Panglossian Notes

More Afghanistan war stories, boring!

And yet another report out of Afghanistan. I usually like Elizabeth Rubin's reporting and this long piece from the NY Times Sunday Magazine is interesting sort of, but sort of not either. To me it just confirms what I think: it's a fiasco over there.

I'm really getting bored with the stories coming out of the place. On the bright side, at least the US & UK MSM write stories on Afghanistan which don't painted the troops as saintly missionaries delivering enlightenment to the dumb natives. This can't really be said of the Canadian MSM, I don't think, who write stories of long suffering true grit Canadian troops outfitted in hair-shirts to atone for the bad attitude of most Canadians at home who don't want them over there.

Of course, maybe it's just me and my taste for the slightly weary and skeptical sophistication of articles similar to Rubin's or, say, Ben Anderson's diary extracts, from his visit there last summer which appeared in the first January issue of the London Review of Books, as counting, possibly, for some measure of the true situation and not the cartoon stuff spun by DND and the likes of the clowns that run that place here.

I guess to be frank I just don't give a shit about Afghanistan and I don't really care whether our Canadian military is there or not either. The whole confused "mission" is becoming a large bore. Our military seem to want to be there, so maybe better there than lazying around here at home fretting that they aren't getting the opportunity to prove their stuff.

Isn't that what "democracy and debates threaten the sacred troops" Hillier said when he egged on former Prime Minister Paul Martin to let the troops prove themselves by going into Kandahar in the first place. And besides all that experience they are getting on the Afghan plains will be really useful if they ever come home and have to deal with a real matter of Canadian national interest, like security in the Arctic, eh.

Technorati Tags: Afghanistan, Canada, FUBAR Projects, Fun & Games, Military, Sarcasm, USA

Flying North

I'm wondering why certain stories are reported by the MSM. This Saturday morning musing has been prompted by the reports that a routine flight to Iqaluit, yesterday, made an emergency landing at YOW (Ottawa International).

Why would this particular event be reported by the CBC on it's national newscast and picked up by the print MSM?

Slow news day?
Anything about the arctic is interesting just now?
A reporter was on hand at the airport and noticed something wrong?
Canadian North is developing a more competitive edge in going after First Air business?

I've made 2 emergency landings at YOW on First Air flights heading home, then, to Iqaluit. In both cases fuel was dumped on the unsuspecting Ottawaians as we circled the city. Neither landing was reported by the MSM even through the landings were made on consecutive days.

Getting off the plane after the 2nd emergency landing I vowed never to fly First Air again, least on the YOW to Iqaluit run (I did use First Air to fly back and forth to some remote communities because there is no choice usually) and I never have. There really is nothing like circling a city at about 4,000 feet dumping fuel and watching oily smelling smoke waft through the cabin while listening to a din of smoke alarms chirp away. I think it has been the only time I've completely understood a feeling of helplessness.

Two days in a row finished me. I switched to Canadian North and haven't looked back.

Technorati Tags: Arctic, Musings, Nunavut, Flying, Risk

A charming view of US & EU 19th century sovereignty meddling or just back to the past??

Steve Bell on the "horse asses" meddling of old and new imperialists? I wonder.

Maybe it's just a visual comment on muddling.

Technorati Tags: Democracy?, European Union, Foreign Affairs, NATO, Politicians, Muddling, Sarcasm, Serbia, Steve Bell, The Guardian, USA

Harper's decision on Kosovo, I'm waiting.

So I'm waiting for the Canadian government's view on the latest Balkan mess. I'd also be interested in knowing what the Liberal may think of the goings on in Serbia. My thinking about the Harper government is they are not gaging any real issues and potential consequences but madly counting potential votes of the Serbian and Albanian Canadians. I know this is really really cynical but I don't seem to be able to help myself or get past this view of the current Canadian federal government.

However, I must admit, I was a bit shocked and pleased by what retired Maj.-Gen. Lewis MacKenzie told The Canadian Press - the man is a realist but aware of precedent:

""It's a wrong decision," Maj.-Gen. Lewis MacKenzie told The Canadian Press.

"The potential ripple effect is quite staggering, " said MacKenzie, who's been a long-time opponent of NATO's intervention in Kosovo
.
MacKenzie said some countries' willingness to recognize Kosovo's independence stemmed from their willingness to have NATO intervene there militarily in 1999.

"I think people are trying to perhaps right a historical wrong and get it off the table but this thing ain't going away any time soon," MacKenzie warned .

"This is going to cause some serious, serious repercussions internationally, in my opinion."

The Canadian Press
February 17, 2008

Steve Clemon's had a short clear note up yesterday in which he makes the sad point that the US - Bush vacationing in Africa has announced US recognition of the new pseudo-country this morning - recognition of Kosovo is likely another foreign policy blunder by the current administration.

In the Clemon's note there are three links to interesting articles on the matter. If you only have time to read one I'd suggest the the second link - i.e. this one: Report and Retort: Kosovo's Future which is an IHT article by Dimitri K. Simes, a comment by Frank G. Wisner on the article and finishing up with Simes answering Wisner's comments. Very Interesting.

