Sunday, November 07, 2004
The re-election of Israel's enemy.
Quote:
The United States has re-elected an enemy of Israel as its president. If George W. Bush's next four years in office are anything like the first four, the damage he will do Israel will be all but irreversible.
The current American leadership is incapable of separating states and their leaders. They are hostile toward Yasser Arafat, so they are hostile towards the Palestinians. They have a warm view of Ariel Sharon and by helping him they think they are helping Israel. After all, Israel is seen as monolithic entity, kind of hive mind - not in the United States only, but among it´s most fervent supporters everywhere. When you know one Israeli, you know them all, is their view. Ariel Sharon is Israel, Yasser Arafat represents the Palestinians for the Americans.
Quote:
The United States has re-elected an enemy of Israel as its president. If George W. Bush's next four years in office are anything like the first four, the damage he will do Israel will be all but irreversible.
The current American leadership is incapable of separating states and their leaders. They are hostile toward Yasser Arafat, so they are hostile towards the Palestinians. They have a warm view of Ariel Sharon and by helping him they think they are helping Israel. After all, Israel is seen as monolithic entity, kind of hive mind - not in the United States only, but among it´s most fervent supporters everywhere. When you know one Israeli, you know them all, is their view. Ariel Sharon is Israel, Yasser Arafat represents the Palestinians for the Americans.
Newest fiction from New York Times´ Thomas Friedman.
There are so many (deliberate?) mistakes that pointing out them would make the list of them as long as the column itself. As the facts don´t suit Friedman, he turns to fiction and creates very American nonsense about the all powerful Yasser Arafat, who is to be blaimed for everything. Here´s an example:
The fact that he didn't was not a mistake in judgment but an expression of character. For him, it was better to die in Paris, and have two generations of Palestinians die in exile, than be the Arab leader who officially and unambiguously agreed to share Jerusalem with the Jews.
Of course Friedman is an American, which means that his understanding of even simple facts are limited and that that doesn´t bother him, like the one that NO US-ISRAELI PROPOSITION TO THE PALESTINIANS HAS EVER INCLUDED THE RIGHT OF RETURN FOR REFUGEES. Arafat and the other Palestinian leadership on the other hand is ready to share Jerusalem, but name one current Israeli cabinet minister who is ready to share Jerusalem? Most of them are not even ready to let Arab citizens of Israel to live in West Jerusalem... And it´s truly a "classy" accusation from Friedman to accuse Arafat of not wanting to die. When the time comes, will Friedman himself rather die than to seek expert medical help? Let´s hope that he doesn´t demand from others what he wouldn´t do himself...
There are so many (deliberate?) mistakes that pointing out them would make the list of them as long as the column itself. As the facts don´t suit Friedman, he turns to fiction and creates very American nonsense about the all powerful Yasser Arafat, who is to be blaimed for everything. Here´s an example:
The fact that he didn't was not a mistake in judgment but an expression of character. For him, it was better to die in Paris, and have two generations of Palestinians die in exile, than be the Arab leader who officially and unambiguously agreed to share Jerusalem with the Jews.
Of course Friedman is an American, which means that his understanding of even simple facts are limited and that that doesn´t bother him, like the one that NO US-ISRAELI PROPOSITION TO THE PALESTINIANS HAS EVER INCLUDED THE RIGHT OF RETURN FOR REFUGEES. Arafat and the other Palestinian leadership on the other hand is ready to share Jerusalem, but name one current Israeli cabinet minister who is ready to share Jerusalem? Most of them are not even ready to let Arab citizens of Israel to live in West Jerusalem... And it´s truly a "classy" accusation from Friedman to accuse Arafat of not wanting to die. When the time comes, will Friedman himself rather die than to seek expert medical help? Let´s hope that he doesn´t demand from others what he wouldn´t do himself...
Gay community fears new era of intolerance in the Unites States.
Equality campaigners are in despair at the rise of the homophobic right.
Equality campaigners are in despair at the rise of the homophobic right.
Is George W. Bush becoming idolized by Republicans and the Christian Right in the same manner as Vladimir Putin is in Russia?
Couple of articles on Yasser Arafat:
A Thorn in Sharon's Side.
Life without Arafat.
Arafat, I wish you full recovery.
Hopefully he recovers.
One of the great problems in the question of Palestine, that especially in Israeli and the West that more or less supports Israel - even EU supports Israel, as it pays the bill of Israel´s occupation and constant attacks in the occupied areas even if under international law these things are for Israel to pay - personalities play are far larger share then they should have. US, Great Britain and Israel claim that they will not negotiate with Arafat, even if all but the most partisan commentators tell them again again that no other Palestinian leader will be ready for less favourable peace agreement. But still they don´t get it. The support that monster like Ariel Sharon enjoys among Israeli public and the Americans is not about what he does, because what has he to show for his long career except tens of thousands of dead people? No, it´s about his public personality. The Israelis think that this strongman will protect them and the Americans, ever the worshippers of men who shoot first and ask later, see in him a man who does what he things he has to do and who doesn´t care how much blood he has to shed on all sides. To him only the goal matters and this fact the Israeli public doesn´t get. They think that he cares about the lives of Israelis. But he doesn´t care. He cares for Israel, I admit that, or more to the point, he cares about the kind of Israel he wants, but he isn´t a man who ain´t ready to throw few Israelis to lions if that´s what makes his goal to become closer.
