious bent. Netanyahu is most likely to form just such a coalition. What would this type of government lead to in regards to peace with Palestinians and the prevention of war with Iran, along with US-Israeli relations?
That can wait. First, if Netanyahu doesn't get Kadima to join up, where does that leave Livni? She has said that she is still trying to form a coalition under her lead. At the same time she has stated that she will not give in to exorbitant demands in order to form a coalition. She has one very strong argument in regards to her leading the country.
"I can also put together a coalition that is united around the peace process. Netanyahu doesn't want that, and couldn't do it even if he did, with his right wing partners." -Livni
What she says seems true enough. It is doubtful that Netanyahu would do much for the peace process. He might also worsen relations with Iran. This at a time when US President Obama has made moves to improve relations with Iran. However, Netanyahu will be able to form a ruling coalition, and it seems unlikely that Kadima can stand against him for long. He is offering some top spots to leaders of some of the smaller parties. He is also expected to offer Livni the top position in foreign affairs and perhaps the defense position to fellow opposition member Mofaz.
So, if Livni accepts the post, she would be in a strong position with regards to foreign policy. How strong, and how far she would be allowed to carry her agenda remains to be seen. She could push a more accepting peace process, but I imagine that will be greatly hampered by Netanyahu and his probable coalition. The only thing we can do now is to wait and see, and hope for the best for the country of Israel.
Peace
Haaretz articles- Breakdown of Coalition Possibilities, Final Tally
That can wait. First, if Netanyahu doesn't get Kadima to join up, where does that leave Livni? She has said that she is still trying to form a coalition under her lead. At the same time she has stated that she will not give in to exorbitant demands in order to form a coalition. She has one very strong argument in regards to her leading the country.
"I can also put together a coalition that is united around the peace process. Netanyahu doesn't want that, and couldn't do it even if he did, with his right wing partners." -Livni
What she says seems true enough. It is doubtful that Netanyahu would do much for the peace process. He might also worsen relations with Iran. This at a time when US President Obama has made moves to improve relations with Iran. However, Netanyahu will be able to form a ruling coalition, and it seems unlikely that Kadima can stand against him for long. He is offering some top spots to leaders of some of the smaller parties. He is also expected to offer Livni the top position in foreign affairs and perhaps the defense position to fellow opposition member Mofaz.
So, if Livni accepts the post, she would be in a strong position with regards to foreign policy. How strong, and how far she would be allowed to carry her agenda remains to be seen. She could push a more accepting peace process, but I imagine that will be greatly hampered by Netanyahu and his probable coalition. The only thing we can do now is to wait and see, and hope for the best for the country of Israel.
Peace
Haaretz articles- Breakdown of Coalition Possibilities, Final Tally
Monday, February 2, 2009
America's Special Relationship with Israel
It has long been established that the United States have a special relationship with the state of Israel. How this state of affairs came into being, how it has developed after the fall of the Soviet Union, and how it continues into today's world are subject to debate. What role should the US play in Israeli affairs? How should we react to their invasion of Gaza? How do we balance their intense fear of Iran with diplomacy? But, my main question, how does this special relationship persist?
A little background on how this relationship came to exist. After World War II, the sense of guilt at allowing the Holocaust to happen sent Europe and America into a bit of a tizzy. Zionist groups took advantage of this guilt to further their ends. The history of Zionism has been pretty well covered, from the Balfour Declaration to the found of Eretz Yisrael. The war of Israeli independence, which uprooted Palestinians and caused the scorn of Arab nations to befall the small Jewish country was manipulated from the start by Britain and the US to a lesser extent.
Israel was able to fight for its very existence against it's Arab enemies. This it did admirably, creating the image of the scrappy underdog. Since then however, it has been aided greatly by the United States. Why? Israel was seen as the toehold the US had in the Middle East against Soviet encroachment. The Soviet Union was making inroads in the Northern Crescent and with Egypt, and the States needed a counterbalance. Given the long history of American's interest in Zionism and the Biblical land of the Israelites, it is no wonder that they backed the new state.
Many presidents since the founding of Israel have tried to take a firm stance against the Israeli treatment of Palestinians. Something always came up though. Be it anything from the Cold War to the Iranian hostage crisis. No one ever got around to dealing strongly with Israel. Administrations constantly had to lend aid to the country in order to maintain a strong ally in the region. This is especially true after the Iranian Revolution. Now, with the rise of Islamic fundamentalism and the spawning of terrorist groups in the area, US administrations are stuck yet again.
