There is a Minister of our British government called Alistair Darling; he is the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Remember the name, I don’t believe he will be in his job much longer. He said about the people of the UK, “The people are pissed off with us!” He said about the economy, that Britain was facing “arguably the worst” slump in 60 years. The Treasury spin-doctors immediately claimed that he had been misrepresented, so Darling took to the airwaves to clarify his remarks.
But rather than easing the mind of voters, the chancellor compounded the crisis he had created by restating and reinforcing his dire assessment. Darling, mega idiot that he undoubtedly is, insisted that it was his duty to be “straight” with people. He went on to warn that the slump now really beginning to bite, will be “more profound and long-lasting than people thought” could not comes at a worse moment for his neighbor in Number 10 Downing Street, Prime Minister, Gordon Brown as he struggles to shore up his leadership.
The government was plunged into turmoil yesterday as the chancellor admitted the full scale of Britain’s economic crisis.
Downing Street and the Treasury launched a despairing exercise to limit the damage after the disastrous interview with Darling. Their idea of forcing the Chancellor to do a quick television interview with prepared sound bites direct from the Prime Minister was not the best they’ve ever had.
Hazel Blears, the communities’ secretary, moved to reassure voters, saying: “We know things are tough and understand that people are worried and anxious. But Britain’s economy is fundamentally strong.” Sadly for the government no one believes them anymore, least of all Hazel Blears.
It is clear that the Labour Party’s MPs and activists were shocked, angry and mystified. Mark Todd, a Labour member of the Commons Treasury committee, said: “I must admit that by my own measurement this would be an exaggeration. The economy appears to be surviving rather better than he suggests. I was surprised by his language.”
The comments overshadow the measures to help first-time house buyers and those facing repossession that Brown is still expected to announce later this week. Perhaps it’s Darling’s petulance with such Brown originated plans into what he considers his own financial territory that caused Darling to raise his head above the parapet. Who could blame him after the 10% tax rate fiasco that Brown forced onto the Treasury department that the government then had to cancel.
All of which heats the bonfire burning under the dying embers of this government. Darling is patently suggesting that cabinet rivals are “actively trying” to do his job. This is all seen in the corridors of power in Westminster as an almost overt attack on Ed Balls, Brown’s closest political acolyte, who is assumed to be measuring up 11 Downing Street, the Chancellor’s official residence, for his own. If he’s at all competent, let alone brilliant like the current situation demands, then we should all hope his moving truck is already on route.
Many political insiders including some Labour MPs now openly question the chancellor’s judgment, while others label his comments “astonishing” and accused him of ruining attempts to turn around Labour’s current poll ratings, which are amongst the worst ever recorded.
Darling is right about one thing, the people’s entirely negative attitude about his government; does he ever stop to wonder why this is so? To a large extent he is the architect of his own downfall.
This is the same government that was remarkably complacent and sanguine about the economy just weeks ago. Darling unbelievably states that the first time after he assumed office at which he realized the economy was in such bad shape was when he was on holiday and had read reports informing him that central bankers in Europe were pouring money into Sterling to prop up its value. Whereupon the hapless financial minister apparently telephoned his office to find out what the problem was. You honestly couldn’t make this up.
How did this government go from sunny indifference to total economic apocalypse in so short a period of time? The answer is that the people currently running the UK are complete and total incompetents. The government has to get its house in order immediately; we all need and demand this. As for our Chancellor, it’s time to move over Darling!
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Persistence
The Republican candidate, John McCain, acted like a gentleman a couple of days ago, and a good politician yesterday.
Yesterday, many observers attacked Barack Obama for his hubris in conducting his acceptance of the Democratic Presidential nomination at Mile High stadium in front of a Greek arch, with eighty thousand adoring, weeping acolytes.
McCain refused to join the crowd attacking Obama for his grand gestures and over the top setting and demonstrated his own fine style and old-fashioned courtesy.
Yesterday McCain picked his running mate for the role of Vice President and surprised everyone by naming the Governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin. This could well turn out to be a great short term tactic on his behalf, as it helps him pick up some of the women who would have voted for Hillary Clinton and who can’t bring themselves to vote for Barack Obama. Longer term we have to discover if Palin can overcome her obvious inexperience and total lack of foreign affairs knowledge.
McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee, made his announcement at an Ohio rally that drew and audience of 15,000. This choice ended speculation that McCain would select former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney or Sen. Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut.
Palin is inexperienced in international affairs; in fact she has only been Governor of Alaska for two years. The mother of five, including a son about to serve in America’s forces in Iraq, and her youngest has Down’s syndrome.
Palin is the first woman to be a potential Vice President for the Republicans. She promised: “I’m going to take our campaign to every part of our country and our message of reform to every voter of every background in every political party, or no party at all.”
“… Politics isn’t just a game of competing interests and clashing parties,” added the woman who largely built her career by challenging fellow Republicans. “The people of America expect us to seek public office and to serve for the right reasons.”
The Republican pairing will go against the Democratic rivals Barack Obama and Joe Biden. Obama, in his own historic moment, had formally accepted the Democratic nomination before an estimated 80,000 people in Denver the day previously.
In a fast-developing presidential campaign, McCain made his selection six days after his Democratic rival, Barack Obama, named Sen. Joseph Biden of Delaware, as his running mate.
There was a remarkable contrast between the two announcements — Obama, 47, picked a 65-year-old running mate with a great deal of experience in government and a man whom he said was qualified to be president.