A Thorn in Sharon's Side.
Life without Arafat.
Arafat, I wish you full recovery.
Hopefully he recovers.
One of the great problems in the question of Palestine, that especially in Israeli and the West that more or less supports Israel - even EU supports Israel, as it pays the bill of Israel´s occupation and constant attacks in the occupied areas even if under international law these things are for Israel to pay - personalities play are far larger share then they should have. US, Great Britain and Israel claim that they will not negotiate with Arafat, even if all but the most partisan commentators tell them again again that no other Palestinian leader will be ready for less favourable peace agreement. But still they don´t get it. The support that monster like Ariel Sharon enjoys among Israeli public and the Americans is not about what he does, because what has he to show for his long career except tens of thousands of dead people? No, it´s about his public personality. The Israelis think that this strongman will protect them and the Americans, ever the worshippers of men who shoot first and ask later, see in him a man who does what he things he has to do and who doesn´t care how much blood he has to shed on all sides. To him only the goal matters and this fact the Israeli public doesn´t get. They think that he cares about the lives of Israelis. But he doesn´t care. He cares for Israel, I admit that, or more to the point, he cares about the kind of Israel he wants, but he isn´t a man who ain´t ready to throw few Israelis to lions if that´s what makes his goal to become closer.
Bernard Lewis Revisited.
What if Islam isn't an obstacle to democracy in the Middle East but the secret to achieving it?
Was Christianity an obstacle to democracy in Europe or the countries created by European colonialism elsewhere? No, but different Christian Churches tried to be. But then they were part of the elite and true democracy was not a goal for the traditional elites and not to the new bourgeois elite either. We have to shed this idea of democracy as some pre-determined goal towards which European history has moved. The development of modern democracy was not a certainty. Even in so-called Western Europe there were several non-democratic countries until the mid-1970s. In those that were democractic, all adult men got the right to vote usually from the 1910s to the 1930s - before that the right to vote belonged to only those who were considered wealthy enough - and women gained it usually little later. In Switzlerland, women were given right to vote in national elections in 1971 and the last canton to give women the right to vote did so only in 1987. This democratization process in Europe could have been stopped or reversed several times.
In the Muslim countries the situation is even trickier, as Islam really has far greater part in the lives of average persons than Christianity has ever had in Europe. Islam is as much a culture as it is a religion. Exaggerating, one could claim that trying to make the Arab countries democratic without taking Islam in to the equation is like trying to make the autonomous republic of Athos a democracy without taking Orthodox Christianity as integral part of the process. And in the end all these efforts towards change that are directed from outside - even if the people behind these efforts wouldn´t be ignorant and incompetent - would be futile if the populations themselves wouldn´t accept these changes. And in all human societies, outsiders even if they have good intentions, don´t have great record of persuating the natives to go with their schemes. The simple fact is that if some foreigner thinks that he knows which is best for you, your country and your religious group better than you and you countrymen and fellow worshippers, then you don´t do as he says. Nobody likes to be pushed around and told what to do.
What if Islam isn't an obstacle to democracy in the Middle East but the secret to achieving it?
Was Christianity an obstacle to democracy in Europe or the countries created by European colonialism elsewhere? No, but different Christian Churches tried to be. But then they were part of the elite and true democracy was not a goal for the traditional elites and not to the new bourgeois elite either. We have to shed this idea of democracy as some pre-determined goal towards which European history has moved. The development of modern democracy was not a certainty. Even in so-called Western Europe there were several non-democratic countries until the mid-1970s. In those that were democractic, all adult men got the right to vote usually from the 1910s to the 1930s - before that the right to vote belonged to only those who were considered wealthy enough - and women gained it usually little later. In Switzlerland, women were given right to vote in national elections in 1971 and the last canton to give women the right to vote did so only in 1987. This democratization process in Europe could have been stopped or reversed several times.
In the Muslim countries the situation is even trickier, as Islam really has far greater part in the lives of average persons than Christianity has ever had in Europe. Islam is as much a culture as it is a religion. Exaggerating, one could claim that trying to make the Arab countries democratic without taking Islam in to the equation is like trying to make the autonomous republic of Athos a democracy without taking Orthodox Christianity as integral part of the process. And in the end all these efforts towards change that are directed from outside - even if the people behind these efforts wouldn´t be ignorant and incompetent - would be futile if the populations themselves wouldn´t accept these changes. And in all human societies, outsiders even if they have good intentions, don´t have great record of persuating the natives to go with their schemes. The simple fact is that if some foreigner thinks that he knows which is best for you, your country and your religious group better than you and you countrymen and fellow worshippers, then you don´t do as he says. Nobody likes to be pushed around and told what to do.
Saturday, November 06, 2004
Time for an Israeli initiative.