Will Obama be able to take a stronger line against Israel? They have a strong grip on American politics through the Jewish Lobby in the States. And we really can't be too hard on a strong ally. The situation is precarious, but something different needs to be done. Too much time has been lost already. The right of return for Palestinians is now nearly laughable. They've been gone too long for many even to acknowledge a right of return.
Baby steps. The US needs to work with Israel towards granting Gazans and West Bankers some pretty basic rights. We need to utilize our special relationship with them to get them to adhere to international law. The first step there is to adhere to it ourselves. Obama promises change in that regard, and we can hope (sorry) for the best. Still, what will make him different?
Recently, Defense Minister Ehud Barak has proposed a tunnel between the two Palestinian territories. It would be a 48 km tunnel going under the state of Israel. This can only be described as madness. How would anyone feel safe using it? Not to mention how much it degrades the humanity of Palestinians. They can come through the land that was once theirs... underground, hidden from the light of day. The Israelis would maintain sovereignty over the tunnel, but allow the Palestinians to control traffic. Thank God for that trade-off, right? This is hardly a freedom of movement proposal.
The Palestinian leadership is hardly helping things. By allowing, or ordering, rockets to be fired into Southern Israel, they are making legitimate peace talks nearly impossible. Also, they are further alienating any Western sympathizers by appearing to most as nothing less than another terrorist cell. While many can tell the difference between idiot hate-mongers (Bin Laden) and legitimate freedom fighters (no example,) Hamas blurs the line for the majority of people. Sometimes even I can't tell what side to root for.
Oh well. The most I can hope for is the literate society in America to stand up and demand that something different be done. And for the same to happen around the world. Not like these silly little protests where angsty, wanna-be revolutionaries in Che t-shirts go around throwing rocks at police officers, but a legitimate protest. Write your Congressperson. Write Obama, I understand he has a web-page for that.
Also, do not take what I say as a hatred of Israel. The country is amazing and has brought us many amazing things. It is much like a miniature United States. It is full of promise, but it runs the risk of letting its leadership squander these promises. That cannot happen. Most important, get out there and read something other than the Twilight series. Don't forgo the entertainment lit, but don't neglect the important stuff either.
Peace.
For more info:
Power, Faith and Fantasy: America in the Middle East, 1776 to the Present by Michael B. Oren
Sources in the History of the Modern Middle East compiled by Akram Fouad Khater
A History of Modern Palestine by Ilan Pappe
A History of the Modern Middle East by William Cleveland
The Super Powers and the Middle East by Alan Palmer
A little background on how this relationship came to exist. After World War II, the sense of guilt at allowing the Holocaust to happen sent Europe and America into a bit of a tizzy. Zionist groups took advantage of this guilt to further their ends. The history of Zionism has been pretty well covered, from the Balfour Declaration to the found of Eretz Yisrael. The war of Israeli independence, which uprooted Palestinians and caused the scorn of Arab nations to befall the small Jewish country was manipulated from the start by Britain and the US to a lesser extent.
Israel was able to fight for its very existence against it's Arab enemies. This it did admirably, creating the image of the scrappy underdog. Since then however, it has been aided greatly by the United States. Why? Israel was seen as the toehold the US had in the Middle East against Soviet encroachment. The Soviet Union was making inroads in the Northern Crescent and with Egypt, and the States needed a counterbalance. Given the long history of American's interest in Zionism and the Biblical land of the Israelites, it is no wonder that they backed the new state.
Many presidents since the founding of Israel have tried to take a firm stance against the Israeli treatment of Palestinians. Something always came up though. Be it anything from the Cold War to the Iranian hostage crisis. No one ever got around to dealing strongly with Israel. Administrations constantly had to lend aid to the country in order to maintain a strong ally in the region. This is especially true after the Iranian Revolution. Now, with the rise of Islamic fundamentalism and the spawning of terrorist groups in the area, US administrations are stuck yet again.
Will Obama be able to take a stronger line against Israel? They have a strong grip on American politics through the Jewish Lobby in the States. And we really can't be too hard on a strong ally. The situation is precarious, but something different needs to be done. Too much time has been lost already. The right of return for Palestinians is now nearly laughable. They've been gone too long for many even to acknowledge a right of return.
Baby steps. The US needs to work with Israel towards granting Gazans and West Bankers some pretty basic rights. We need to utilize our special relationship with them to get them to adhere to international law. The first step there is to adhere to it ourselves. Obama promises change in that regard, and we can hope (sorry) for the best. Still, what will make him different?
