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TALLRITE BLOG
You can write to me at blog2-at-tallrite-dot-com |
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| June 2004 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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ISSUE #80 - 27th June 2004 [187] |
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The Dilemmas of Post Handover Iraq Just a few days to go before the Americans hand over sovereignty to the Iraqis. (Actually, it's just happened on 28th June, two days early). Of course it's not going to be a perfect handover. The new government under Prime Minister Dr Ayad Allawi is a 100% appointed one and thus has no electoral legitimacy. But
As such, not only has it more legitimacy than the previous administration (which was also UN-approved under Resolution 1483), but it is the most representative government that any Arab state anywhere has ever had throughout world history. That's quite a claim. The new Government will be responsible for all aspects of running Iraq, but there will of course be grey areas. For example,
The new arrangements are also presenting some uncomfortable dilemmas.
I believe in the coming few months we are going to see a major change in the dynamics of Iraq, that it will indeed move towards democracy, that the insurgency movement will be largely suppressed until it is viewed more as a criminal movement. The anti-warriors will grow resentfully silent and Old Europe will find a way to provide material support. No-one will stop hating George Bush, however, just as they hated Ronald Reagan for deploying nuclear weapons in Europe. So we'll probably have to wait for Mr Bush's funeral before his own contribution to world democracy is generally acknowledged.
Prisoner Abuse in Saddam's Abu Ghraib The international media have rightly given prominence to the outrageous American abuses of Iraqi prisoners in Abu
Ghraib.
We have all seen the photographs; the Economist even ran one on its
cover. Though the behaviour of those US male and female soldiers is unforgivable, it is encouraging to see Americans, as well as the rest of the world, rise up and demand the truth, which is slowly,
reluctantly trickling out. And perpetrators will be punished.
In terms of maltreatment of prisoners, you can see that these images massively surpass anything that we've seen the Americans do in Abu Ghraib.
Yet as far as I know, hardly a single mainstream media outlet, at least in Europe, has run this truly shocking story, much less published stills (such as the one above) or provided internet links. Apparently this is only one of many such videos in the Pentagon's possession. Only the New York Post seems to have provided some coverage.
There is an explanation for the silence. These images make the overthrow of Saddam look moral and right, and by implication the US and Bush/Blair/Berlusconi/etc likewise. They might even help Bush's re-election. Are we surprised that the media want to remain schtum ? However,
you
don’t appreciate what happened in that prison until you see it.
And when you see those dreadful crimes with your own eyes, you can
never again say, with a clear conscience, that the invasion and overthrow
of Saddam were wrong. You can access a full description of the video clip here, and the clip itself here. But be aware, they are graphic, unpleasant and wholly unsuitable for children.
If you happen to have contacts with journalists, I would urge you to make them aware of this story in the hope that they might give it the airtime it needs.
The Surprising Grand Ayatollah Sistani Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani, born in Iran around 1930, is the most revered leader of Iraq's Shi'ites, who with 60% are the largest religious grouping in the country. Many Iraqis will tell you they will stay quiet or rise up, purely on the say-so of this holy man. Yet he is an enigma. He rarely speaks publicly, preferring to let his thoughts and wishes be known via third party spokesmen. He is hardly ever seen, never gives interviews and has consistently refused to meet even with Paul Bremer, America's pro-consul in Iraq. One reason is that he believes America's democratisation plan is too slow. He is a traditional cleric, yet for all his conservative trappings and secrecy he appears to be surprisingly open minded, modern and pragmatic. Not only does be believe in the separation of religion from politics, which for some imams is close to apostasy, but he is prepared to entertain questions about Islam and the Koran. He has his own website, www.sistani.org, which among other things lists answers to a range of questions covering a broad swathe of life. Here are a few examples.
What strike me is how sensible and humanist most of his answers are, for example that suicide is forbidden under all circumstances, that cheating is wrong. Of course some are not so defensible - such as
Nevertheless, in perusing his site you get the impression that Ayatollah Sistani is certainly someone you can do business with. If only he would agree to meet you ! I think he will be a positive force in the new Iraq, supporting both the democratic process (which will of course return a Shi'ite majority) and the suppression of insurgents.