On his 72nd birthday, McCain chose a 44-year-old female running mate who until just two years ago was the mayor of small-town Wasilla, Alaska — and made no claim she was ready to sit in the Oval Office.
McCain’s campaign issued a statement saying she was, but even so, it wasn’t a point lost on Obama’s campaign.
“Today, John McCain put the former mayor of a town of 9,000 with zero foreign policy experience a heartbeat away from the presidency,” an Obama spokesperson wrote in an official statement.
Unlike Biden, who attacked McCain sharply in his debut last week, Palin was indirect in her initial attempts to elevate McCain over Obama.
“There is only one candidate who has truly fought for America and that man is John McCain,” Palin added as the Arizona senator beamed widely. McCain was a prisoner of war for more than five years in Vietnam.
McCain trails Obama in the polls among women voters, and Palin moved quickly to remedy that.
Palin quickly proved she’s not just a pretty face when she astutely mentioned that she followed in the footsteps of Geraldine Ferraro, who was the Democratic vice presidential running mate in 1984, and favorably alluded to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, who had so recently polled 18 million votes in her narrowly unsuccessful run against Obama for the Democratic nomination.
“But it turns out the women of America aren’t finished yet and we can shatter that glass ceiling once and for all,” she said.
The selection of Obama and Palin means that either the fight of women or African Americans to achieve high office will be achieved on November 4th. Whichever it turns out to be we will all win as the world will soon come to realize that neither race or gender has any bearing on ability. It has been a long fight only won by the undying persistence of millions of ordinary people who would not accept being labeled second class.
The words of Calvin Coolidge should challenge us all to follow our dreams.
“Press on, nothing can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; the world is full of unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education alone will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent."
To help you stay persistent and embrace success-minded thinking, commit yourself to building and maintaining friendships and contacts that enrich and enhance your life and your dreams. I like to call these people "true fans and supporters." They are the ones who believe in you and want you to achieve your desires. They cheer you on, celebrate your accomplishments, and lift you up when you are feeling down.
The saying "misery loves company" is all too true, so limit time and set clear boundaries with those who are constantly negative, unsupportive, or drain your precious energy. They are on a different path than you. Perhaps your positive ways and abundant life will influence them to make a change in their own life, perhaps not. Remember, you can't make anyone change who is not ready.
Keep the focus on yourself. Surround yourself with positive like-minded people.
Press on, Great success will come if you are persistent.
Calvin Coolidge”
Yesterday, many observers attacked Barack Obama for his hubris in conducting his acceptance of the Democratic Presidential nomination at Mile High stadium in front of a Greek arch, with eighty thousand adoring, weeping acolytes.
McCain refused to join the crowd attacking Obama for his grand gestures and over the top setting and demonstrated his own fine style and old-fashioned courtesy.
Yesterday McCain picked his running mate for the role of Vice President and surprised everyone by naming the Governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin. This could well turn out to be a great short term tactic on his behalf, as it helps him pick up some of the women who would have voted for Hillary Clinton and who can’t bring themselves to vote for Barack Obama. Longer term we have to discover if Palin can overcome her obvious inexperience and total lack of foreign affairs knowledge.
McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee, made his announcement at an Ohio rally that drew and audience of 15,000. This choice ended speculation that McCain would select former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney or Sen. Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut.
Palin is inexperienced in international affairs; in fact she has only been Governor of Alaska for two years. The mother of five, including a son about to serve in America’s forces in Iraq, and her youngest has Down’s syndrome.
Palin is the first woman to be a potential Vice President for the Republicans. She promised: “I’m going to take our campaign to every part of our country and our message of reform to every voter of every background in every political party, or no party at all.”
“… Politics isn’t just a game of competing interests and clashing parties,” added the woman who largely built her career by challenging fellow Republicans. “The people of America expect us to seek public office and to serve for the right reasons.”
The Republican pairing will go against the Democratic rivals Barack Obama and Joe Biden. Obama, in his own historic moment, had formally accepted the Democratic nomination before an estimated 80,000 people in Denver the day previously.
In a fast-developing presidential campaign, McCain made his selection six days after his Democratic rival, Barack Obama, named Sen. Joseph Biden of Delaware, as his running mate.
There was a remarkable contrast between the two announcements — Obama, 47, picked a 65-year-old running mate with a great deal of experience in government and a man whom he said was qualified to be president.
On his 72nd birthday, McCain chose a 44-year-old female running mate who until just two years ago was the mayor of small-town Wasilla, Alaska — and made no claim she was ready to sit in the Oval Office.
McCain’s campaign issued a statement saying she was, but even so, it wasn’t a point lost on Obama’s campaign.
“Today, John McCain put the former mayor of a town of 9,000 with zero foreign policy experience a heartbeat away from the presidency,” an Obama spokesperson wrote in an official statement.
Unlike Biden, who attacked McCain sharply in his debut last week, Palin was indirect in her initial attempts to elevate McCain over Obama.
“There is only one candidate who has truly fought for America and that man is John McCain,” Palin added as the Arizona senator beamed widely. McCain was a prisoner of war for more than five years in Vietnam.
McCain trails Obama in the polls among women voters, and Palin moved quickly to remedy that.
Palin quickly proved she’s not just a pretty face when she astutely mentioned that she followed in the footsteps of Geraldine Ferraro, who was the Democratic vice presidential running mate in 1984, and favorably alluded to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, who had so recently polled 18 million votes in her narrowly unsuccessful run against Obama for the Democratic nomination.
