From the blog of Andrew sullivan
I liked it, check it out.
January 19, 2008
January 17, 2008
Why Nothing Will Change
According to Musharraf, we are luring ourselves if we believe the next president will have a different approach to the situation in the middle East- and that, for reasons neither we or the candidates know- yet. Secret intelligence that is. Read on>>
SPIEGEL: The next US president could be a Democrat. The front-runners have
already stated they would change their political course with Pakistan. Hillary
Clinton wants to impose American controls on Pakistan's nuclear arsenal, and
Barack Obama would like to send American troops to fight extremists in your
country ...
Musharraf: ... (laughs, shakes his head) ...
SPIEGEL: ... they
also might cut back military and economic aid to Pakistan, which has amounted to
more than $10 billion since 2001. Have the Democratic front-runners contacted
you already?
Musharraf: All these politicians you have mentioned and who talk
that way do not have access to intelligence information that could provide them
with an accurate view of the situation. When these people get access to that
kind of intelligence, I am sure they will not take a different approach than
their predecessor. Why would they want to do something to destabilize us, a
nuclear power? They will not act against their own national interest.I wonder if this is bluff or pure thruth from a realistic point of view. Time will surely tell.
Lieutnant Columbo?
During her appearance on Bloomberg TV, Hillary Clinton took another stab at her main concurent for the nomination. She scrutinized the sayings of obama when he declared he wouldn't act like a "Chief Operating Officer". Sen. Clinton criticized his assertion by shouting that " it’s important that we have a president who understands that you have to run the government"
Obama said he wasn't thinking of the president's job as the guy who runs a bureucracy and Clinton seemed to disagree.
At first I was thinking, this guy just blew it. Why does he say he doesn't pay attention to details and doesn't want to be the "
Then, I listened and read what people were saying and most out there are bashing Clinton saying she is trying to see the devil in everything. They are praising Obama for his sincerity, also mentioning his success as a community organiser. When it comes down to it people see Obama as the leader and Sen. Clinton the manager.
I am not endorsing any candidate but I tought it was interesting that the popular opinion was more analytical than my own and wanted to express it.
Nonetheless, even if you think the guy is "llikeable" we must be careful in analyzing his policies and keep in mind that he is a democrat!
Today in France, Total which is one of the biggest oil firm was pronounced guilty over the spill of oil caused by the Erika in 1999. This is an important decision because it is the first time that a French court puts such a
responsibility in the hand of the affreting company. Now, with the lobbying of environmental group there is a legal framework when it comes to messingg with the environment in France. Altough you pitifully can't have a smoke in public anymore in Marseille or Lyon their gas prices are still lower than in the US!
Obama said he wasn't thinking of the president's job as the guy who runs a bureucracy and Clinton seemed to disagree.
At first I was thinking, this guy just blew it. Why does he say he doesn't pay attention to details and doesn't want to be the "
Then, I listened and read what people were saying and most out there are bashing Clinton saying she is trying to see the devil in everything. They are praising Obama for his sincerity, also mentioning his success as a community organiser. When it comes down to it people see Obama as the leader and Sen. Clinton the manager.
I am not endorsing any candidate but I tought it was interesting that the popular opinion was more analytical than my own and wanted to express it.
Nonetheless, even if you think the guy is "llikeable" we must be careful in analyzing his policies and keep in mind that he is a democrat!
Today in France, Total which is one of the biggest oil firm was pronounced guilty over the spill of oil caused by the Erika in 1999. This is an important decision because it is the first time that a French court puts such a
responsibility in the hand of the affreting company. Now, with the lobbying of environmental group there is a legal framework when it comes to messingg with the environment in France. Altough you pitifully can't have a smoke in public anymore in Marseille or Lyon their gas prices are still lower than in the US!
January 14, 2008
“Francafrique, Aid, and Neocolonialism: The smartest African dictatorial mantra”
I mentioned earlier on my disdain for aid to African countries. Here is my complete explanation to support my claim.