Freedom and Democracy Through Military Might I've written before about the left-wing anti-American anti-free market bias of many so-called charities. They collect large amounts of money from ordinary people as well as Governments, but then devote time and donations pursuing political objectives, and often telling deliberate porkies, instead of delivering help to people in need. Last week the chairman of Trócaire, Ireland's biggest charity was at it again. Bishop John Kirby wrote a stultifying screed denouncing America and all its works in Iraq, and for good measure capitalism and free markets in general. It could be lifted straight from a 1960s or 70s undergraduate Marxist magazine. In a brutal fisking last year entitled “Chronicle of a Pious Fraud”, Blog-Irish brutally exposed how deeply embedded are the (loony left-wing) political activity and vitriolic anti-Americanism of Trócaire and its leaders, including the good bishop. The bishop's latest article is in the same vein. “Freedom and democracy cannot be imposed through military might” he intones as he lectures President Bush and the Americans on foreign policy, helpfully pointing out that terrorism is no more than criminality. But tell that to nations such as Japan, Germany, South Korea, Serbia, East Timor, Panama, Grenada. They are all democracies thanks only to the guns and armies of courageous Western alliances, overwhelmingly American. In fact the bishop has completely missed the point. For “freedom and democracy cannot be imposed through military might unless accompanied by military victory”. Without a military victory you get a Vietnam, still a Communist dictatorship three decades after America withdrew defeated. However, without a boost of military might, democratisation often happens at only a snail's pace. If Trócaire and its leaders cared a fig for freedom and democracy therefore, they would be cheering on America from the sidelines for its efforts to democratise Iraq though military might. But of course the welfare of Iraqis is the last thing on their minds. Left wing anti-Americanism and gouging money from gullible governments and well-meaning citizens is what drives them. Nothing else.
Set up in 1987, this is a choir of forty Finnish men, dressed in black suits, white shirts and black rubber ties, who don't sing. They shout. They've also made a movie. I was intrigued, thinking it might be something unusual and sonorous to include in the CD I make every year to enclose with Christmas cards, so I did a little research. The choir is certainly unusual, but it is not sonorous. In fact the Finns sound ghastly and look ugly. They will not be added to the CD. Punish yourself by experiencing this 40-second clip or this photo.
In the interests of unfairness, lack of balance, unsavouriness and general nastiness, I can't resist linking to this little item featuring President Jacques Chirac exploring diplomatic avenues.
Quote : “Leaving aside his nationality, Mr Sutherland's advocacy of liberal economic policies is not an asset.” The
French government explains why Ireland's Peter Sutherland, Fear of liberal economic policies also explains Quote : “[T]he way to Iraqi hearts is through their sewer pipes.” So learns Yash
Sinha, a first lieutenant
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ISSUE #79 - 20th June 2004 [175] |
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Mark Humphrys' thought-provoking blog is different from others in that it is organized by topic rather than by date. However, he has just incorporated an index of links to his latest posts which helps enormously when you're looking for new stuff. A recent, shocking and exhaustively linked post describes the evils of the Soviet Empire, triggered by the death of its destroyer, Ronald Reagan. Under a series of unremitting despots over the empire's 74 years of evil existence, it deliberately killed between 25 and 60 million people through execution, famine, chemical weapons, gulag and war (it killed even more Soviet citizens - ten million - during World War 2 than the invading Nazis did). It was the most murderous regime that mankind has ever known. Yet there remains a comparable Stalinist totalitarian regime in full
flow right now. Lifelong anti-Communist Vaclev
Havel, philosopher, author, playwright and
the Czech Republic's erstwhile first president wrote an eloquent account
of modern day Led by Kim Jong Il, truly his father's son, the regime has murdered up to five million people by the same means as the Soviets - execution, famine, chemical weapons, gulag and war. Mr Havel draws parallels.