“But it turns out the women of America aren’t finished yet and we can shatter that glass ceiling once and for all,” she said.
The selection of Obama and Palin means that either the fight of women or African Americans to achieve high office will be achieved on November 4th. Whichever it turns out to be we will all win as the world will soon come to realize that neither race or gender has any bearing on ability. It has been a long fight only won by the undying persistence of millions of ordinary people who would not accept being labeled second class.
The words of Calvin Coolidge should challenge us all to follow our dreams.
“Press on, nothing can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; the world is full of unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education alone will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent."
To help you stay persistent and embrace success-minded thinking, commit yourself to building and maintaining friendships and contacts that enrich and enhance your life and your dreams. I like to call these people "true fans and supporters." They are the ones who believe in you and want you to achieve your desires. They cheer you on, celebrate your accomplishments, and lift you up when you are feeling down.
The saying "misery loves company" is all too true, so limit time and set clear boundaries with those who are constantly negative, unsupportive, or drain your precious energy. They are on a different path than you. Perhaps your positive ways and abundant life will influence them to make a change in their own life, perhaps not. Remember, you can't make anyone change who is not ready.
Keep the focus on yourself. Surround yourself with positive like-minded people.
Press on, Great success will come if you are persistent.
Calvin Coolidge”
Friday, August 29, 2008
GivingSomethingBack
I wish I could repair the world but the truth is I can only work on a little bit of one corner. The question is whether it’s worth me undertaking that small service for so few, when the world at large needs so much for so many?
For me the answer is yes. I justify this for myself by the thought that if everyone does a bit of what they can do, then the results will be hugely beneficial.
I should make it clear, before some of you do, that I realize I am no paragon of virtue, and I don’t do as well as I should with some of the ideas I list here. The reason for writing this article is that sometimes the most obvious things go unwritten or unsaid. At the cost of appearing crass, stupid and patronizing I will, nevertheless try and encourage everyone to open their hearts to help others less fortunate. You never know, someday that could be you receiving rather than giving. You probably are already aware of an immutable law of physics, for every action in the universe there is an equal and opposite reaction. Or as my late father used to tell me, “you get back what you give tenfold!”
What does this mean in a practical sense? We can’t all give large sums of money for the simple reason we don’t all have a lot of money to give. But we do all have a little spare time, and maybe the only act of giving we can manage is to go and see an old and lonely relative. It’s amazing to me that I should have to write this, but so many people don’t give this most simple of gifts, some of their time.
Sometimes the thing we need most is a cold dose of the truth, and this can be a wonderful act of generosity. Recently a good friend of mine told me some home truths about what I was doing career wise. He was right, I had become a bit stuck in my ways, aiming in a direction I knew in my heart was wrong, but he had the guts and cared enough to tell me to follow another path. This reinforced what my family had already been saying to me, but it took someone a little more objective to force me to act. This was a very generous action on his part, enhanced by his recommending I seek to channel the output to a company he had found. None of us know how this might evolve, but it has opened my eyes to an entirely new opportunity. I trust I will disprove that hoary old chestnut that no good turn goes unpunished because I genuinely couldn’t appreciate his kindness more. So, David Courtney please step forward, take a bow and thank you.
Let’s all remember that the person with his hand out usually has a back story that would make you weep if you took the time to stop and listen. They’re not all scroungers and wasters; in fact most of the people asking for help do so because they need it.
We’re all having a harder time of it economically at present, after a period of huge wealth creation. We’re feeling the pinch of the credit crunch. Imagine how much more the really poor are feeling the cold draft of this impending recession and try and give something, even if it’s just a kind word, a bit of your time, an hour or two of your expertise. It’s going to count more now than ever. Of course, if you have a little cash that would be great.
There are going to be real problems this winter if we don’t all start pulling together now.
I haven’t gone soft in the head, and didn’t suddenly find a dogmatic religious belief, but we all must be made aware that this economic downturn is going to really hurt a huge number of people across our western society and we need to find ways to make this inevitable financial crash as painless as we can, because that will benefit everyone.
Our governments must move to the forefront of this battle by putting in place immediate and workable methods to keep people in their homes during the coming pandemic of houses going into negative equity and being untenable for the otherwise new homeless. There are already entire sections of cities in the USA that have been repossessed by shortsighted mortgage lenders. Are we going to allow this economic cancer to infect us all, do we want the cities to become either empty or the playground of the get rich quick speculators who are bound to take advantage of the misery of others?
Most of us are generous come Xmas or at a birthday; we all enjoy the giving and the pleasure it generates. Let’s try and make every day a holiday for ourselves and those we help. Meanwhile, in my totally inadequate way I shall do what I can to repair my tiny corner of this world we all share.
For me the answer is yes. I justify this for myself by the thought that if everyone does a bit of what they can do, then the results will be hugely beneficial.
I should make it clear, before some of you do, that I realize I am no paragon of virtue, and I don’t do as well as I should with some of the ideas I list here. The reason for writing this article is that sometimes the most obvious things go unwritten or unsaid. At the cost of appearing crass, stupid and patronizing I will, nevertheless try and encourage everyone to open their hearts to help others less fortunate. You never know, someday that could be you receiving rather than giving. You probably are already aware of an immutable law of physics, for every action in the universe there is an equal and opposite reaction. Or as my late father used to tell me, “you get back what you give tenfold!”
What does this mean in a practical sense? We can’t all give large sums of money for the simple reason we don’t all have a lot of money to give. But we do all have a little spare time, and maybe the only act of giving we can manage is to go and see an old and lonely relative. It’s amazing to me that I should have to write this, but so many people don’t give this most simple of gifts, some of their time.