Francafrique was a term coined first by the “founding father” of my country, Cote d’Ivoire. The term was firstly used to denote the positive relationship between the French-colonized African countries and the French Republic. Whether the then president, Felix Houphouët-Boigny 
naively endorsed the phenomenon taking place at the moment or accurately described African affairs of the time can be the subject of much discussion.
Although Houphouët-Boigny was the creator, the individual who first took on a negative approach and aided to the connotation we currently have for the word Francafrique was Mr. François-
Xavier Verschave. Mr. Verschave was a French economist who described the Francafrique as “the secret criminality in the upper echelons of French politics and economy, where a kind of underground Republic is hidden from view”. To the point, what he meant was, French governmental executives intentionally employed the good relationship existing with the former colonies to satisfy not only the interest of their nation but also their personal interest, at the exponential detriment of Africa and in concert with its transvestite “leaders”. In his point of view, Africa was used as a cow drained of its milk while it was lured with not-so-fresh grass. Mr. Verschave made a lot of noise and won the trust and acceptance of numerous – non-thinking, externationalist – observers.
I certainly do not claim a complete French innocence – or that of other Western powers for that matter. However, Mr. Verschave was wrong, terribly wrong. He was so wrong that the repercussions of his claim may be the cause of a disaster en cours in Africa. I highly doubt the man was a malicious individual who purposely did what he did. I reverently respect his effort denouncing what is known as the Foccart Network and try to open the very-well-closed eyes of African leaders. It failed. It failed because moronic dictators are agile in evading any threat to their kingship and hegemony over their countries’ resources.
These leaders emerged victorious when talking about the concept of Francafrique. They found a way to blame colonization, western imperialism, arbitrary delimitations of frontiers, slavery, unjust economic systems, Western inferences in internal affairs recently, and everything else you might think of. Let’s face it, decades after the slave trade, decades after the colonization, we allow African despots to conceal their failures by partaking in a guilt game?
The African problem is one that involve bloodthirsty military individuals (e.g. General Samuel Doe, General Guei Robert, General Mobutu Sese Seko
, General Abacha, General Siad Barre General Moussa Traore) capturing power, indebting their countries and depositing amounts of money greater than their entire countries’ debt into Swiss bank account.
The African problem is one where promising African intellectual burgeoning with revolutionary ideas succumb to corruption after rising to power- Laurent Gbagbo? John Kufuor? Thabo M’Beki? Abdoulaye Wade?
The African problem is a problem of fleeing brains. Successful African abroad accept to be psychologically expatriated, to force a cultural adaptation in the North, live “comfortable” lives in suburban neighborhoods in Paris, London, or Washington DC. Have monetary gains taken a toll on African scruples? Have Mercedes taken a toll on African identities? Has the cold and the snow taken a toll on African consciences?
The African Problem is one where so-called presidents stand up at the United Nations tribune to beg for aid from other countries. They do so while hinting on slavery, mentioning colonization, alluding the fault to every one else but themselves who are leading– or at least are supposed to lead– their nations. It is good to keep in mind the enormous richness of the continent, mineral resources abound, natural resources are plenty, even oil; the new gold is profusely existent. The aid attributed to African countries, if taken into reasonable account would have surely sufficed to respectably straighten African economies.
The African solution is just that, an African Solution. No Westerner– or Easterner as it seems relevant now– will ever want to solve Africa’s problem; and that without involving benefits for his own country or continent. China for example, is a threat to a successful African reformation. Who do you think benefits from the crisis in Darfur? Is it Sudan for its plethora of weapons and dead bodies or China from the Sudanese oil?
The African Solution is to refuse sending aid to Africa. Encouraging private investments and entrepreneurial undertakings would produce more dividends for the continent. Donor countries must adopt a policy of rewarding democratic countries–only; an area where those countries are profoundly guilty. They must stop at once to deal with African problems in terms of nation to individual i.e. conversing with African politicians as respectable individuals who will channel benefits to their population; rather a nation to populations approach should be developed.
