Russia's recognition of the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia is surely biggest joke in recent times.
These two states are as independent as "President" Medvedev. This is annexation by another name. The leaders of Abkhazia and South Ossetia are merely puppets, their strings being pulled by the same hands pulling Medvedev's strings.
If Russia genuinely cares for the welfare of the Abkhaz and South Ossetians, will it recognise the independence of another Muslim Caucasian people trying to free themselves from oppression: the Chechens?
Tuesday, 26 August 2008
Sunday, 24 August 2008
Monday, 18 August 2008
Old Soldiers Never Die
Pakistan is now a democracy.
Dictator Musharraf has finally gone, nine years after he stole power by staging a coup against the democratically elected government. But we mustn't become complacent. After all, old soldiers never die, they just quietly plot their next coup.
Pakistani democracy will never be safe as long as Dictator Musharraf is around. There is only option: hang him!
Dictator Musharraf has finally gone, nine years after he stole power by staging a coup against the democratically elected government. But we mustn't become complacent. After all, old soldiers never die, they just quietly plot their next coup.
Pakistani democracy will never be safe as long as Dictator Musharraf is around. There is only option: hang him!
Sunday, 17 August 2008
Hyperbole
Michael Phelps. Jeez.
It helps that he's chosen a sport that offers endless opportunities to win a medal (50m, 51m, 51.2m, 57.6m, 60.5m, 72.8m, 85.2m, 90.4m...each in four different strokes, and don't forget the relays). If he'd chosen football or tennis he'd only have a chance of winning one medal. And if he'd chosen cricket he wouldn't have any chance (the IOC doesn't consider cricket to be sport, whereas synchronised swimming is a sport).
Take him out of the hi-tech swimming pool, remove his space-age swimsuit, put him in a snug budgie smuggler and drop him in a 1970s municipal pool and you will see his true colours. Michael Phelps is not the greatest Olympian. He is merely the beneficiary of the greatest hype in recent years.
It helps that he's chosen a sport that offers endless opportunities to win a medal (50m, 51m, 51.2m, 57.6m, 60.5m, 72.8m, 85.2m, 90.4m...each in four different strokes, and don't forget the relays). If he'd chosen football or tennis he'd only have a chance of winning one medal. And if he'd chosen cricket he wouldn't have any chance (the IOC doesn't consider cricket to be sport, whereas synchronised swimming is a sport).
Take him out of the hi-tech swimming pool, remove his space-age swimsuit, put him in a snug budgie smuggler and drop him in a 1970s municipal pool and you will see his true colours. Michael Phelps is not the greatest Olympian. He is merely the beneficiary of the greatest hype in recent years.
Wednesday, 13 August 2008
Time Warp to the 1930s
Some things never change.
Czechoslovakia 1938
1. France and the Soviet Union sign separate treaties with Czechoslovakia agreeing to provide military and political assistance.
2. Authoritarian Germany stirs up a political crisis on the pretext of protecting Germans living in Czechoslovakia, the sole democracy in the region.
3. The "international community" cries foul but fails to do anything.
4. Leaders from the free world fly into the region and hail a great solution to the crisis.
5. Humiliating terms are forced upon Czechoslovakia.
6. Germany annexes the Sudetanland.
7. Over the next six months Germany and her allies quietly dismember Czechoslovakia as the "international community" turns a blind eye.
Georgia 2008
1. The USA guarantees Georgia's territorial integrity.
2. Authoritarian Russia stirs up a political crisis on the pretext of protecting Russian citizens living in Georgia, the sole democracy in the region.
3. The "international community" cries foul but fails to do anything.
4. Leaders from the free world fly into the region and hail a great solution to the crisis.
5. Humiliating terms are forced upon Georgia.
6. Russia annexes South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
7. ?
Czechoslovakia 1938
1. France and the Soviet Union sign separate treaties with Czechoslovakia agreeing to provide military and political assistance.
2. Authoritarian Germany stirs up a political crisis on the pretext of protecting Germans living in Czechoslovakia, the sole democracy in the region.
3. The "international community" cries foul but fails to do anything.
4. Leaders from the free world fly into the region and hail a great solution to the crisis.
5. Humiliating terms are forced upon Czechoslovakia.
6. Germany annexes the Sudetanland.
7. Over the next six months Germany and her allies quietly dismember Czechoslovakia as the "international community" turns a blind eye.
Georgia 2008
1. The USA guarantees Georgia's territorial integrity.
2. Authoritarian Russia stirs up a political crisis on the pretext of protecting Russian citizens living in Georgia, the sole democracy in the region.
3. The "international community" cries foul but fails to do anything.
4. Leaders from the free world fly into the region and hail a great solution to the crisis.
5. Humiliating terms are forced upon Georgia.
6. Russia annexes South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
7. ?
Friday, 8 August 2008
One World, One Dream, One Billion Hypocrites
Or should that be four billion hypocrites. This is the number of people that will allegedly put aside their principles and tune into watch the Olympics.
These people call themselves democrats and hide behind the myth that the Olympics aren't about politics. All Olympic Games are about politics. And Beijing 2008 is the most political Olympic Games ever. It is about China showing the world that it is now a superpower. It is about China intimidating its opponents, both internal and external. But above all it is about showing the power of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and its firm grip on power.
When Beijing bid for the Olympics it promised to:
"... give the media complete freedom to report when they come to China... We are confident that the Games coming to China not only promote our economy but also enhances all social conditions, including education, health and human rights."
All of these promises have been broken. If anything human rights have actually got worse in the run up to the games as the CPC tries to put on a flawless show.