Clemon's also mentions, it's the first link, a longer piece by Simes re: the various US administrations myths, policies and altitudes to Russia since the late 80's. This article too is also very interesting. Steve's link is to the copy available at Foreign Affairs and behind the "pay wall" so if you are interested here is a link to it outside a wall: Losing Russia.

Since Bush has whole-heartly embraced the splitting of Serbia, I guess that should just about kibosh the silly comparisons mentioned in a note by Scott Horton of the current POTUS to Lincoln. I just can't see Lincoln supporting secession but then I'm not particularly skilled at "turning pig's ears into silk purses".

Technorati Tags: Canada, Dangerous?, Delusional, Foreign Policy, Fun & Games, Israel, NATO, Politicians, Russia, The EU, USA

Lawrence Lessig's 20 minute "why vote for Obama" reduced to 10 minutes.

This is an interesting 10 minute video by Lawrence Lessig, a law professor at Stanford, outlining his reasons for supporting Obama over Clinton.

I think I like it because of its quit reasoned tone which is so uncharacteristic of most political pitches.

For an outsider with no direct stake in the outcome of either the primaries or the November ritual, it would be most interesting to see voters elect Obama, particularly if Americans are interested in trying to re-build some of their damaged, if not completely lost, reputation as a some-what moral country based on laws and a modicum of humanness. Neither Clinton nor McCain has a hope of doing this both are far too compromised in the Bush fiascos for anyone outside to take them seriously.

Technorati Tags: BlipTV, Clinton, McCain, Obama, Outside view, Politicians, Politics, POTUS , US Primaries, US Primary Season

Oh George Bush and Condi Rice, who is it who hates whose freedoms again?

The Arab League, what an organization. Very good to know that its members are determined to show their usual colours whenever there is any development - like, maybe, a somewhat free media - that could provide a hint most of the Middle-East isn't still floundering around in a disguised medieval clown world.

"Arab TV broadcasters face curbs: Arab countries have agreed to allow punishment of satellite channels deemed to have offended Arab leaders or national or religious symbols.

At a meeting in Cairo called by Egypt and Saudi Arabia, a charter was adopted allowing authorities to withdraw permits from offending channels.

The only country to refuse to endorse the charter was Qatar, the home of leading satellite station al-Jazeera.

Correspondents say the satellite channels have thrived on controversy.

The often privately financed stations give airtime to government critics and viewers, and discuss issues which state channels would never dare approach, says the BBC's Heba Saleh in Cairo.

'Social harmony'

At the meeting of information ministers from the 22-nation Arab League in Cairo, the charter was agreed by a vote.

The document calls on stations "not to offend the leaders or national and religious symbols" of Arab countries, news agency AFP reports.

They should not "damage social harmony, national unity, public order or traditional values," the charter says.

Signatory countries may "withdraw, freeze or not renew the work permits of media which break the regulations".

The charter also calls on broadcasters to avoid erotic content, or content which promotes smoking or the consumption of alcohol, and to "protect Arab identity from the harmful effects of globalisation".

Qatari caution

"Some satellite channels have strayed from the correct path," said Egyptian Information Minister Anas al-Fiqi.

He said it was time to confront those who propagated ignorant or reactionary ideas, and those who tried to score points by undermining governments and nations.

Only Qatar registered reservations about the charter, but said this was down to legal rather than political concerns.

It said it needed further time to consider the document - and so al-Jazeera does not appear to be facing imminent curbs, says our correspondent.

BBC
February 12, 2008

When I read the BBC story I thought I heard G. W. Bush and Condi sigh - "only 341 days left in our self-inflected agony". I almost feel sorry for them.

Even George and his faithful servant Condi must be getting very tired of their good Middle-East allies dumping on the Whitehouse and State Department's well spun talking points about someone "hating our freedoms". It is so so hard to keep the drones in North America focused on the right type of haters.

Harvesting brush and shopping for shoes is so much more productive and rewarding, sigh. Oh well your veil of tears will be over shortly so keep your spirits up and lugging that cross, eh.

Technorati Tags: Allies, Arab League, Arabic goof balls!, BBC, Egypt, Media, Paranoia, Pinheads, Government terrorism, Saudi Arabia, Self-destructive?, Serfdom, Shmucks, Slogans, Spin, Strongmen, Thugs

Obama proposes a real "guns & butter" choice.

Barrack Obama delivered what is being touted as a major economic speech this morning at a General Motors plant in Janesville Wisconsin. Interesting speech. A summary of the key points is here followed by the speech itself in either pdf or html format.

The main point that interested me, for now, was this one from the summary:

"Rebuilding our Infrastructure – Obama would create a National Infrastructure Reinvestment Bank that will invest $60 billion over ten years. This investment generate nearly two million new jobs – many of them in the construction industry that’s been hard hit by this housing crisis.