Quote:
From the past, we have learned that when we get an opportunity for a major change, it usually arouses fear and trembling in the hearts of the politicians.
Instead of demonstrating courage, the tendency is to freeze everything and to wait until perhaps we receive divine confirmation for the step.
Quote:
From the past, we have learned that when we get an opportunity for a major change, it usually arouses fear and trembling in the hearts of the politicians.
Instead of demonstrating courage, the tendency is to freeze everything and to wait until perhaps we receive divine confirmation for the step.
Population boom set to stabilise at 9bn by 2300.
UN study predicts falls in fertility but greater life expectancy.
Quote:
But the report, issued by the UN's population division, gives warning that even slight variations - "as little as one-quarter of a child" - below or above this two-child norm could produce dramatic swings, resulting in world totals ranging from as little as 2.3 billion up to 36.4 billion. If fertility levels remained unchanged at today's levels, the current world population of 6.4 billion would rise to 44 billion in 2100, 244 billion in 2150 and 1.34 trillion in 2300, the UN says.
UN study predicts falls in fertility but greater life expectancy.
Quote:
But the report, issued by the UN's population division, gives warning that even slight variations - "as little as one-quarter of a child" - below or above this two-child norm could produce dramatic swings, resulting in world totals ranging from as little as 2.3 billion up to 36.4 billion. If fertility levels remained unchanged at today's levels, the current world population of 6.4 billion would rise to 44 billion in 2100, 244 billion in 2150 and 1.34 trillion in 2300, the UN says.
Friday, November 05, 2004
Four more years - but not with Powell.
CSM doesn´t mention that those who decide these things in the Republican Party want in his place a person who foremost is even more "pro-Israel" - which should be read as pro-Likud, not pro-Israel.
CSM doesn´t mention that those who decide these things in the Republican Party want in his place a person who foremost is even more "pro-Israel" - which should be read as pro-Likud, not pro-Israel.
U.S. Wants No Warming Proposal.
Administration Aims to Prevent Arctic Council Suggestions.
Quote:
The Bush administration has been working for months to keep an upcoming eight-nation report from endorsing broad policies aimed at curbing global warming, according to domestic and foreign participants, despite the group's conclusion that Arctic latitudes are facing historic increases in temperature, glacial melting and abrupt weather changes.
The Bush supporters hope an end to the world, but instead of a Godly action, the US government is going for a secular Armageddon.
Administration Aims to Prevent Arctic Council Suggestions.
Quote:
The Bush administration has been working for months to keep an upcoming eight-nation report from endorsing broad policies aimed at curbing global warming, according to domestic and foreign participants, despite the group's conclusion that Arctic latitudes are facing historic increases in temperature, glacial melting and abrupt weather changes.
The Bush supporters hope an end to the world, but instead of a Godly action, the US government is going for a secular Armageddon.
Religious right relishes chance to push agenda.
Abortion and gay marriage to be targeted as moral crusaders demand election payback.
The United Fundamentalist States of America.
Abortion and gay marriage to be targeted as moral crusaders demand election payback.
The United Fundamentalist States of America.
Indonesian Supreme Court saves another war criminal from jail.
The Indonesian judicial system encourages war crimes and terrorism. Every Indonesian accused of crimes in East Timor has either walked free or given a tiny sentence, like those who lead the murders of UN employees in West Timor. Also many of those accused of terrorism have been given light sentences by the Indonesian courts.
The Indonesian judicial system encourages war crimes and terrorism. Every Indonesian accused of crimes in East Timor has either walked free or given a tiny sentence, like those who lead the murders of UN employees in West Timor. Also many of those accused of terrorism have been given light sentences by the Indonesian courts.
A tragedy and an opportunity.
Quote:
Many Palestinians are convinced that Ariel Sharon, the implacable opponent with whom he had first duelled in exile in Lebanon, had a hand in Arafat's collapse. They remember Sharon's statement earlier this year that he no longer felt bound by his promise "not to harm" Arafat. In a cunningly vague article in the Jerusalem Post his confidant, Uri Dan, yesterday hinted that Sharon "eliminated" Arafat via one of his chefs. So it is not surprising that rumours are swirling that Arafat was surreptitiously poisoned or infected.
I don´t think that if person A claims that person B has poisoned person C with the help of person D this claim is then "cunning". It´s just a claim of a murder conspiracy. There´s nothing cunning about it.
Even this claim could well lead to loss of lives on both sides and imagine what would happen if Jasser Arafat would die and an autopsy would confirm that he would be poisoned? Murder would be madness - but madness that typical of the Israeli leadership - and claiming to have tried to murder Arafat when that wouldn´t be the case is also madness. These Israeli Jews are crazy bastards.
Well, it´s their own grave they are digging - and Israel´s. If they think that they can win, that they don´t have to give up the lands that they have occupied since 1967 they are truly wrong and make it certain that it´s Israel which has no future. Of course the West is largely to blame. By letting Israel to get away with anything it does they have made the Israeli leadership to believe themselves to be invincible.