Recently, Defense Minister Ehud Barak has proposed a tunnel between the two Palestinian territories. It would be a 48 km tunnel going under the state of Israel. This can only be described as madness. How would anyone feel safe using it? Not to mention how much it degrades the humanity of Palestinians. They can come through the land that was once theirs... underground, hidden from the light of day. The Israelis would maintain sovereignty over the tunnel, but allow the Palestinians to control traffic. Thank God for that trade-off, right? This is hardly a freedom of movement proposal.
The Palestinian leadership is hardly helping things. By allowing, or ordering, rockets to be fired into Southern Israel, they are making legitimate peace talks nearly impossible. Also, they are further alienating any Western sympathizers by appearing to most as nothing less than another terrorist cell. While many can tell the difference between idiot hate-mongers (Bin Laden) and legitimate freedom fighters (no example,) Hamas blurs the line for the majority of people. Sometimes even I can't tell what side to root for.
Oh well. The most I can hope for is the literate society in America to stand up and demand that something different be done. And for the same to happen around the world. Not like these silly little protests where angsty, wanna-be revolutionaries in Che t-shirts go around throwing rocks at police officers, but a legitimate protest. Write your Congressperson. Write Obama, I understand he has a web-page for that.
Also, do not take what I say as a hatred of Israel. The country is amazing and has brought us many amazing things. It is much like a miniature United States. It is full of promise, but it runs the risk of letting its leadership squander these promises. That cannot happen. Most important, get out there and read something other than the Twilight series. Don't forgo the entertainment lit, but don't neglect the important stuff either.
Peace.
For more info:
Power, Faith and Fantasy: America in the Middle East, 1776 to the Present by Michael B. Oren
Sources in the History of the Modern Middle East compiled by Akram Fouad Khater
A History of Modern Palestine by Ilan Pappe
A History of the Modern Middle East by William Cleveland
The Super Powers and the Middle East by Alan Palmer
Friday, January 23, 2009
Punish Wall Street, Not Our Veterans
Early last century, our government came to the conclusion that financial institutions needed a watchdog. Thus they created the SEC. It seemed a reasonable thing to do. The SEC watched the financial industry and ensured that they played by certain rules. However, the financial industry came up with ways to skirt the SEC. We have now seen that they are not to be trusted as greed is a terrifying motivator. We need something greater than the SEC. We need to reform that entire sector of our economy.
So, after being given a few chances to reform and perhaps... do better for others, the financial institutions have proved they cannot and should not be trusted. Merrill-Lynch paid benefits early, in December, in order to avoid oversight from Bank of America. In so doing, they took some funds from American taxpayers to reward themselves for running a company into the ground. Now, Bank of America is asking for more money to right the wrongs of Merrill. And where is this money coming from? Taxpayers. Hard-working Americans that understand what it is to do real, actual work. And the government's handing cash out in the billions.
But, with the economic pinch, other areas are having to suck it up and tighten their belt. Here in Iowa, one of the departments that will struggle- Veteran Affairs. Our government is willing to give these corporate vagabonds billions despite the fact that their bank accounts are well-padded and they are doing nothing to help the average American. On the other hand, the people who have valiantly served their country in its times of need have to make do with less. That's fine though, corporate fat-cats deserve more money than those that have lost limbs for the safety and freedom of Americans. Thain should go ahead and continue buying $70,000 rugs for his office, while that would serve more than two years worth of what many of our soldiers make in salary.
So, to me, it seems that the financial sector should be nationalized. There should be solid salary caps on all executive positions. These people should not be rewarded for what amounts to little more than outright theft. Where did the money banks "made" go? Into accounts of CEOs and other such foolish people that don't understand that if they take all the money from the people who generate real income for the country, the economy collapses. So, they're doing fine, but all that money is not coming back into our economy. Take the SEC one more step and nationalize banks. It's not communism. It's not socialism. It's realism. This is the only way the people of America can be heard by the financial sector. Force them to obey the laws by taking away their power. Put people into these positions that have to answer to the public.
I may not be the most knowledgeable person when it comes to the economy and the financial sector, but I understand quite a bit about it. If you have a better idea than nationalizing banks, go ahead and provide a link to your outline. Remember, I studied History, so what I say is based on the past looking toward the future. Also, this was written hastily at work after I discovered that our veterans were going to have to take cuts because of what these @%*^ing bankers have done.
Peace.
P.S. I am currently reading The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, so I apologize if I tend to see corporate ass-bags as some kind of Dark Lord.
So, after being given a few chances to reform and perhaps... do better for others, the financial institutions have proved they cannot and should not be trusted. Merrill-Lynch paid benefits early, in December, in order to avoid oversight from Bank of America. In so doing, they took some funds from American taxpayers to reward themselves for running a company into the ground. Now, Bank of America is asking for more money to right the wrongs of Merrill. And where is this money coming from? Taxpayers. Hard-working Americans that understand what it is to do real, actual work. And the government's handing cash out in the billions.