The corrupt, self-serving members of the International Olympic Committee, led by the oily Jacques Rogge, may heap praise on the organisers for their preparation but this has been achieved at a great cost to many ordinary Chinese people. Millions have been forcibly evicted to make way for the Olympic venues. Luxuries such as planning law and planning appeals are unheard of in Communist China. Most have received no compensation for their loss. Meanwhile, developers and corrupt CPC officials have made a killing from the land and property they have stolen.
Hundreds of thousands have worked in slave like conditions in order to build the perfect venues. Many thousands have died. Luxuries such as health and safety are unheard of in Communist China. Meanwhile, developers and corrupt CPC officials have made a killing from the construction boom.
Many of the foreign apologists for the Games have been seduced by developments in Beijing. However, what they fail to realise is that most ordinary Chinese will not benefit from the developments nor the Games. It is the tiny elite that will benefit from the Games. They have already made a fortune from the construction of the venues. And it is they who will be spectators at the Games. Ordinary Chinese could never afford to buy tickets to any of the events.
The CPC has used the Games as pretext to crackdown on internal opposition, particularly from ethnic minorities. Uncorroborated allegations of terrorist threats and even unverified terrorist attacks have been used as an excuse to place many ethnic areas under de facto martial law. Tens of thousands have been detained without charge and foreigners have been barred from visiting these areas.
And it's not just ethnic minorities who been a victim of this crackdown. Anyone who could potentially threaten the image of the Games has been detained or removed from the area.
It is China's broken promises about the free media that have achieved most coverage internationally. Although it has lifted the ban on websites such as Amnesty International and the BBC after much international criticism, many other sites remain blocked. And the IOC is perfectly happy about this. Even the sites that been unblocked are only accessible by foreign journalists - the Chinese public are still prevented from visiting these sites.
Although the foreign media have ostensibly been given complete freedom to travel they are still banned from sensitive sites such as Tiananmen Square and are followed by the secret police wherever they go. Electronic surveillance of foreigners is the norm. But the greatest restrictions have been placed upon the Chinese media. They of course are banned from reporting about any protests or any bad news for that matter. Every day they are e-mailed by the CPC telling them what they should report.
The CPC's micro management of the Games has included some ridiculous edicts about mundane issues. The Chinese have been told how to behave in front of foreigners (don't ask them how much they earn), they have been told what not to wear (white socks and black shoes), they have even been told what they shouldn't carry on the subway (TVs and fridges)!
As the Games progress more of China's promises will unravel and blemishes will begin to appear in the flawless Games. But the hypocrites will still continue to delude themselves that the Olympics aren't about politics.
These people call themselves democrats and hide behind the myth that the Olympics aren't about politics. All Olympic Games are about politics. And Beijing 2008 is the most political Olympic Games ever. It is about China showing the world that it is now a superpower. It is about China intimidating its opponents, both internal and external. But above all it is about showing the power of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and its firm grip on power.
When Beijing bid for the Olympics it promised to:
"... give the media complete freedom to report when they come to China... We are confident that the Games coming to China not only promote our economy but also enhances all social conditions, including education, health and human rights."
All of these promises have been broken. If anything human rights have actually got worse in the run up to the games as the CPC tries to put on a flawless show.
The corrupt, self-serving members of the International Olympic Committee, led by the oily Jacques Rogge, may heap praise on the organisers for their preparation but this has been achieved at a great cost to many ordinary Chinese people. Millions have been forcibly evicted to make way for the Olympic venues. Luxuries such as planning law and planning appeals are unheard of in Communist China. Most have received no compensation for their loss. Meanwhile, developers and corrupt CPC officials have made a killing from the land and property they have stolen.
Hundreds of thousands have worked in slave like conditions in order to build the perfect venues. Many thousands have died. Luxuries such as health and safety are unheard of in Communist China. Meanwhile, developers and corrupt CPC officials have made a killing from the construction boom.
Many of the foreign apologists for the Games have been seduced by developments in Beijing. However, what they fail to realise is that most ordinary Chinese will not benefit from the developments nor the Games. It is the tiny elite that will benefit from the Games. They have already made a fortune from the construction of the venues. And it is they who will be spectators at the Games. Ordinary Chinese could never afford to buy tickets to any of the events.
The CPC has used the Games as pretext to crackdown on internal opposition, particularly from ethnic minorities. Uncorroborated allegations of terrorist threats and even unverified terrorist attacks have been used as an excuse to place many ethnic areas under de facto martial law. Tens of thousands have been detained without charge and foreigners have been barred from visiting these areas.
And it's not just ethnic minorities who been a victim of this crackdown. Anyone who could potentially threaten the image of the Games has been detained or removed from the area.
It is China's broken promises about the free media that have achieved most coverage internationally. Although it has lifted the ban on websites such as Amnesty International and the BBC after much international criticism, many other sites remain blocked. And the IOC is perfectly happy about this. Even the sites that been unblocked are only accessible by foreign journalists - the Chinese public are still prevented from visiting these sites.
Although the foreign media have ostensibly been given complete freedom to travel they are still banned from sensitive sites such as Tiananmen Square and are followed by the secret police wherever they go. Electronic surveillance of foreigners is the norm. But the greatest restrictions have been placed upon the Chinese media. They of course are banned from reporting about any protests or any bad news for that matter. Every day they are e-mailed by the CPC telling them what they should report.
The CPC's micro management of the Games has included some ridiculous edicts about mundane issues. The Chinese have been told how to behave in front of foreigners (don't ask them how much they earn), they have been told what not to wear (white socks and black shoes), they have even been told what they shouldn't carry on the subway (TVs and fridges)!
As the Games progress more of China's promises will unravel and blemishes will begin to appear in the flawless Games. But the hypocrites will still continue to delude themselves that the Olympics aren't about politics.
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