Quote:
Many Palestinians are convinced that Ariel Sharon, the implacable opponent with whom he had first duelled in exile in Lebanon, had a hand in Arafat's collapse. They remember Sharon's statement earlier this year that he no longer felt bound by his promise "not to harm" Arafat. In a cunningly vague article in the Jerusalem Post his confidant, Uri Dan, yesterday hinted that Sharon "eliminated" Arafat via one of his chefs. So it is not surprising that rumours are swirling that Arafat was surreptitiously poisoned or infected.
I don´t think that if person A claims that person B has poisoned person C with the help of person D this claim is then "cunning". It´s just a claim of a murder conspiracy. There´s nothing cunning about it.
Even this claim could well lead to loss of lives on both sides and imagine what would happen if Jasser Arafat would die and an autopsy would confirm that he would be poisoned? Murder would be madness - but madness that typical of the Israeli leadership - and claiming to have tried to murder Arafat when that wouldn´t be the case is also madness. These Israeli Jews are crazy bastards.
Well, it´s their own grave they are digging - and Israel´s. If they think that they can win, that they don´t have to give up the lands that they have occupied since 1967 they are truly wrong and make it certain that it´s Israel which has no future. Of course the West is largely to blame. By letting Israel to get away with anything it does they have made the Israeli leadership to believe themselves to be invincible.
Thursday, November 04, 2004
Missing evidence could foil Saddam prosecution, claims report. More.
If we would be talking of a true trial, where Saddam Hussein and other leaders of the former Iraqi regime would have the chance to walk from the court room as free men, it would be so. But that most likely is not the case. He and the other leaders will be found guilty, even if the evidence would be far from certain. That´s probably one of the reasons why the occupiers have been less than eager to carry out large scale forensic studies of the mass graves - they don´t have to, as long as they and their collaborators control the courts. This is a sad thing, because producing hard evidence against the former Iraqi leadership wouldn´t have been the most difficult of things to do and would have made it less likely that they would be seen as martyrs. If things go as bad in Iraq next year as many analysis predict, then the Sunnis may flock to follow the memory of the martyred leaders of the Baath party. If the trials against them are to be seen as show trials, then that makes it likelier.
If we would be talking of a true trial, where Saddam Hussein and other leaders of the former Iraqi regime would have the chance to walk from the court room as free men, it would be so. But that most likely is not the case. He and the other leaders will be found guilty, even if the evidence would be far from certain. That´s probably one of the reasons why the occupiers have been less than eager to carry out large scale forensic studies of the mass graves - they don´t have to, as long as they and their collaborators control the courts. This is a sad thing, because producing hard evidence against the former Iraqi leadership wouldn´t have been the most difficult of things to do and would have made it less likely that they would be seen as martyrs. If things go as bad in Iraq next year as many analysis predict, then the Sunnis may flock to follow the memory of the martyred leaders of the Baath party. If the trials against them are to be seen as show trials, then that makes it likelier.
Nobel peace prize winning Medecins Sans Frontieres -organization withdraws from Iraq, from which Tony Blair today got bad news that probably spoiled large part of the joy he felt for the victory of the faux-Texan chimp. Already the Scots were claiming that the sending of the Black Watch regiment and the proposition of sending in it´s place later two more Scottish regiments are a betrayal of the regiments and their soldiers, if not of the whole of Scotland. Some more nationalistic Scots have been dreaming aloud that in the future the Scottish parlament could decide of the sending of Scottish troops to foreign wars.
Rising crisis over Arafat health. More.
BBC is wrong to claim that there are no "clear succession". If the president dies, the speaker of the parlament becomes the acting president for two months, if I remember correctly, during which time presidential elections will be held. The problem is of course that Israel will try to sabotage them in the East Jerusalem. Palestinians can´t give up in this, as it would mean losing East Jerusalem and probably violence would flare up in the West Bank as worse as it has been in Gaza, where most of the 165 Palestinians that Israel murdered last month died.
Imagine the amount of whining and crocodile tears in the West if 165 Israeli Jews would have died in a single month killed by Palestinians... The lives of Jews are more important than the lives of Arabs because Germans and their collaborators committed a genocide against the Jews 60 years ago. There´s probably some great inscight in to the human nature here, but I think that I rather let the facts to speak for themselves.
BBC is wrong to claim that there are no "clear succession". If the president dies, the speaker of the parlament becomes the acting president for two months, if I remember correctly, during which time presidential elections will be held. The problem is of course that Israel will try to sabotage them in the East Jerusalem. Palestinians can´t give up in this, as it would mean losing East Jerusalem and probably violence would flare up in the West Bank as worse as it has been in Gaza, where most of the 165 Palestinians that Israel murdered last month died.
Imagine the amount of whining and crocodile tears in the West if 165 Israeli Jews would have died in a single month killed by Palestinians... The lives of Jews are more important than the lives of Arabs because Germans and their collaborators committed a genocide against the Jews 60 years ago. There´s probably some great inscight in to the human nature here, but I think that I rather let the facts to speak for themselves.
Antarctic food web under pressure.