But, with the economic pinch, other areas are having to suck it up and tighten their belt. Here in Iowa, one of the departments that will struggle- Veteran Affairs. Our government is willing to give these corporate vagabonds billions despite the fact that their bank accounts are well-padded and they are doing nothing to help the average American. On the other hand, the people who have valiantly served their country in its times of need have to make do with less. That's fine though, corporate fat-cats deserve more money than those that have lost limbs for the safety and freedom of Americans. Thain should go ahead and continue buying $70,000 rugs for his office, while that would serve more than two years worth of what many of our soldiers make in salary.
So, to me, it seems that the financial sector should be nationalized. There should be solid salary caps on all executive positions. These people should not be rewarded for what amounts to little more than outright theft. Where did the money banks "made" go? Into accounts of CEOs and other such foolish people that don't understand that if they take all the money from the people who generate real income for the country, the economy collapses. So, they're doing fine, but all that money is not coming back into our economy. Take the SEC one more step and nationalize banks. It's not communism. It's not socialism. It's realism. This is the only way the people of America can be heard by the financial sector. Force them to obey the laws by taking away their power. Put people into these positions that have to answer to the public.
I may not be the most knowledgeable person when it comes to the economy and the financial sector, but I understand quite a bit about it. If you have a better idea than nationalizing banks, go ahead and provide a link to your outline. Remember, I studied History, so what I say is based on the past looking toward the future. Also, this was written hastily at work after I discovered that our veterans were going to have to take cuts because of what these @%*^ing bankers have done.
Peace.
P.S. I am currently reading The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, so I apologize if I tend to see corporate ass-bags as some kind of Dark Lord.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
America's Special Relationship with Israel
It has long been established that the United States have a special relationship with the state of Israel. How this state of affairs came into being, how it has developed after the fall of the Soviet Union, and how it continues into today's world are subject to debate. What role should the US play in Israeli affairs? How should we react to their invasion of Gaza? How do we balance their intense fear of Iran with diplomacy? But, my main question, how does this special relationship persist?
A little background on how this relationship came to exist. After World War II, the sense of guilt at allowing the Holocaust to happen sent Europe and America into a bit of a tizzy. Zionist groups took advantage of this guilt to further their ends. The history of Zionism has been pretty well covered, from the Balfour Declaration to the found of Eretz Yisrael. The war of Israeli independence, which uprooted Palestinians and caused the scorn of Arab nations to befall the small Jewish country was manipulated from the start by Britain and the US to a lesser extent.
Israel was able to fight for its very existence against it's Arab enemies. This it did admirably, creating the image of the scrappy underdog. Since then however, it has been aided greatly by the United States. Why? Israel was seen as the toehold the US had in the Middle East against Soviet encroachment. The Soviet Union was making inroads in the Northern Crescent and with Egypt, and the States needed a counterbalance. Given the long history of American's interest in Zionism and the Biblical land of the Israelites, it is no wonder that they backed the new state.
Many presidents since the founding of Israel have tried to take a firm stance against the Israeli treatment of Palestinians. Something always came up though. Be it anything from the Cold War to the Iranian hostage crisis. No one ever got around to dealing strongly with Israel. Administrations constantly had to lend aid to the country in order to maintain a strong ally in the region. This is especially true after the Iranian Revolution. Now, with the rise of Islamic fundamentalism and the spawning of terrorist groups in the area, US administrations are stuck yet again.
Will Obama be able to take a stronger line against Israel? They have a strong grip on American politics through the Jewish Lobby in the States. And we really can't be too hard on a strong ally. The situation is precarious, but something different needs to be done. Too much time has been lost already. The right of return for Palestinians is now nearly laughable. They've been gone too long for many even to acknowledge a right of return.
Baby steps. The US needs to work with Israel towards granting Gazans and West Bankers some pretty basic rights. We need to utilize our special relationship with them to get them to adhere to international law. The first step there is to adhere to it ourselves. Obama promises change in that regard, and we can hope (sorry) for the best. Still, what will make him different?
Recently, Defense Minister Ehud Barak has proposed a tunnel between the two Palestinian territories. It would be a 48 km tunnel going under the state of Israel. This can only be described as madness. How would anyone feel safe using it? Not to mention how much it degrades the humanity of Palestinians. They can come through the land that was once theirs... underground, hidden from the light of day. The Israelis would maintain sovereignty over the tunnel, but allow the Palestinians to control traffic. Thank God for that trade-off, right? This is hardly a freedom of movement proposal.