The African Solution is for the West to stop taking self-conscious, apologetic, culpable, and over compassionate stances when it comes to AIDS. AIDS is perhaps the most pressing danger to Africa’s renaissance. It is decimating the African Human Capital at an incontrollable velocity. Yet, all of the most affected countries do not seem to find it necessary to take critical decisions to halt the spread of the pandemic. Rather, South Africa who is one of the most–if not the most– affected African nation, decided to buy military equipments and conduct experiments. I have to
guess this endeavor was carried out in order to scare off its many inexistent enemies. Back to the point, Western corporations must stop infantilizing incompetent governments. It is not responsible to use arguments as “we are poor therefore; provide us with treatments at cost prices”. It is irresponsible for two reasons: First, treating the affected individuals when there is no cure is not a viable solution on the long term scale; rather emphasis should be on prevention and education. Second, there is an inexistent support to administer these drugs. The health care facilities need to be upgraded in order to be able to appropriately dispense the treatments.
Africa is not poor and we must remember that at all times. Culturally, colonization did not bring to Africa, virtually, any new form of modernization. Africans had democracies, parliamentary institutions and procedures, currency, markets, all according to culturally working African precepts. let’s have the courage not to be duped by obtuse, self-adulating sycophants.
“In Africa it’s the blind leading the clueless” – Dr. George B.N. Ayittey
naively endorsed the phenomenon taking place at the moment or accurately described African affairs of the time can be the subject of much discussion.Although Houphouët-Boigny was the creator, the individual who first took on a negative approach and aided to the connotation we currently have for the word Francafrique was Mr. François-
Xavier Verschave. Mr. Verschave was a French economist who described the Francafrique as “the secret criminality in the upper echelons of French politics and economy, where a kind of underground Republic is hidden from view”. To the point, what he meant was, French governmental executives intentionally employed the good relationship existing with the former colonies to satisfy not only the interest of their nation but also their personal interest, at the exponential detriment of Africa and in concert with its transvestite “leaders”. In his point of view, Africa was used as a cow drained of its milk while it was lured with not-so-fresh grass. Mr. Verschave made a lot of noise and won the trust and acceptance of numerous – non-thinking, externationalist – observers.I certainly do not claim a complete French innocence – or that of other Western powers for that matter. However, Mr. Verschave was wrong, terribly wrong. He was so wrong that the repercussions of his claim may be the cause of a disaster en cours in Africa. I highly doubt the man was a malicious individual who purposely did what he did. I reverently respect his effort denouncing what is known as the Foccart Network and try to open the very-well-closed eyes of African leaders. It failed. It failed because moronic dictators are agile in evading any threat to their kingship and hegemony over their countries’ resources.
These leaders emerged victorious when talking about the concept of Francafrique. They found a way to blame colonization, western imperialism, arbitrary delimitations of frontiers, slavery, unjust economic systems, Western inferences in internal affairs recently, and everything else you might think of. Let’s face it, decades after the slave trade, decades after the colonization, we allow African despots to conceal their failures by partaking in a guilt game?
The African problem is one that involve bloodthirsty military individuals (e.g. General Samuel Doe, General Guei Robert, General Mobutu Sese Seko
, General Abacha, General Siad Barre General Moussa Traore) capturing power, indebting their countries and depositing amounts of money greater than their entire countries’ debt into Swiss bank account.The African problem is one where promising African intellectual burgeoning with revolutionary ideas succumb to corruption after rising to power- Laurent Gbagbo? John Kufuor? Thabo M’Beki? Abdoulaye Wade?
The African problem is a problem of fleeing brains. Successful African abroad accept to be psychologically expatriated, to force a cultural adaptation in the North, live “comfortable” lives in suburban neighborhoods in Paris, London, or Washington DC. Have monetary gains taken a toll on African scruples? Have Mercedes taken a toll on African identities? Has the cold and the snow taken a toll on African consciences?
The African Problem is one where so-called presidents stand up at the United Nations tribune to beg for aid from other countries. They do so while hinting on slavery, mentioning colonization, alluding the fault to every one else but themselves who are leading– or at least are supposed to lead– their nations. It is good to keep in mind the enormous richness of the continent, mineral resources abound, natural resources are plenty, even oil; the new gold is profusely existent. The aid attributed to African countries, if taken into reasonable account would have surely sufficed to respectably straighten African economies.