Quote:
Since the 1970s, numbers of the shrimp-like creatures have fallen by 80% in waters near the Antarctic Peninsula, UK scientists tell Nature magazine. The crustacean feeds on algae under the ice so the fall may be linked to recent warming that has reduced sea-ice cover. The change could have a big impact on the whole Southern Ocean food web. "Krill are a central species [to this] web; they are a major food item for species such as penguins, seals, albatrosses and whales," Dr Angus Atkinson, from British Antarctic Survey, told BBC News.
Quote:
Since the 1970s, numbers of the shrimp-like creatures have fallen by 80% in waters near the Antarctic Peninsula, UK scientists tell Nature magazine. The crustacean feeds on algae under the ice so the fall may be linked to recent warming that has reduced sea-ice cover. The change could have a big impact on the whole Southern Ocean food web. "Krill are a central species [to this] web; they are a major food item for species such as penguins, seals, albatrosses and whales," Dr Angus Atkinson, from British Antarctic Survey, told BBC News.
What more there is to say about the US presidential election?
Not much anymore. Well, the collapse of the Democratic Party was quite humiliating for themselves and pretty painful to watch as they didn´t fight, their spine just snapped and they surrendered. Pretty much like Karl Rove´s Norwegians in 1814. Coward Kerry and his Wimp Party betrayed their voters. Before the elections they said that Al Gore gave up too easily, but now they lasted less than a day.
The claims that I have heard and read about how counting every vote in Ohio and checking the legitimacy of every vote would be too much and practically impossible are odd coming from a country that claims itself to be democratic - and not just that, the most democratic country in the world. Odd is also the fact that Bush claimed himself winner as millions of votes were uncounted, and then the hapless Democrats, who had in the presidential election one chance to salvage something from the election disaster gave up as even this simple psychological game was too much for them. After this, they shouldn´t except much from the voters in the future. If they would have fought they could have salvaged at least their reputation, but they didn´t. I wouldn´t be surprised if there would be a split in the party or that they would lose part of their voters to independents in the future elections.
Not much anymore. Well, the collapse of the Democratic Party was quite humiliating for themselves and pretty painful to watch as they didn´t fight, their spine just snapped and they surrendered. Pretty much like Karl Rove´s Norwegians in 1814. Coward Kerry and his Wimp Party betrayed their voters. Before the elections they said that Al Gore gave up too easily, but now they lasted less than a day.
The claims that I have heard and read about how counting every vote in Ohio and checking the legitimacy of every vote would be too much and practically impossible are odd coming from a country that claims itself to be democratic - and not just that, the most democratic country in the world. Odd is also the fact that Bush claimed himself winner as millions of votes were uncounted, and then the hapless Democrats, who had in the presidential election one chance to salvage something from the election disaster gave up as even this simple psychological game was too much for them. After this, they shouldn´t except much from the voters in the future. If they would have fought they could have salvaged at least their reputation, but they didn´t. I wouldn´t be surprised if there would be a split in the party or that they would lose part of their voters to independents in the future elections.
Wednesday, November 03, 2004
Supporters of manned space exploration in the US have been hoping for Bush to win because of his support for eventual manned space mission to Mars etc, but Bush is handling the US economy badly - huge deficit, evergrowing debt of federal state and individuals - and when one also takes in the equation the rising of the US Medicare and pension costs as the baby boomers retire and the unwilligness of the US political leaders to raise taxes to pay for these - it´s pretty certain that US doesn´t have the money to enlargened publicly funded manned space exploration.
Allawi tells to "prepare for civilian losses" in Fallulah.
I don´t where I dead read it, but a one commentator claimed that Allawi can only make himself hated, not feared, by an American planned and led attack and conquest of Fallulah. If he´s not in charge, if the soldiers are mostly foreign and in a foreign command, he´s not even a cruel tyrant to be feared, he´s just a foreign puppet to be eliminated.
I don´t where I dead read it, but a one commentator claimed that Allawi can only make himself hated, not feared, by an American planned and led attack and conquest of Fallulah. If he´s not in charge, if the soldiers are mostly foreign and in a foreign command, he´s not even a cruel tyrant to be feared, he´s just a foreign puppet to be eliminated.
The only comfort for the Democrats is that the Republicans are "Old People´s Party", but as younger Americans don´t bother to vote, that ain´t much of a consolation. But it gives an idea why the Republicans are not bothered so much by the Iraq war; if you are in your late middle-age or a pensioner, there´s a pretty low probablity of finding yourself to be given a rifle and put on a airplane to Iraq.
Maybe a quarter million votes are uncounted in Ohio, but that hasn´t stopped the White House from declaring Bush winner. That´s democracy - in the American style. If Kerry would now get ahead in Ohio, Bush supportes would cry that he steal the election, them not caring that all the votes are not counted. They have this habit of believing in victory at all means, whatever the cost.