The Palestinian leadership is hardly helping things. By allowing, or ordering, rockets to be fired into Southern Israel, they are making legitimate peace talks nearly impossible. Also, they are further alienating any Western sympathizers by appearing to most as nothing less than another terrorist cell. While many can tell the difference between idiot hate-mongers (Bin Laden) and legitimate freedom fighters (no example,) Hamas blurs the line for the majority of people. Sometimes even I can't tell what side to root for.
Oh well. The most I can hope for is the literate society in America to stand up and demand that something different be done. And for the same to happen around the world. Not like these silly little protests where angsty, wanna-be revolutionaries in Che t-shirts go around throwing rocks at police officers, but a legitimate protest. Write your Congressperson. Write Obama, I understand he has a web-page for that.
Also, do not take what I say as a hatred of Israel. The country is amazing and has brought us many amazing things. It is much like a miniature United States. It is full of promise, but it runs the risk of letting its leadership squander these promises. That cannot happen. Most important, get out there and read something other than the Twilight series. Don't forgo the entertainment lit, but don't neglect the important stuff either.
Peace.
For more info:
Power, Faith and Fantasy: America in the Middle East, 1776 to the Present by Michael B. Oren
Sources in the History of the Modern Middle East compiled by Akram Fouad Khater
A History of Modern Palestine by Ilan Pappe
A History of the Modern Middle East by William Cleveland
The Super Powers and the Middle East by Alan Palmer
A little background on how this relationship came to exist. After World War II, the sense of guilt at allowing the Holocaust to happen sent Europe and America into a bit of a tizzy. Zionist groups took advantage of this guilt to further their ends. The history of Zionism has been pretty well covered, from the Balfour Declaration to the found of Eretz Yisrael. The war of Israeli independence, which uprooted Palestinians and caused the scorn of Arab nations to befall the small Jewish country was manipulated from the start by Britain and the US to a lesser extent.
Israel was able to fight for its very existence against it's Arab enemies. This it did admirably, creating the image of the scrappy underdog. Since then however, it has been aided greatly by the United States. Why? Israel was seen as the toehold the US had in the Middle East against Soviet encroachment. The Soviet Union was making inroads in the Northern Crescent and with Egypt, and the States needed a counterbalance. Given the long history of American's interest in Zionism and the Biblical land of the Israelites, it is no wonder that they backed the new state.
Many presidents since the founding of Israel have tried to take a firm stance against the Israeli treatment of Palestinians. Something always came up though. Be it anything from the Cold War to the Iranian hostage crisis. No one ever got around to dealing strongly with Israel. Administrations constantly had to lend aid to the country in order to maintain a strong ally in the region. This is especially true after the Iranian Revolution. Now, with the rise of Islamic fundamentalism and the spawning of terrorist groups in the area, US administrations are stuck yet again.
Will Obama be able to take a stronger line against Israel? They have a strong grip on American politics through the Jewish Lobby in the States. And we really can't be too hard on a strong ally. The situation is precarious, but something different needs to be done. Too much time has been lost already. The right of return for Palestinians is now nearly laughable. They've been gone too long for many even to acknowledge a right of return.
Baby steps. The US needs to work with Israel towards granting Gazans and West Bankers some pretty basic rights. We need to utilize our special relationship with them to get them to adhere to international law. The first step there is to adhere to it ourselves. Obama promises change in that regard, and we can hope (sorry) for the best. Still, what will make him different?
Recently, Defense Minister Ehud Barak has proposed a tunnel between the two Palestinian territories. It would be a 48 km tunnel going under the state of Israel. This can only be described as madness. How would anyone feel safe using it? Not to mention how much it degrades the humanity of Palestinians. They can come through the land that was once theirs... underground, hidden from the light of day. The Israelis would maintain sovereignty over the tunnel, but allow the Palestinians to control traffic. Thank God for that trade-off, right? This is hardly a freedom of movement proposal.
The Palestinian leadership is hardly helping things. By allowing, or ordering, rockets to be fired into Southern Israel, they are making legitimate peace talks nearly impossible. Also, they are further alienating any Western sympathizers by appearing to most as nothing less than another terrorist cell. While many can tell the difference between idiot hate-mongers (Bin Laden) and legitimate freedom fighters (no example,) Hamas blurs the line for the majority of people. Sometimes even I can't tell what side to root for.