Sometimes the thing we need most is a cold dose of the truth, and this can be a wonderful act of generosity. Recently a good friend of mine told me some home truths about what I was doing career wise. He was right, I had become a bit stuck in my ways, aiming in a direction I knew in my heart was wrong, but he had the guts and cared enough to tell me to follow another path. This reinforced what my family had already been saying to me, but it took someone a little more objective to force me to act. This was a very generous action on his part, enhanced by his recommending I seek to channel the output to a company he had found. None of us know how this might evolve, but it has opened my eyes to an entirely new opportunity. I trust I will disprove that hoary old chestnut that no good turn goes unpunished because I genuinely couldn’t appreciate his kindness more. So, David Courtney please step forward, take a bow and thank you.
Let’s all remember that the person with his hand out usually has a back story that would make you weep if you took the time to stop and listen. They’re not all scroungers and wasters; in fact most of the people asking for help do so because they need it.
We’re all having a harder time of it economically at present, after a period of huge wealth creation. We’re feeling the pinch of the credit crunch. Imagine how much more the really poor are feeling the cold draft of this impending recession and try and give something, even if it’s just a kind word, a bit of your time, an hour or two of your expertise. It’s going to count more now than ever. Of course, if you have a little cash that would be great.
There are going to be real problems this winter if we don’t all start pulling together now.
I haven’t gone soft in the head, and didn’t suddenly find a dogmatic religious belief, but we all must be made aware that this economic downturn is going to really hurt a huge number of people across our western society and we need to find ways to make this inevitable financial crash as painless as we can, because that will benefit everyone.
Our governments must move to the forefront of this battle by putting in place immediate and workable methods to keep people in their homes during the coming pandemic of houses going into negative equity and being untenable for the otherwise new homeless. There are already entire sections of cities in the USA that have been repossessed by shortsighted mortgage lenders. Are we going to allow this economic cancer to infect us all, do we want the cities to become either empty or the playground of the get rich quick speculators who are bound to take advantage of the misery of others?
Most of us are generous come Xmas or at a birthday; we all enjoy the giving and the pleasure it generates. Let’s try and make every day a holiday for ourselves and those we help. Meanwhile, in my totally inadequate way I shall do what I can to repair my tiny corner of this world we all share.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
WhoWeAre
During our lives we are often asked, “what do you do?” I now believe how we answer defines us. For most of my life I would happily respond, “I make films,” and this inevitably led to subsidiary questions that further evidenced my proposition. The most often asked is, “have you ever made anything I’d have heard of?” Of course if you were not able to satisfy this question with a suitably current and well-known film title, you were somehow assumed to be either lying or a total loser.
Worse still is to be able to supply a well known title with big stars attached, because then the next question is always, “what was he/she like to work with, have you got any funny stories?” If you answer this with a witty, well-paced anecdote your reception will be wonderful. However the next time you are to meet this person they are almost bound to introduce you to their friends with, “this is Tony, he works in the film industry and he’s going to tell you some really terrific funny stories!”
Once I attended a wedding and was determined not to get caught out and so was introducing myself to anyone that didn’t know me as, “I’m a business executive.”
The man sitting next to me said he was in the media business; in fact he was in the film industry. Somehow or other, without prompting from me, it transpired that he knew Tony Klinger, despite the fact that I was sitting next to him and my knowing I had never met the man. He went into quite some detail about his friendship with Tony Klinger, during which time the people who did know me were either tittering with laughter or on the edge of terminal embarrassment. Not able to stand it any longer I calmly revealed my identity to the dishonest man. He didn’t turn a hair.
When I was a teenager I was already working in a prestigious job in films and lived in a very desirable part of central London, so, because no one would believe the real details I made up the fact that I was a trainee accountant, which no one had a problem with.
I went through a period of nearly a decade when I spent most of my time working in academia but always felt uncomfortable with describing myself as an academic, and the main reason for this reticence was the fact that I never have felt like a true academic; I just don’t think like an academic.
When, recently I worked as the Chief Executive in the content creation section of mobile telephony I began to talk of myself as an executive, and described my role. However one of my business associates was affronted as he saw me as a filmmaker and wanted me to be more honest with myself.
So now I have gone full circle. Again, as at the very start of my career, I am describing myself as a writer. It is what has underscored and underwritten everything I have ever done, and fairly says to the world, here I am, a happy scribbler. It is a great relief to have rediscovered this simple truth, and it’s a wonderful relief.
Worse still is to be able to supply a well known title with big stars attached, because then the next question is always, “what was he/she like to work with, have you got any funny stories?” If you answer this with a witty, well-paced anecdote your reception will be wonderful. However the next time you are to meet this person they are almost bound to introduce you to their friends with, “this is Tony, he works in the film industry and he’s going to tell you some really terrific funny stories!”
Once I attended a wedding and was determined not to get caught out and so was introducing myself to anyone that didn’t know me as, “I’m a business executive.”
The man sitting next to me said he was in the media business; in fact he was in the film industry. Somehow or other, without prompting from me, it transpired that he knew Tony Klinger, despite the fact that I was sitting next to him and my knowing I had never met the man. He went into quite some detail about his friendship with Tony Klinger, during which time the people who did know me were either tittering with laughter or on the edge of terminal embarrassment. Not able to stand it any longer I calmly revealed my identity to the dishonest man. He didn’t turn a hair.