And today, North Korean refugees describe the hell that is life under Kim Jong Il, accounts supported by satellite imagery. At least those refugees do, who have managed to evade neighbouring China's attempts to return them to their homeland to almost certain gulag and/or death. In his impoverished totalitarian state, Kim Jong Il sustains a million-man army, a nuclear weapons programme, other WMD, long-range missile development, arms exports and famine. Meanwhile, most of the world looks politely the other way. While the UN passes but two condemnatory resolutions in six decades, South Korea and other rich, free countries shy from confronting the regime, even as they pour in food aid, without thanks or reciprocation, in the knowledge that most of it goes straight to the armed forces, who already absorb 23% of GDP. China, a perennial supporter of North Korea, is only now getting a little nervous as it realises that a nuclear-armed North Korea on its doorstep poses an unacceptable threat of regional nuclear escalation (including within Taiwan). Mr Havel therefore calls on the world to confront the North Korean regime in a unified manner and to stop making unilateral concessions that only give it comfort and oxygen. The real question is, I think, what would Ronald Reagan do ? George Bush made a good start by including North Korea in his axis of evil two years ago, but that is pretty much the only confrontation that Kim Jong Il has faced. With nuclear weapons able to reach Japan and a huge army poised on South Korea's border, an Iraq-style pre-emptive military invasion of North Korea is not really a realistic option. However, Reagan showed how even the mightiest totalitarian state can be brought to its knees under sustained economic pressure, how a clash of ideologies can be won without firing a shot. That's what's needed. Thus,
A similar formula worked on a more formidable, wealthier and equally malign enemy bristling with nuclear weapons in the 1980s. Why not now ? Anyone got any better ideas ?
Three Irish Peace Missionaries The three Irish peace missionaries, who due to Columbian incompetence and chicanery ended up in jail in Bogotá, have just been released after nearly three years of incarceration. The purpose of their trip to Columbia in 2001 had been to make a peace visit to the guerillas of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) in their jungle stronghold, a no-go area the size of Switzerland. There, while observing the peace process between the FARC and the Columbian Government, they patiently explained the benefits and modalities of Northern Ireland's own much vaunted peace process. Oh, and they also partook in a bit of eco-tourism. To do all this it was apparently necessary to travel on, er, false passports. Having taken leave of their FARC hosts, the trio flew back to Bogotá, on 11th August 2001. But on arrival, the bumbling Columbian police immediately arrested them for using false papers. PC El-Plod then had the temerity to accuse them of helping the FARC, who were not very good at attacking cities, to build better weapons and improve the quality of their urban warfare.
In April, a single-judge, non-jury, anti-terrorist, Columbian court acquitted the peace missionaries of helping the FARC but convicted them of travelling on false passports and awarded them various prison sentences. However the outraged Attorney General immediately appealed the acquittal. They were therefore granted bail which allows them to leave the jail but they must remain in Columbia pending the appeal. But it took them seven weeks to screw up the courage to leave the jail last week, because they believe they are in more danger outside than inside those high walls. For it seems there are right-wing militias roaming around Bogotá with guns and clubs who administer severe punishment, such as death, on those they disapprove of, regardless of legal process. And many of these militias are convinced the Irish peace missionaries did indeed train left-wing FARC guerillas in urban warfare, which in their view certainly merits summary punishment. So the missionaries have gone into hiding. This must be a novel, confusing and ironic experience for them, because back home in Ireland the peace missionaries have their own armed militia with guns and clubs which administers severe punishment on those it disapproves of, regardless of legal process. Moreover, should the peace missionaries be returned to prison to serve their sentences, they believe that the Columbian militias have the means and will to exact punishment even within the confines. It seems therefore that peace missionaries' best hope for their personal survival is to engage the Columbian militias in a peace dialogue. Just as they apparently preached Northern Ireland style peace to the FARC, they can explain to the right wing militias the error of their ways, and convince them to decommission all their weapons and re-enter the political mainstream. Just like back home. Not.
This prompted an angry message (below) to the two leading Irish newspapers from an anonymous “Irish Expat”, which speaks for itself. Let's see whether the respective newspapers publish. Many other leftward media, notably the BBC but also AP, Reuters and AFP, are equally bashful about calling non-white terrorists terrorists. Especially where America or Israel is the terrorist target.