Oh well. The most I can hope for is the literate society in America to stand up and demand that something different be done. And for the same to happen around the world. Not like these silly little protests where angsty, wanna-be revolutionaries in Che t-shirts go around throwing rocks at police officers, but a legitimate protest. Write your Congressperson. Write Obama, I understand he has a web-page for that.
Also, do not take what I say as a hatred of Israel. The country is amazing and has brought us many amazing things. It is much like a miniature United States. It is full of promise, but it runs the risk of letting its leadership squander these promises. That cannot happen. Most important, get out there and read something other than the Twilight series. Don't forgo the entertainment lit, but don't neglect the important stuff either.
Peace.
For more info:
Power, Faith and Fantasy: America in the Middle East, 1776 to the Present by Michael B. Oren
Sources in the History of the Modern Middle East compiled by Akram Fouad Khater
A History of Modern Palestine by Ilan Pappe
A History of the Modern Middle East by William Cleveland
The Super Powers and the Middle East by Alan Palmer
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Hate to be a Doomsayer, but...
Seriously, can things get more screwed up? Take stock of the world around you, your car, your job (if you're lucky enough to have one of those) and all your material possessions. Go ahead, I'll wait...
Got it? Good, now imagine all of those sitting on a curb as you watch a foreclosure sign get thrown up in your yard. Imagine that sweet little ride getting repossessed. Now, you have to sleep at your friend's house and take the bus to work with all of the "crazies." Then, one day you come to find out the company you work for is struggling to get the loans it needs to survive. You'll have to go. Sorry pal. So, take stock of the world around you at this point. No job, no car, no home. Sounds pretty rough doesn't it? Well, it is. But, you just have to remember you live in America and that as bad as things get here, it's still a heckuva lot better than in a lot of places. Here are a few examples.
Gaza- Even before the recent Israeli invasion, life in Gaza was a day-to-day struggle for many people. Remember that house you lost? How would you feel if you were evicted from your country? Still, with the Israeli invasion things have managed to get worse. The use of white phosphorous devices is causing civilian casualties of a horrific nature. The searing gas travels surprisingly well in tight, over-populated spaces, leaving hundreds horribly burned. If Israel manages to destroy Hamas and come up with a better system for Gaza, this war could have a semi-happy ending. There are a lot of things that could still go awry though, such as war with Iran in the interim. In the meantime, innocent Palestinians will starve, be injured with little hope of medical care and huddle in groups in dilapidated buildings. It is largely Hamas's fault for being an unintelligent group of rocket-launching morons, and Israel has the right to destroy them. They just need to be careful.
Somalia- The Ethiopians have finally withdrawn their troops from Mogadishu. The African Union is leaving a small contingent of peace-keepers to defend against all the Islamist radical factions that are vying to fill the void. It is predicted that they will do little to halt further onslaughts of violence. On the coast, pirates are living lavishly with their stolen booty. Inside, children roam the streets with old Kalashnikovs, rocket-launchers and camouflage clothing. Civil war has torn this country apart for decades, leaving it the most war-torn country in all of Africa, which is no small recognition. The US is trying to get the UN involved more intensely, but everyone is concerned that they will be there too long if they go in now. They're basically cowards, allowing innocent civilians to die, children to be raised as outright thugs and erasing this country's future before it's written.
Balkans- Riots and protests clog the streets in several of these countries over everything from police brutality to poor governance to lack of pay for police officers. Kosovo is struggling to remain independent in an angry world. Serbia is trying to convince the world that it's people in Northern Kosovo are being mistreated. All of the Balkans are struggling with the row between Gazprom and Ukraine. Factories are shutting down, leaving many jobless. Millions are without heat. And now, the worldwide economic slowdown is starting to trickle down to this region. Even more jobs are being lost or threatened. The threat of war from Serbia is a constant threat, even though it does seem unlikely at this point. Meanwhile, these countries are expected to enact serious reforms so they may join the European Union. They are severely hobbled but expected by the EU to make record leaps and bounds. Hopefully, the Balkans don't get to hot any time soon.
Mexico- Druglords are becoming more and more of a threat and power in Mexico as more of their products are consumed at home. They have gained power as their countrymen have turned to drugs as an escape from poor conditions. Kids are growing up as drug dealers because it pays more than working in a maquiladora. Would it be greatly beneficial if the US forced companies setting up shop just across the border to follow the same rules they follow here? Maybe, or they might just move again, leaving a more severe void in the workforce. The point is, we have a third world neighbor to our South. We are still the most powerful economy on the face of the world. Do you see the paradox?