When I was a teenager I was already working in a prestigious job in films and lived in a very desirable part of central London, so, because no one would believe the real details I made up the fact that I was a trainee accountant, which no one had a problem with.
I went through a period of nearly a decade when I spent most of my time working in academia but always felt uncomfortable with describing myself as an academic, and the main reason for this reticence was the fact that I never have felt like a true academic; I just don’t think like an academic.
When, recently I worked as the Chief Executive in the content creation section of mobile telephony I began to talk of myself as an executive, and described my role. However one of my business associates was affronted as he saw me as a filmmaker and wanted me to be more honest with myself.
So now I have gone full circle. Again, as at the very start of my career, I am describing myself as a writer. It is what has underscored and underwritten everything I have ever done, and fairly says to the world, here I am, a happy scribbler. It is a great relief to have rediscovered this simple truth, and it’s a wonderful relief.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
LinksacrosstheGlobe
A suspected would be assassin jumped out of a sixth floor window in a downtown Denver hotel. A car was stopped in the same town with three armed men in it, and one of them stated that his friend wasn’t going to let a black man live to be the President. Hillary Clinton makes a barnstorming speech in support of her previous rival, Barack Obama, telling her 18 million supporters to get into place behind the Democratic candidate.
Across the world in Moscow, the Russian President, Dmitry Medvedev, sniffs the political air and belligerently announces that his country has recognized the separatist regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent. This is clearly a knee jerk reaction to the West’s own reaction to the recent Russian invasion of Georgia.
When the Russian President explained his country’s actions he excused them by making the comparison with America’s own justification for Kosovan independence. Perhaps he has forgotten that there were no American tanks enforcing that situation.
For the Russian view of this we need to examine the words of Russia’s President. “They addressed to Russia with a request to recognize their independence. Taking into consideration the free will of the peoples, the UN Charter and OSCE documents, I have signed decrees to recognize the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia on behalf of the Russian Federation. This is the only way to save people’s lives,” Medvedev said.
"Saakashvili chose genocide to fulfill his political plans," Medvedev said. "Georgia chose the least human way to achieve its goal - to absorb South Ossetia by eliminating a whole nation."
“Russia stopped the extermination of the Georgian people and then showed restraint with a goal to regulate the conflict through diplomacy,” the president said.
The Russian leadership has clearly studied the Nazi theories of propaganda with diligence. They demonstrated that if your first lie was big enough and was accepted then anything you said thereafter on the subject would also be accepted. This entire argument was not about Georgia swallowing another country; the two semi autonomous regions were and are legally integral parts of the country of Georgia, which Russia is now swallowing.
“Our warnings were left with no response. NATO and the UN ignored them. It is clear now that the Georgian administration was preparing for the war, whereas the support of its external protectors was only strengthening the feeling of impunity. The Georgian administration chose another way – to disrupt negotiations, launch military provocations and attack peacemakers. The Georgian administration initiated a military conflict in defiance of common sense and contrary to the UN Charter,” Medvedev said.
The truth is that there is not going to be real independence for these two new “countries” of South Ossetia and Abkhazia because the truth of their new situation is that they are now going to be semi-autonomous regions of the Russian Federation in all but name. They have simply swapped the somewhat chaotic rule of Georgia for the much more constricting embrace of the regional colossus, Russia, as it demonstrates its power.
The West, in fact most of the world, disagrees with the Russian actions but is powerless to do anything to stop them, or in fact even to slow them down unless we are willing to risk a world conflict.
The Kremlin's recognition of the breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia makes it plain that it is willing to dice with almost twenty years of economic, political and diplomatic bonds with its Cold War antagonists.
Medvedev's grim televised announcement sparked immediate and spontaneous joyful celebrations on the streets of the rebel capitals. Parades of cars displaying the South Ossetian and Russian flags blared their horns, women cried for joy and gunmen fired their weapons into the air.
The United States was clearly shocked by the timing and nature of the Russian response, threatened to veto this move in the U.N. Security Council should Russia seek international recognition for the territories.
"Abkhazia and South Ossetia are a part of the internationally recognized borders of Georgia and it's going to remain so," Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said. President Bush called the Russian move "irresponsible."
The Kremlin insists, despite many doubts in the West, that its invasion of Georgia was a spur-of-the-moment response to the Georgian military's surprise crackdown on South Ossetia.
Remember that Georgia’s actions were, in all likelihood, engendered by the actions of militant subversives in South Ossetia, trained, directed and armed by their Russian puppet masters. In other words the Russian government set the trap and the Georgians fell right into it.
In any event, since the battles raged Moscow had weeks to weigh the consequences of recognizing the breakaway regions and did so in the knowledge of the consequences.
While the West focused on Russia's effort to shift Georgia's internationally recognized borders, the Kremlin perversely denounced the U.S. use of a Navy destroyer and Coast Guard cutter named the Dallas to deliver aid to Georgia's Black Sea coast.
There are conclusions that begin to be discernable in these seemingly unconnected circumstances. Russia has an appetite for empire and growth that isn’t yet satisfied. There is also an evident thirst for the country to reassert its superpower credentials at the top table of world affairs. Meanwhile, in the States there is the small matter of the election-taking place on November 4th.
It’s a racing certainty that the Russian leadership will, as stated previously in this column, be looking forward to testing the resolve and nerve of whoever becomes the President. If that happens to be Barack Obama then the test could be big enough to rattle all of our cages. Some of you will remember what Khrushchev did to test Kennedy in Cuba in 1961. It nearly caused world war.