It seems that there were four reasons why Kerry didn´t win Ohio:1)The younger people voted less eagerly than the elderly Bush lovers. 2)33% of Ohio voters consider themselves to be "born again Christian" fundamentalists, comrades in arms of Bush (which probably makes them feel really good in the shadow of abandoned factories). 3)Ohio voters don´t like gays having marriage rights. 4)The people of Ohio are really scared about terrorists and believe that the chimp will protect them, even if the only terrorists in Ohio have been of the homegrown variety, ideologically not faraway from the chimp.
Another yankee has bitten the dust in Iraq. About 1124 Yankee soldiers have now died during the crusade against Iraq. The number of Yankee civilians who have died is not at all clear, especially the number of dead mercenaries, but it´s something like 50.
It seems that there were four reasons why Kerry didn´t win Ohio:1)The younger people voted less eagerly than the elderly Bush lovers. 2)33% of Ohio voters consider themselves to be "born again Christian" fundamentalists, comrades in arms of Bush (which probably makes them feel really good in the shadow of abandoned factories). 3)Ohio voters don´t like gays having marriage rights. 4)The people of Ohio are really scared about terrorists and believe that the chimp will protect them, even if the only terrorists in Ohio have been of the homegrown variety, ideologically not faraway from the chimp.
Another yankee has bitten the dust in Iraq. About 1124 Yankee soldiers have now died during the crusade against Iraq. The number of Yankee civilians who have died is not at all clear, especially the number of dead mercenaries, but it´s something like 50.
Bush supporters have declared him president for the next 4 years, but it will probably need the US Supreme Court´s intervention to give the presidency.
Bush has got 254 electoral votes, Kerry 252. Post votes etc will probably give New Mexico and Iowa to Kerry, bringing him up to 264. The little chance that the progressives have is that the about 200 000 provisional, postal and oversees ballots in Ohio that haven´t been counted yet will bring the state to him. The Republicans - the mean, intentionally fact distorting bastards that they are - would probably cry foul if that would happen. Recount would probably help Kerry, but the family friends of the Bush dynasty in the US Supreme Court would probably be quick to stop that.
Even darker times are ahead. If it be just about the US, for all I care they could elect a mentally retarded Christian fundamentalist on a mission from God as their president, but we don´t need another Iraq, four more years of "elephant in the porcelain shop" antics from the US in international politics, we don´t need George W. Bush muttering his stupidities, believing himself to be a puppet of God.
What the world needs now is a Lee Harvey Oswald. And then another, to give Penis Cheney what he justly deserves.
Bush has got 254 electoral votes, Kerry 252. Post votes etc will probably give New Mexico and Iowa to Kerry, bringing him up to 264. The little chance that the progressives have is that the about 200 000 provisional, postal and oversees ballots in Ohio that haven´t been counted yet will bring the state to him. The Republicans - the mean, intentionally fact distorting bastards that they are - would probably cry foul if that would happen. Recount would probably help Kerry, but the family friends of the Bush dynasty in the US Supreme Court would probably be quick to stop that.
Even darker times are ahead. If it be just about the US, for all I care they could elect a mentally retarded Christian fundamentalist on a mission from God as their president, but we don´t need another Iraq, four more years of "elephant in the porcelain shop" antics from the US in international politics, we don´t need George W. Bush muttering his stupidities, believing himself to be a puppet of God.
What the world needs now is a Lee Harvey Oswald. And then another, to give Penis Cheney what he justly deserves.
Democratic party doesn´t really exist in the federal level at least for the next two years in the US. The Republicans control the White House, the House of Representatives and the Senate. One American myth that failed now (again) is the one which claims that the American voters "balance" their vote, for example voting a Democrat as a President and Republican for the Senate, and thus make sure that one party doesn´t get too much power.
If Kerry could get closer in Ohio, things would be frozen for 10 days. The Ohio provisitional ballots are not counted until the 12th day of this month.
Chimp leads with 97 000 votes in Ohio. There should be almost as much absentee ballots or so, so it could take a long time before Bush takes Ohio, as he will at some point do; with the help of his family friends in the US judicial system, if nothing else doesn´t give him victory first.
Theoretically Florida could still go for Kerry. Theoretically.
Chimp´s lead has increased again, now to 103 000.
Theoretically Florida could still go for Kerry. Theoretically.
Chimp´s lead has increased again, now to 103 000.
Turnout is excepted to be about 121 million voters - 15 million bigger than in 2000(but then there are several more million people living in the US now than four years ago).
US elections are only for old folk it seems. The percentage of 18-44 year old Americans who voted in these elections so far is lower than in 2000.
Good omen for the future of American democracy. Or should that be American gerontocracy?
Good omen for the future of American democracy. Or should that be American gerontocracy?
Democrats lose seats in the US senate.
There simply doesn´t seem to be any way for the Democrats anymore to win anything in the US. From two party system to one party system.
There simply doesn´t seem to be any way for the Democrats anymore to win anything in the US. From two party system to one party system.
And now according to a Florida official, the result from Florida will not be ready until tomorrow. Hundreds of thousands of absentee ballots have to be counted and that will strech things. Still, the chimp leads with 299 000 votes when 94% of precincts are counted.
Ohio seems to be a something of a mess.