Now, go back to the beginning. Take stock of what you have around you. Even if you don't like your job, consider yourself lucky to have one. Even if your house isn't furnished like a palace, just be glad you have access to heating elements. We live in America people. Our lowest standard of living is still far and beyond other regions standards. We are lucky to have been born here. Do not squander that opportunity. And for the love of god stop watching tv and read a freakin' book!
Peace.
Got it? Good, now imagine all of those sitting on a curb as you watch a foreclosure sign get thrown up in your yard. Imagine that sweet little ride getting repossessed. Now, you have to sleep at your friend's house and take the bus to work with all of the "crazies." Then, one day you come to find out the company you work for is struggling to get the loans it needs to survive. You'll have to go. Sorry pal. So, take stock of the world around you at this point. No job, no car, no home. Sounds pretty rough doesn't it? Well, it is. But, you just have to remember you live in America and that as bad as things get here, it's still a heckuva lot better than in a lot of places. Here are a few examples.
Gaza- Even before the recent Israeli invasion, life in Gaza was a day-to-day struggle for many people. Remember that house you lost? How would you feel if you were evicted from your country? Still, with the Israeli invasion things have managed to get worse. The use of white phosphorous devices is causing civilian casualties of a horrific nature. The searing gas travels surprisingly well in tight, over-populated spaces, leaving hundreds horribly burned. If Israel manages to destroy Hamas and come up with a better system for Gaza, this war could have a semi-happy ending. There are a lot of things that could still go awry though, such as war with Iran in the interim. In the meantime, innocent Palestinians will starve, be injured with little hope of medical care and huddle in groups in dilapidated buildings. It is largely Hamas's fault for being an unintelligent group of rocket-launching morons, and Israel has the right to destroy them. They just need to be careful.
Somalia- The Ethiopians have finally withdrawn their troops from Mogadishu. The African Union is leaving a small contingent of peace-keepers to defend against all the Islamist radical factions that are vying to fill the void. It is predicted that they will do little to halt further onslaughts of violence. On the coast, pirates are living lavishly with their stolen booty. Inside, children roam the streets with old Kalashnikovs, rocket-launchers and camouflage clothing. Civil war has torn this country apart for decades, leaving it the most war-torn country in all of Africa, which is no small recognition. The US is trying to get the UN involved more intensely, but everyone is concerned that they will be there too long if they go in now. They're basically cowards, allowing innocent civilians to die, children to be raised as outright thugs and erasing this country's future before it's written.
Balkans- Riots and protests clog the streets in several of these countries over everything from police brutality to poor governance to lack of pay for police officers. Kosovo is struggling to remain independent in an angry world. Serbia is trying to convince the world that it's people in Northern Kosovo are being mistreated. All of the Balkans are struggling with the row between Gazprom and Ukraine. Factories are shutting down, leaving many jobless. Millions are without heat. And now, the worldwide economic slowdown is starting to trickle down to this region. Even more jobs are being lost or threatened. The threat of war from Serbia is a constant threat, even though it does seem unlikely at this point. Meanwhile, these countries are expected to enact serious reforms so they may join the European Union. They are severely hobbled but expected by the EU to make record leaps and bounds. Hopefully, the Balkans don't get to hot any time soon.
Mexico- Druglords are becoming more and more of a threat and power in Mexico as more of their products are consumed at home. They have gained power as their countrymen have turned to drugs as an escape from poor conditions. Kids are growing up as drug dealers because it pays more than working in a maquiladora. Would it be greatly beneficial if the US forced companies setting up shop just across the border to follow the same rules they follow here? Maybe, or they might just move again, leaving a more severe void in the workforce. The point is, we have a third world neighbor to our South. We are still the most powerful economy on the face of the world. Do you see the paradox?
Now, go back to the beginning. Take stock of what you have around you. Even if you don't like your job, consider yourself lucky to have one. Even if your house isn't furnished like a palace, just be glad you have access to heating elements. We live in America people. Our lowest standard of living is still far and beyond other regions standards. We are lucky to have been born here. Do not squander that opportunity. And for the love of god stop watching tv and read a freakin' book!
Peace.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Can the Balkans serve as view toward Europe's Future?
Southeast European Times article
The recent row between Gazprom and Ukraine has led to a debilitating lack of oil in the Balkans. It has taken on many forms, factories shutting down, schools closing, radiators in housing complexes turning off and so on. 96% of Bulgaria's oil comes from Russia. So far, they have been the worst hit. The state is shutting down without the lifeblood that pours through Ukraine from Russia. Russia supplies 25% of Europe's gas, 80% of which flows through Ukraine.