What lies ahead for us after November none of us know, but you can bet with some certainty that they’re planning something in the Kremlin right now. Let us all hope no one in Moscow miscalculates and their actions don’t cause any major warlike situation in the near future.
Russia’s Prime Minister Putin is, in reality a carefully coached and coiffured dictator made ready for public consumption. Such men always mistake democratic countries seeking peacefully negotiated resolution as weak. But remember Vladimir Putin received his training whilst working for the KGB in the former East Germany. His mindset is still locked in a Cold War that might never thaw for him.
Strategically it would be a huge mistake for Putin to choose these arguments and times as a convenient window of opportunity to seek revenge for the Russian’s perceived loss of national dignity on the international stage suffered during the disintegration of the Soviet Union. He should remember what Confucius, the ancient Chinese philosopher once said, if you seek revenge first dig two graves.
Across the world in Moscow, the Russian President, Dmitry Medvedev, sniffs the political air and belligerently announces that his country has recognized the separatist regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent. This is clearly a knee jerk reaction to the West’s own reaction to the recent Russian invasion of Georgia.
When the Russian President explained his country’s actions he excused them by making the comparison with America’s own justification for Kosovan independence. Perhaps he has forgotten that there were no American tanks enforcing that situation.
For the Russian view of this we need to examine the words of Russia’s President. “They addressed to Russia with a request to recognize their independence. Taking into consideration the free will of the peoples, the UN Charter and OSCE documents, I have signed decrees to recognize the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia on behalf of the Russian Federation. This is the only way to save people’s lives,” Medvedev said.
"Saakashvili chose genocide to fulfill his political plans," Medvedev said. "Georgia chose the least human way to achieve its goal - to absorb South Ossetia by eliminating a whole nation."
“Russia stopped the extermination of the Georgian people and then showed restraint with a goal to regulate the conflict through diplomacy,” the president said.
The Russian leadership has clearly studied the Nazi theories of propaganda with diligence. They demonstrated that if your first lie was big enough and was accepted then anything you said thereafter on the subject would also be accepted. This entire argument was not about Georgia swallowing another country; the two semi autonomous regions were and are legally integral parts of the country of Georgia, which Russia is now swallowing.
“Our warnings were left with no response. NATO and the UN ignored them. It is clear now that the Georgian administration was preparing for the war, whereas the support of its external protectors was only strengthening the feeling of impunity. The Georgian administration chose another way – to disrupt negotiations, launch military provocations and attack peacemakers. The Georgian administration initiated a military conflict in defiance of common sense and contrary to the UN Charter,” Medvedev said.
The truth is that there is not going to be real independence for these two new “countries” of South Ossetia and Abkhazia because the truth of their new situation is that they are now going to be semi-autonomous regions of the Russian Federation in all but name. They have simply swapped the somewhat chaotic rule of Georgia for the much more constricting embrace of the regional colossus, Russia, as it demonstrates its power.
The West, in fact most of the world, disagrees with the Russian actions but is powerless to do anything to stop them, or in fact even to slow them down unless we are willing to risk a world conflict.
The Kremlin's recognition of the breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia makes it plain that it is willing to dice with almost twenty years of economic, political and diplomatic bonds with its Cold War antagonists.
Medvedev's grim televised announcement sparked immediate and spontaneous joyful celebrations on the streets of the rebel capitals. Parades of cars displaying the South Ossetian and Russian flags blared their horns, women cried for joy and gunmen fired their weapons into the air.
The United States was clearly shocked by the timing and nature of the Russian response, threatened to veto this move in the U.N. Security Council should Russia seek international recognition for the territories.
"Abkhazia and South Ossetia are a part of the internationally recognized borders of Georgia and it's going to remain so," Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said. President Bush called the Russian move "irresponsible."
The Kremlin insists, despite many doubts in the West, that its invasion of Georgia was a spur-of-the-moment response to the Georgian military's surprise crackdown on South Ossetia.
Remember that Georgia’s actions were, in all likelihood, engendered by the actions of militant subversives in South Ossetia, trained, directed and armed by their Russian puppet masters. In other words the Russian government set the trap and the Georgians fell right into it.
In any event, since the battles raged Moscow had weeks to weigh the consequences of recognizing the breakaway regions and did so in the knowledge of the consequences.
While the West focused on Russia's effort to shift Georgia's internationally recognized borders, the Kremlin perversely denounced the U.S. use of a Navy destroyer and Coast Guard cutter named the Dallas to deliver aid to Georgia's Black Sea coast.
There are conclusions that begin to be discernable in these seemingly unconnected circumstances. Russia has an appetite for empire and growth that isn’t yet satisfied. There is also an evident thirst for the country to reassert its superpower credentials at the top table of world affairs. Meanwhile, in the States there is the small matter of the election-taking place on November 4th.
It’s a racing certainty that the Russian leadership will, as stated previously in this column, be looking forward to testing the resolve and nerve of whoever becomes the President. If that happens to be Barack Obama then the test could be big enough to rattle all of our cages. Some of you will remember what Khrushchev did to test Kennedy in Cuba in 1961. It nearly caused world war.
What lies ahead for us after November none of us know, but you can bet with some certainty that they’re planning something in the Kremlin right now. Let us all hope no one in Moscow miscalculates and their actions don’t cause any major warlike situation in the near future.