Obama's Economic Policy Address at the Janesville GM Assembly Plant
Sam Graham-Felsen
my.barackobama.com

But the bullet point above doesn't do justice to how the new initiative was couched in the speech:

"For our economy, our safety, and our workers, we have to rebuild America. I’m proposing a National Infrastructure Reinvestment Bank that will invest $60 billion over ten years. This investment will multiply into almost half a trillion dollars of additional infrastructure spending and generate nearly two million new jobs – many of them in the construction industry that’s been hard hit by this housing crisis. The repairs will be determined not by politics, but by what will maximize our safety and homeland security; what will keep our environment clean and our economy strong. And we’ll fund this bank by ending this war in Iraq. It’s time to stop spending billions of dollars a week trying to put Iraq back together and start spending the money on putting America back together instead.

Keeping America’s Promise
Remarks of Senator Barack Obama
Janesville General Motors Assembly Plant
February 13th, 2008

Neat I think. The appropriate knee-jerk concerns are touched on: "safety and homeland security" but the initiative would be paid for by re-allocating funds from the Iraq shoot'em up to US domestic needs.

A "guns & butter" choice, with "butter" winning, but framed in such a way that it would be hard for even die-hard grass root lovers of the Iraq adventure not to support.

From my, at times left-leaning, perspective, a sensible policy proposal about an usually not too sexy subject - infrastructure - directly linked to curtailing a, generally viewed, mad-hatter policy of fixing up some place about 6,434, as the crow flies, miles away from Janesville Wisconsin.

Technorati Tags: A PLAN, Development, Economics, Infrastructure, Iraq, Obama, Politicians, Speeches, USA

Nice skit about the "guns & butter" trade-off.

This is a nice clear short video clip. It demonstrates, other than the endless bs government spin about current Middle-East & Asian fiascos - i.e. Iraq and my favourite Afghanistan, that kindergarten lesson about allocating scare resources when you have two choices, "guns (characterized as a right-leaner choice) and butter (characterized as a left-leaner choice)".

I watched the clip originally through Pierre Tristan's site.

Technorati Tags: Afghanistan, Asia, Call centres, Choices?, Economics, Endless shnoring an alternative?, Iraq, Middle East, Military, Politicians, Youtube

A different perspective on Afghanistan?

No this post isn't about the toing and froing going on in NATO or here in Canada about the development, governance, security, etc., etc. problems in Afghanistan and what to do about them. It is simply to note that good old mother nature can, when all else gets almost hopeless, put the knife in and twist it.

"Posted Sat Feb 9, 2008 9:49pm AEDT

More than 750 people have perished as a result of severe cold and heavy snowfalls this winter across Afghanistan, a government official said.

The cold spell, the worst in decades in the impoverished and mountainous central Asian country, has also killed nearly 230,000 cattle, said Noor Padshah Kohistani of the National Disaster Management Commission.

"Across the country, 763 people have died since the start of the winter due to cold weather and severe snowfalls," he said. The snowfalls have destroyed more than 500 houses and damaged more than 40,000, a disaster commission statement said.

The worst affected areas were the western provinces of Herat and Badghis where some people had to have amputations because of frostbite, according to the state media.

Several families sold their children recently because they were unable to care for or feed them, media reports said.

Many key roads linking districts with provincial capitals have been blocked because of snow, hindering deliveries of supplies.

The deaths of cattle are regarded as a huge loss for Afghanistan, an agricultural country that largely relies on foreign aid.

In the face of a harsh winter that has pushed food prices to record highs, the United Nations World Food Programme last month appealed for extra food assistance for 2.55 million Afghans until the next harvest in June.

- Reuters

"This image illustrates how much colder temperatures were between January 17 and January 24, 2008, compared to previous years. The image shows land surface temperatures—how cold or hot the land is to the touch—compared to average land surface temperatures in January 2000-2005 and 2007. (Data from 2006 were unavailable at the time of this posting.) In 2008, land surface temperatures were as much as 20 degrees Celsius cooler than in previous years. The overall blue tone of the image reveals cold temperatures throughout the region, but the most intense cold was in Iran, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan.

NASA
Earth Observatory

Burrr!

Technorati Tags: Not Hot Air, Interesting, Cold, Real challenges, Weather

The absurd Bhutto's

Dig her up for god sake!!!

The complete absurdity of the self appointed saviors of Pakistan is, of course, of course I know, evident in all its glory with the bullshit now spouted by the PPP and the dead person's widower - Zardari .

She was shot!

She died from a whack on the noggin!

Who really cares, unless your a Bhutto? What does it really matter, unless you need a controversy about the precise manner of her murder for some short term political reason. Although this would seem dumb in Pakistan, the land of controversies, unless voters there are more prone to fall into apathy than the voters in Western countries.

I won't pay any attention to this latest foofaraw until mobs/rallies can show that they really care and want the truth by chanting:

DIG HER UP!!

I'm waiting for the husband and assorted PPP hangers-on to drag the fumbling son home from Cambridge, or Oxford, or wherever he hides out in the developed world. He could stir the faithful with an address in his mother tongue - ha, ha.

Technorati Tags: Bhutto, Chaos, Confused, Hot Air?, joke?, Pakistan, Politicians, Silly, Spin