The African solution is just that, an African Solution. No Westerner– or Easterner as it seems relevant now– will ever want to solve Africa’s problem; and that without involving benefits for his own country or continent. China for example, is a threat to a successful African reformation. Who do you think benefits from the crisis in Darfur? Is it Sudan for its plethora of weapons and dead bodies or China from the Sudanese oil?
The African Solution is to refuse sending aid to Africa. Encouraging private investments and entrepreneurial undertakings would produce more dividends for the continent. Donor countries must adopt a policy of rewarding democratic countries–only; an area where those countries are profoundly guilty. They must stop at once to deal with African problems in terms of nation to individual i.e. conversing with African politicians as respectable individuals who will channel benefits to their population; rather a nation to populations approach should be developed.
The African Solution is for the West to stop taking self-conscious, apologetic, culpable, and over compassionate stances when it comes to AIDS. AIDS is perhaps the most pressing danger to Africa’s renaissance. It is decimating the African Human Capital at an incontrollable velocity. Yet, all of the most affected countries do not seem to find it necessary to take critical decisions to halt the spread of the pandemic. Rather, South Africa who is one of the most–if not the most– affected African nation, decided to buy military equipments and conduct experiments. I have to
guess this endeavor was carried out in order to scare off its many inexistent enemies. Back to the point, Western corporations must stop infantilizing incompetent governments. It is not responsible to use arguments as “we are poor therefore; provide us with treatments at cost prices”. It is irresponsible for two reasons: First, treating the affected individuals when there is no cure is not a viable solution on the long term scale; rather emphasis should be on prevention and education. Second, there is an inexistent support to administer these drugs. The health care facilities need to be upgraded in order to be able to appropriately dispense the treatments.Africa is not poor and we must remember that at all times. Culturally, colonization did not bring to Africa, virtually, any new form of modernization. Africans had democracies, parliamentary institutions and procedures, currency, markets, all according to culturally working African precepts. let’s have the courage not to be duped by obtuse, self-adulating sycophants.
“In Africa it’s the blind leading the clueless” – Dr. George B.N. Ayittey
January 13, 2008
Now; You can't vote
So, after the Culinary Workers Union's endorsement of Barack obama last week, something interesting and to a certain extent predictable has occured. The Nevada State Education Association has filed suit against the state's democratic party. They claim that the installations which will allow the strip's workers to vote more easily (isn't this more democracy?)favor them at their detriment. The party rejected the accusations. The interesting thing here is that the leader of the Teacher's Union publicly endorsed Hillary Clinton. Hey, it's just a coincidence.
Madeleine Albright (surprinsingly to me) has undertaken to delineate in 10 points what the next president should do. I appreciated a couple of those advices. Especially, when she urges the next prez to distance himself from the notion of "Islamic terrorism" since, according to her, Islam does not condone terrorism. She also mentions the shame that is Guantanamo and reminds the president to bear in mind his own Humanity and thus the possibility to make mistakes. Could have been useful to Bush- I think.
Well, read it for yourself.
Madeleine Albright (surprinsingly to me) has undertaken to delineate in 10 points what the next president should do. I appreciated a couple of those advices. Especially, when she urges the next prez to distance himself from the notion of "Islamic terrorism" since, according to her, Islam does not condone terrorism. She also mentions the shame that is Guantanamo and reminds the president to bear in mind his own Humanity and thus the possibility to make mistakes. Could have been useful to Bush- I think.
Well, read it for yourself.
January 12, 2008
From Hillaryland
Blumenthal who is one Sen. Clinton's top advisers has been charged with a DUI. He said that he got lost after leaving a restaurant in Manchester. He spent about four hours at a police station before being bailed out. 
Now this was only recently reported but I am sure that the media will try to make a big deal out of it. I do not condone driving under the influence but let's not attack Clinton for what one of her (unpaid) adviser does on his "own time", if such a thing exist. we will surely witness the development of this story, but I hope they don't make it a source of political bashing.