Russia’s Prime Minister Putin is, in reality a carefully coached and coiffured dictator made ready for public consumption. Such men always mistake democratic countries seeking peacefully negotiated resolution as weak. But remember Vladimir Putin received his training whilst working for the KGB in the former East Germany. His mindset is still locked in a Cold War that might never thaw for him.
Strategically it would be a huge mistake for Putin to choose these arguments and times as a convenient window of opportunity to seek revenge for the Russian’s perceived loss of national dignity on the international stage suffered during the disintegration of the Soviet Union. He should remember what Confucius, the ancient Chinese philosopher once said, if you seek revenge first dig two graves.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
PUMA
The Democrats arriving for their convention in Denver, Colorado, intend to promote party unity and use this set piece event to launch their march on the White House. But the truth is that mistrust and deep seated resentment simmer dangerously near the surface throughout the top echelons of the presumptive Presidential nominee Barack Obama and his defeated but still dangerous rival, Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Some of her more extreme supporters formed a pressure group called PUMA, which is an acronym for Part Unity My Ass. They would do virtually anything to replace Obama with Hillary Clinton. This group may be untypical but does represent quite a few people within the party machine who are firmly convinced that Obama cannot win the Presidency.
The selection of Senator Joe Biden has done nothing to damp down the heat beneath the simmering tension between the Obama and Clinton camps that have simply failed to be reconciled since the Primaries. There have been various attempts to mend these broken fences but they have not been effective, the result is that senior Democrats are demonstrating ever-clearer signs of increasing concern about this fault line.
Obviously both the Clintons will be expected to make speeches loudly praising the Presidential aspirations of Barack Obama, and it is certain that they will duly oblige. However it’s what will really be happening behind the scenes that fascinates. In my view the likelihood is that the Clintons are demanding some quid pro quo for their wholehearted support of the Obama election campaign.
An initial major flashpoint is the designated set piece speech for former president Bill Clinton, who is scheduled to speak Wednesday night, when the convention’s theme will be “Securing America’s Future.”
The duty of that night’s speakers is to argue that Obama would be a more effective commander in chief than his Republican rival, and Vietnam veteran and prisoner of war, Sen. John McCain.
Associates of the former president are disappointed, because his wish is to speak about the economy and more broadly about Democratic ideas — emphasizing the contrast between the Bush years and his own, more successful economic record in the 1990s. Last night at a pre Convention event was the first time that Obama alluded to the fact that during the Bill Clinton Presidency Americans became, on average $6,000 better off financially whereas under George W. Bush they are $1,000 poorer.
This is a very big issue for Bill Clinton, his friends and political allies say, because chief among the many grievances he harbors about Barack Obama’s campaign Obama against Hillary is Bill’s firm conviction that the candidate bad-mouthed the political and policy successes of his two terms in office. Bill Clinton cannot and will not accept anyone messing with his political legacy.
Senior Democrats who are close to Obama, equally, made very clear in unattributed comments that they feel equally riled by the entire Clinton camp and it’s unhelpful attitude.
So, we find ourselves, nearly three months after Hillary Clinton conceded defeat in the nomination contest, these Obama partisans complained, with her team continuing to act like she and Bill Clinton hold more leverage than they actually do.
Earlier this month there was a short period when the two sides appeared to be working collegially over strategy, scheduling, and other convention logistics, things have turned sour again in more recent days.
Many of the most senior Obama supporters are clearly more than irritated at how they understand the Clintons fanned — or at a minimum failed to damp down — the many stories that Hillary was not even vetted as a possible vice presidential nominee. This, a senior Obama associate claimed, is simply due to the fact that Hillary told Obama she preferred not to go through the rigorous document production process unless she was really going to be a serious contender.
One senior Obama associate made the point that the Clinton camp were still trying to negotiate for her like “Japanese soldiers in the South Pacific still fighting after the war is over.” Maybe the truth is we’re just about to find out how deep the divisions really are, whatever Hillary or Bill say, or how wide the smiles of all the major protagonists in this incomplete saga might be.
Some of her more extreme supporters formed a pressure group called PUMA, which is an acronym for Part Unity My Ass. They would do virtually anything to replace Obama with Hillary Clinton. This group may be untypical but does represent quite a few people within the party machine who are firmly convinced that Obama cannot win the Presidency.
The selection of Senator Joe Biden has done nothing to damp down the heat beneath the simmering tension between the Obama and Clinton camps that have simply failed to be reconciled since the Primaries. There have been various attempts to mend these broken fences but they have not been effective, the result is that senior Democrats are demonstrating ever-clearer signs of increasing concern about this fault line.
Obviously both the Clintons will be expected to make speeches loudly praising the Presidential aspirations of Barack Obama, and it is certain that they will duly oblige. However it’s what will really be happening behind the scenes that fascinates. In my view the likelihood is that the Clintons are demanding some quid pro quo for their wholehearted support of the Obama election campaign.
An initial major flashpoint is the designated set piece speech for former president Bill Clinton, who is scheduled to speak Wednesday night, when the convention’s theme will be “Securing America’s Future.”
The duty of that night’s speakers is to argue that Obama would be a more effective commander in chief than his Republican rival, and Vietnam veteran and prisoner of war, Sen. John McCain.
Associates of the former president are disappointed, because his wish is to speak about the economy and more broadly about Democratic ideas — emphasizing the contrast between the Bush years and his own, more successful economic record in the 1990s. Last night at a pre Convention event was the first time that Obama alluded to the fact that during the Bill Clinton Presidency Americans became, on average $6,000 better off financially whereas under George W. Bush they are $1,000 poorer.