One thing that people should remember is, that one should vote early if they can.
CNN chimp 193, Kerry 133. ABC chimp 195, Kerry 112. CBS chimp 196, Kerry 133.
One thing that people should remember is, that one should vote early if they can.
CNN chimp 193, Kerry 133. ABC chimp 195, Kerry 112. CBS chimp 196, Kerry 133.
According to CNN, it´s now chimp 155, Kerry 112. ABC says the same, CBS is still stuck with chimp 108, Kerry 77.
Climate gas cuts 'are affordable'
The world can ward off a dangerous rise in temperature much more cheaply than many people think, a UK scientist says.
The world can ward off a dangerous rise in temperature much more cheaply than many people think, a UK scientist says.
Tuesday, November 02, 2004
Arctic heads into warmer future
The Arctic is undergoing rapid and possibly irreversible change, according to a new report prepared for the eight nations which rim the region.
The Arctic is undergoing rapid and possibly irreversible change, according to a new report prepared for the eight nations which rim the region.
Monday, November 01, 2004
The rebel
The political right and left have been fighting for Albert Camus' legacy, but Europe's most influential literary export remains stubbornly elusive.
Quote:
Indeed they do not, as so many French, English and American intellectuals discovered when the Algerian nationalist group they endorsed proved to be as brutal and despotic as any fascist engine
Any fascist regime? As bad as Nazi Germany, which caused a war where at least 50 million people died? As bad as fascist Italy, which attacked and occupied Ethiopia in 1935-36, Albania in 1939 and Greece in 1941? As bad as Franco´s Spain? As bad as Portugal´s fascist regime(up to 1974), which not only oppressed it´s own populace, but millions of people in Africa too?
Let´s not be naive. The Algerian state that formed after 1962 wasn´t ruled by great humanists, but it wasn´t worse than many other countries of the time, counting both newly independent and established states; the Algeria of the 1990s was still in the future with it´s maybe 150 000 victims of the civil war.
And what comes to Albert Camus, it´s false to claim that he wouldn´t have endorsed the Algerian war of independence because of some great revelation to the nature of the FNL and it´s leaders. He clearly says in his own writings enough times that he doesn´t support the Algerian independence movement because the French settlers, the blackfoots, were his people, and even if the opposition of the French settlers to any kind of compromise prior to the start of the rebellion in 1954 - like giving the native Algerians right to vote - was the reason of the bloodshed, he still wanted to give them as large a part in Algeria as possible. To Camus, blood was thicker than his principles. What should be done to native Arabs and Berbers was never certain him, and he really didn´t have much interest on them, at least based on his writings. He truly was a child of the European Mediterranean, not the southern part of the Mediterranean and certainly not Africa. He didn´t want the native Algerians to be oppressed forever, but he wasn´t ready to give them what they wanted, as he knew that the French Algeria was founded on the basis of military occupation. The world of his childhood and adolescence would be gone if the majority of the people living in Algeria could chose what road the country would take in the future.
That after 1962 thing went as they went is no reason to claim that Albert Camus was right when it came to Algeria. There was no way that Algeria could have stayd under French rule and the million French settlers could have continue to rule the country. The chance of any reconciliation between them and the native Algerians was gone by 1954, and Camus just couldn´t accept the truth when it was bad for the people he considered his own.
The political right and left have been fighting for Albert Camus' legacy, but Europe's most influential literary export remains stubbornly elusive.
Quote:
Indeed they do not, as so many French, English and American intellectuals discovered when the Algerian nationalist group they endorsed proved to be as brutal and despotic as any fascist engine
Any fascist regime? As bad as Nazi Germany, which caused a war where at least 50 million people died? As bad as fascist Italy, which attacked and occupied Ethiopia in 1935-36, Albania in 1939 and Greece in 1941? As bad as Franco´s Spain? As bad as Portugal´s fascist regime(up to 1974), which not only oppressed it´s own populace, but millions of people in Africa too?
Let´s not be naive. The Algerian state that formed after 1962 wasn´t ruled by great humanists, but it wasn´t worse than many other countries of the time, counting both newly independent and established states; the Algeria of the 1990s was still in the future with it´s maybe 150 000 victims of the civil war.
And what comes to Albert Camus, it´s false to claim that he wouldn´t have endorsed the Algerian war of independence because of some great revelation to the nature of the FNL and it´s leaders. He clearly says in his own writings enough times that he doesn´t support the Algerian independence movement because the French settlers, the blackfoots, were his people, and even if the opposition of the French settlers to any kind of compromise prior to the start of the rebellion in 1954 - like giving the native Algerians right to vote - was the reason of the bloodshed, he still wanted to give them as large a part in Algeria as possible. To Camus, blood was thicker than his principles. What should be done to native Arabs and Berbers was never certain him, and he really didn´t have much interest on them, at least based on his writings. He truly was a child of the European Mediterranean, not the southern part of the Mediterranean and certainly not Africa. He didn´t want the native Algerians to be oppressed forever, but he wasn´t ready to give them what they wanted, as he knew that the French Algeria was founded on the basis of military occupation. The world of his childhood and adolescence would be gone if the majority of the people living in Algeria could chose what road the country would take in the future.