Now this was only recently reported but I am sure that the media will try to make a big deal out of it. I do not condone driving under the influence but let's not attack Clinton for what one of her (unpaid) adviser does on his "own time", if such a thing exist. we will surely witness the development of this story, but I hope they don't make it a source of political bashing.
January 11, 2008
Thou shall not lie
My mother always told me never to lie. Even if I could be forced to confess when the time comes, I promise it won't be too bad. Well, I guess we are different and for some reasons like winning the olympics, it might be tempting.This is the story of Marion Jones. She is probably one of the most recognized athlete in the field, beside Mutola whom I worship. She already gave up her five medals and retired but now she is being sentenced to 6 months in jail for the use of steroids. She apologized. If it makes you any compassionate.
In between, the US and Germany possibly agreed to recognize Kossovo as an independent state.
The US also sent a formal complaint to Iran in regard of the naval stand off earlier this week. What good can this do? In my opinion it would only contribute to the ridicule of the US. Nothing will happen directly from this complaint. 
There is even some ambiguity concerning whether the person saying "you are going to blow up" was actually from the Iranian ships. I think Washington took it way too seriously.
Surprinsing things can happen everywhere. Even in places where the usual means suicide bombers and decapitated bodies. It snowed in Baghdad! Snow is not rare in the mountainous Kurdish region but in Baghdad that's spek-ta-ku-lar.
Taiwan = China
A Japanese firm made close to a diplomatic blunder. Their talking globe says when pointing at Taiwan: "Taiwan island_ under jurisdiction of Beijing"
I am surprised China hasn't nuked Japan yet. That is outrageous. I would if I was in charge. Maybe they were lazy today, they'll do it tomorow.
Kyrgystan: Authorities in Uzbekistan intercepted and sent back to Kyrgystan radioactive material en route for Iran. If it isn't enough of a reminder of the threat that is Iran, know that it crossed three borders undetected- or perhaps purposely ignored?
If all this leaves you a little concerned with our dear world, take a look at what a self-described national hero has to say about the US needing him. And if you're still not convinced to click here, know that it is Jimmy Carter.
And I got this off a note from this guy; Jamie Witter.
January 10, 2008
Rounding Up the World
The new Darfur force has been deployed but already warning of its shortcomings are being expressed. I think we are on the way to witness somalia over again when the International Community can not decide once for all to end a conflict, seriously.
The UN announced today its prediction that the world's economy could slow down due to the fear of recession in the U.S. Personnally I don't buy the whole recession thing. Most will disagree.
Ethnic tensions in the DR. Congo are resurfacing again and again. Now when it comes from the DR Congo, we need to pay attention. The fight between the Congolese army and the Tutsi rebels of N'Kunda could escalate rapidly.
Clara Rojas and Consuelo Gonzalez have finally been released today after the semi-failure of Chavez earlier on. Altough, we have a reason to celebrate, let's not forget the hundred remaining Farc hostages
Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan announced he will meet with French and German leaders Sarkozy and Merkel probably during the first half of 2008. They will discuss Turkey's bid to join the European Union. French and German authorities have been fervent opposants, claiming Turkey's religious discrepancy with the rest of Europe.
On the way to MI and SC John Kerry endorsed Obama. Edwards declared that he respected Kerry's choice. I predict a Obama-Edwards ticket if Hillary proves to be a tougher opponent to Obama. Also, my insiders on the campaign trail are saying that there may be a deal between the two candidates. If one was falling way behind, he would join the other in order to destroy Hillary Clinton. We'll see.
Victory for second ammendment proponents. The court of Appeal of San Francisco overturned the Gun Ban. (it's under Feinstein)
Also, tomorow it is anticipated that student of Georgia State will be allowed to carry concealed weapons on campus. Proponents argue, if you don't know whether individuals have weapons You won't try to shoot people around. I like guns, it's like a mini superpower, so for whatever reason they may advance, let me shoot first!
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