The current conflict is somewhat of an annual fixture in Eastern Europe. However, 2008 was a very complex year for the region. The Balkans gained a new state in Kosovo, new advances (and setbacks) in the FYROM name debate, riots in Greece, Bulgarian police strikes, and now this. The burgeoning states of this region are struggling to conform to the laws of the EU in order to brighten their national futures, and a simple conflict between Russia and a former satellite are turning it all to dust. Can this be a harbinger of Western Europe's future?
The oil and natural gas that come out of Russia are very crucial to the sustainability of Western Europe's standard of living. What happens if the cordial relations with Russia fall apart? People in Germany, France and other countries face a set of dire consequences. If they lose a crucial source of heating oil, who suffers? France had better not let it's society's outer fringes suffer again, lest they ignite a new set of rioting. Germany's industrial core requires vast amounts of fuel to sustain itself, despite what they have accomplished with alternative fuels. Switzerland of course derives all of it's power from hot chocolate, so they have no worries.
This is a Europe only twenty-some years removed from the most devastating non-war war humans have ever experienced. Their sworn enemies were Russia, and now they rely on that country for a large portion of their fuel. What if the pipeline through Belarus is stopped up? There goes most of Russia's oil and natural gas. Will we see BMW factories forced to close, as we have seen factories in Macedonia close? Will there be statements from the leaders of these nations stating that they only have ten days of reserve fuel, as we have seen in the Balkans?
I have long believed that the most effective barometer for Europe exists in the Balkans. Despite its reputation in the US, it serves as an insight to all of Europe's problems. There are ethnic tensions, economic woes and a precarious reliance on foreign fuels. What can we learn from the situation in the Balkans?
Reliance on foreign fuels can be debilitating. It's a lesson that should be learned by Europe and the US in kind. The world would change suddenly if the US lost its friendship with oil producers. We would no longer be concerned with our children's international educational standings, but concerned with heating their schools. The fear of our national unemployment rate hitting double digits would be but a trifle if we had no fuel for any of out factories, the unemployment rate would skyrocket.
It's a doomsday scenario that we can see being played out in the Balkans, and hopefully, we sit up and listen this time.
The recent row between Gazprom and Ukraine has led to a debilitating lack of oil in the Balkans. It has taken on many forms, factories shutting down, schools closing, radiators in housing complexes turning off and so on. 96% of Bulgaria's oil comes from Russia. So far, they have been the worst hit. The state is shutting down without the lifeblood that pours through Ukraine from Russia. Russia supplies 25% of Europe's gas, 80% of which flows through Ukraine.
The current conflict is somewhat of an annual fixture in Eastern Europe. However, 2008 was a very complex year for the region. The Balkans gained a new state in Kosovo, new advances (and setbacks) in the FYROM name debate, riots in Greece, Bulgarian police strikes, and now this. The burgeoning states of this region are struggling to conform to the laws of the EU in order to brighten their national futures, and a simple conflict between Russia and a former satellite are turning it all to dust. Can this be a harbinger of Western Europe's future?
The oil and natural gas that come out of Russia are very crucial to the sustainability of Western Europe's standard of living. What happens if the cordial relations with Russia fall apart? People in Germany, France and other countries face a set of dire consequences. If they lose a crucial source of heating oil, who suffers? France had better not let it's society's outer fringes suffer again, lest they ignite a new set of rioting. Germany's industrial core requires vast amounts of fuel to sustain itself, despite what they have accomplished with alternative fuels. Switzerland of course derives all of it's power from hot chocolate, so they have no worries.
This is a Europe only twenty-some years removed from the most devastating non-war war humans have ever experienced. Their sworn enemies were Russia, and now they rely on that country for a large portion of their fuel. What if the pipeline through Belarus is stopped up? There goes most of Russia's oil and natural gas. Will we see BMW factories forced to close, as we have seen factories in Macedonia close? Will there be statements from the leaders of these nations stating that they only have ten days of reserve fuel, as we have seen in the Balkans?
I have long believed that the most effective barometer for Europe exists in the Balkans. Despite its reputation in the US, it serves as an insight to all of Europe's problems. There are ethnic tensions, economic woes and a precarious reliance on foreign fuels. What can we learn from the situation in the Balkans?
Reliance on foreign fuels can be debilitating. It's a lesson that should be learned by Europe and the US in kind. The world would change suddenly if the US lost its friendship with oil producers. We would no longer be concerned with our children's international educational standings, but concerned with heating their schools. The fear of our national unemployment rate hitting double digits would be but a trifle if we had no fuel for any of out factories, the unemployment rate would skyrocket.
It's a doomsday scenario that we can see being played out in the Balkans, and hopefully, we sit up and listen this time.
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