That after 1962 thing went as they went is no reason to claim that Albert Camus was right when it came to Algeria. There was no way that Algeria could have stayd under French rule and the million French settlers could have continue to rule the country. The chance of any reconciliation between them and the native Algerians was gone by 1954, and Camus just couldn´t accept the truth when it was bad for the people he considered his own.
I take the same kind of view of the Palestinian attacks against the occupiers as the West takes of Israel´s constant attacks against the Palestinians. I don´t condemn Palestinian attacks but just hope that they wouldn´t use disproportionate violence against Israel.
It´s always a sad to see how western leaders declare that a occupying force has a right to defend itself against those that it´s enslaving, whereas when the victims attack their oppressors, then these same brace voices of the West come to declare their utter shock and to pronounce that they condemn the Palestinian acts of self-defense.
And if you wail about blowing a bomb on a market, then you should wail when the Israelis machine-gun the Khan Younis school etc. But usually to these people, "it´s a different thing". And bluntly, when a citizen of an occupying, brutal state dies, it´s a different thing to me too. I can´t feel as much compassion towards them than towards the victims of their country. And if you find this odd, try to feel as much compassion towards the German civilian victims of the II World War as you feel towards the people the German state murdered (of course, supposing that you feel compassion in the first place). If you can, you are a true saint.
It´s always a sad to see how western leaders declare that a occupying force has a right to defend itself against those that it´s enslaving, whereas when the victims attack their oppressors, then these same brace voices of the West come to declare their utter shock and to pronounce that they condemn the Palestinian acts of self-defense.
And if you wail about blowing a bomb on a market, then you should wail when the Israelis machine-gun the Khan Younis school etc. But usually to these people, "it´s a different thing". And bluntly, when a citizen of an occupying, brutal state dies, it´s a different thing to me too. I can´t feel as much compassion towards them than towards the victims of their country. And if you find this odd, try to feel as much compassion towards the German civilian victims of the II World War as you feel towards the people the German state murdered (of course, supposing that you feel compassion in the first place). If you can, you are a true saint.
Deadly Embrace
Quote:
Suicide bombing kills far fewer people than conventional warfare; the reactions it provokes must, therefore, reside somewhere other than in the number of the dead... The horror would appear to be associated with the fact that the attacker also dies. Dropping cluster bombs from the air is not only less repugnant: it is somehow deemed, by Western leaders at least, to be morally superior.
It´s a curious thing how the same people who claim that suicide bombers can´t be understood or they actions accepted can themselves admire people who for example commit suicide by burning themselves in a public place as a protest. Horrible way to die too. And if somebody claim that the difference is in it that the suicide bomber kills others than himself too, then certainly we should condemn every soldier who has ever died in a war.
I personally can´t understand why somebody can accept for example the actions of a fighter pilot or an artillery officer - in the Iraq war, 95% of civilian casualties caused by the US and it´s vassal states have been caused by air strikes and artillery bombardments - and not accept the actions of a suicide bomber. Simply put it, they are hypocrites. Anyway, suicide bombing is not really the result of anything else than lack of alternative ways to wage war. If some side has attack helicopters, jet fighters and cruise missiles, they don´t have to use suicide bombers (or non-suicide bombs of the "amateur" variety). But if they don´t have, then they use what they have. Sometimes that may not be more than human beings and crude explosives.
So, if the Palestinians would have the same kind of weapons that Israel has, then instead of this latest suicide bombing they could have used more "acceptable" way to attack their occupiers - and kill far more people.
Quote:
Suicide bombing kills far fewer people than conventional warfare; the reactions it provokes must, therefore, reside somewhere other than in the number of the dead... The horror would appear to be associated with the fact that the attacker also dies. Dropping cluster bombs from the air is not only less repugnant: it is somehow deemed, by Western leaders at least, to be morally superior.
It´s a curious thing how the same people who claim that suicide bombers can´t be understood or they actions accepted can themselves admire people who for example commit suicide by burning themselves in a public place as a protest. Horrible way to die too. And if somebody claim that the difference is in it that the suicide bomber kills others than himself too, then certainly we should condemn every soldier who has ever died in a war.
I personally can´t understand why somebody can accept for example the actions of a fighter pilot or an artillery officer - in the Iraq war, 95% of civilian casualties caused by the US and it´s vassal states have been caused by air strikes and artillery bombardments - and not accept the actions of a suicide bomber. Simply put it, they are hypocrites. Anyway, suicide bombing is not really the result of anything else than lack of alternative ways to wage war. If some side has attack helicopters, jet fighters and cruise missiles, they don´t have to use suicide bombers (or non-suicide bombs of the "amateur" variety). But if they don´t have, then they use what they have. Sometimes that may not be more than human beings and crude explosives.
So, if the Palestinians would have the same kind of weapons that Israel has, then instead of this latest suicide bombing they could have used more "acceptable" way to attack their occupiers - and kill far more people.
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