This is a very big issue for Bill Clinton, his friends and political allies say, because chief among the many grievances he harbors about Barack Obama’s campaign Obama against Hillary is Bill’s firm conviction that the candidate bad-mouthed the political and policy successes of his two terms in office. Bill Clinton cannot and will not accept anyone messing with his political legacy.
Senior Democrats who are close to Obama, equally, made very clear in unattributed comments that they feel equally riled by the entire Clinton camp and it’s unhelpful attitude.
So, we find ourselves, nearly three months after Hillary Clinton conceded defeat in the nomination contest, these Obama partisans complained, with her team continuing to act like she and Bill Clinton hold more leverage than they actually do.
Earlier this month there was a short period when the two sides appeared to be working collegially over strategy, scheduling, and other convention logistics, things have turned sour again in more recent days.
Many of the most senior Obama supporters are clearly more than irritated at how they understand the Clintons fanned — or at a minimum failed to damp down — the many stories that Hillary was not even vetted as a possible vice presidential nominee. This, a senior Obama associate claimed, is simply due to the fact that Hillary told Obama she preferred not to go through the rigorous document production process unless she was really going to be a serious contender.
One senior Obama associate made the point that the Clinton camp were still trying to negotiate for her like “Japanese soldiers in the South Pacific still fighting after the war is over.” Maybe the truth is we’re just about to find out how deep the divisions really are, whatever Hillary or Bill say, or how wide the smiles of all the major protagonists in this incomplete saga might be.
Monday, August 25, 2008
TrulyGreatBritain
It’s time for some flag waving in Great Britain today. The results in the Olympic games that finished yesterday were a triumph for the British team. Not for one hundred years has the British team won so many events, or so many medals. It’s a feel good factor writ large, and we have every right to enjoy our national triumphs.
I have a friend who jokingly refers to the London Olympics in 2012 as a disaster waiting to happen. As we were watching the awesome Chinese organizational efforts she would say, “what’s going to happen when this show comes to London?” She means that we will get it all wrong, and I think she couldn’t be more wrong.
Of course we will get it resoundingly right, as we always do. Yes, there will be mistakes and errors, fear and trepidation along the path to our doing so but if we hold our nerve, and we are famous for doing jus that, then we will do magnificently. We have always punched above our weight whenever the going gets tough.
In Britain, as long as I can remember, the prevailing and accepted pattern of behavior is to self denigrate and play down our national achievements to the extent that we end believing we can’t achieve anything, when in fact we can achieve everything.
Any list you of the ten top countries, always has Great Britain in it. For a country of just over 60 million people it is amazing that it still is the fifth richest economy, and won proportionately more Academy Awards, Nobel Prizes and all the glittering prizes than any other.
This country has invented more things per capita than any other. This includes such wonders as the television, Internet, radar, jet propulsion, the tank, penicillin, telephones and the list goes on, seemingly forever as witness to this nation’s undying creativity and genius.
Our armed forces, much maligned by the politically correct left leaning of our own country are respected as no other by the rest of the world. The financial centre of the City of London is second to no other. Creatively our literature, art, music, films, television and radio are thought of as without equal anywhere. British museums, art galleries and our best universities are all rated as some of the best of the world.
The French sometimes say that the British are arrogant; they are wrongly mistaking this country’s natural reticence. When you measure Britain’s achievements you realize that this small country has an immense deal to be proud of.
Britain will always be idiosyncratic and funky, its people are built that way. The Mayor of London, Boris Johnston, symbolizes a wit and cleverness that promises well for the 2012 Olympics in London. Of course, like Britain, Boris will occasionally bumble his way through, but in the end, we will get it gloriously right.
I have a friend who jokingly refers to the London Olympics in 2012 as a disaster waiting to happen. As we were watching the awesome Chinese organizational efforts she would say, “what’s going to happen when this show comes to London?” She means that we will get it all wrong, and I think she couldn’t be more wrong.
Of course we will get it resoundingly right, as we always do. Yes, there will be mistakes and errors, fear and trepidation along the path to our doing so but if we hold our nerve, and we are famous for doing jus that, then we will do magnificently. We have always punched above our weight whenever the going gets tough.
In Britain, as long as I can remember, the prevailing and accepted pattern of behavior is to self denigrate and play down our national achievements to the extent that we end believing we can’t achieve anything, when in fact we can achieve everything.
Any list you of the ten top countries, always has Great Britain in it. For a country of just over 60 million people it is amazing that it still is the fifth richest economy, and won proportionately more Academy Awards, Nobel Prizes and all the glittering prizes than any other.
This country has invented more things per capita than any other. This includes such wonders as the television, Internet, radar, jet propulsion, the tank, penicillin, telephones and the list goes on, seemingly forever as witness to this nation’s undying creativity and genius.
Our armed forces, much maligned by the politically correct left leaning of our own country are respected as no other by the rest of the world. The financial centre of the City of London is second to no other. Creatively our literature, art, music, films, television and radio are thought of as without equal anywhere. British museums, art galleries and our best universities are all rated as some of the best of the world.
The French sometimes say that the British are arrogant; they are wrongly mistaking this country’s natural reticence. When you measure Britain’s achievements you realize that this small country has an immense deal to be proud of.
Britain will always be idiosyncratic and funky, its people are built that way. The Mayor of London, Boris Johnston, symbolizes a wit and cleverness that promises well for the 2012 Olympics in London. Of course, like Britain, Boris will occasionally bumble his way through, but in the end, we will get it gloriously right.
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