EU Elections Will Enliven the EU The recent elections for the 732 seats in the EU parliament have caused consternation on a number of fronts. Firstly, there's the low turnout - just 45%. Astonishingly, the ten new countries, who you would expect to have been bursting with excitement at the prospect of their first EU election, barely managed 30%. You have to conclude there is a striking and consistent lack of enthusiasm for the EU project amongst the 350 million voters. Secondly, other than in Spain and Greece which have in the last few months already changed out their governments, the EU elections mark an unmistakable rejection of the ruling parties. Whatever it is they've been doing, their respective electorates are distinctly unimpressed. Interestingly, this goes for both right-leaning governments such as Britain's, Italy's and Ireland's as well as for the left-leaners of countries such as France and Germany (I'm talking about their behaviour not their rhetoric). Thirdly, it is not the conventional alternative parties that have benefited from the lacklustre performance of the ruling parties, but extremist, protest and single-issue parties and individuals. Thus
Some may wonder whether these are three unrelated phenomena, but I am inclined to think they are linked as part of a wider picture. Mid-term discontent with the ruling party is common in all democracies, and often expressed by kicking it when what is viewed as an unimportant poll comes up. But for years, most ruling parties have been falling over each other to reach the same central ground in an ideology-free scramble. Since the fall of the Soviet Empire, the precepts of the left have fallen into utter disrepute, although no-one on the left wants to admit it and its soft-focus socialism sounds comforting. Thus,
As a consequence, there is little to choose between the mainstream left-acting-right and right-acting-left parties, so the electorate doesn't really care who governs them. This opens the door to using your vote to express what you really feel strongly about. For some it is supporting their pet extreme or single-issue. But for a huge number it has been protesting at the advancing power of the EU itself. The EU began its life as a free trade organization and later extended this to free movement of goods, capital, services and people. This is where it hit its apogee, where almost everyone gained from the enterprise and it was universally popular. But as its enthusiastic insiders moved the EU towards greater integration and regulation, it gradually left much of the populations behind, who became steadily more disgruntled and apathetic. So what we are seeing is a peasants' revolt, which will likely be manifested in a much livelier EU parliamentary chamber, hosting for the first time some real adversarial, bad-tempered debate. Imagine the uproar when UKIP's newly elected Robert Kilroy Silk uses his maiden speech to announce he wants to wreck the parliament. Debates will become a spectator sport instead of a lullaby. Meantime, there is the small matter of the pernicious EU Constitutional Treaty that ministers have long been haggling over. They could not fail but to have felt a sense of chastisement over the elections, and many perhaps no longer had the stomach to pursue it as avidly as they might have. They knew they would have got more praise back home for not budging than for acquiescing. From all this, my bet and hope (and prognostication of a year ago) were that they would fail to agree. I was not alone. A recent Eurosoc poll put success at just 3%; in fact the poll reckoned that only a Martian presidency would secure agreement. But I was wrong. After two days of angry haggling in Brussels, an agreement was reached but not without leaving President Chirac reportedly grumpy about the inclusion of Britain's successful “red lines” on tax etc. But luckily this success doesn't really matter. In the new climate, and with the need for referendums in at least six countries including highly Eurosceptical Britain (who in a Sky News poll immediately registered 70% rejection), the 300 page tome has, fortunately, not a hope of ratification. Perhaps, after all, this miserable election actually represents a giant leap forward in EU representative democracy. Real debate by real representatives. Followed by eventual outcomes that the 350 million electorate can broadly support.
How Representative Is Your Democracy ? I was interested to read after the recent Indian elections that if Ireland's parliamentary representation were similar to India's it would have only two members of parliament for the whole country. Conversely, if India - with over a billion people the world's largest democracy - were to copy Ireland, it would have to expand its parliament buildings a hundredfold to accommodate over 45,000 MPs. And if it were to copy the “Eurodots” of Andorra/Luxembourg/Monaco/San Marino it would need space for 24.8 million MPs ! Here is a comparison of quite a few prominent democracies in terms of parliamentary representation in the legislative lower (or only) house, ie the number of people that each member of parliament on average represents. The average of all the countries listed is 394,000 people per MP, but this ranges hugely from 3,500 (for the “Eurodots”) to almost two million (India). Data are from the incomparable CIA World Factbook.
You can see that, broadly, the bigger your country, the less you are represented in your legislature. Interestingly, the UK (population 60m) has the biggest parliament (659 members) of anyone (eg India 545, USA 435, Philippines 206), other than the mighty EU (732 MEPs). And the EU is supposed to have a democratic deficit.
Rumours, Truth, Goodness, Usefulness and Socrates Keep this philosophy in
mind the next time you either hear, or are about to repeat a rumour ... “Wait a moment,”
Socrates replied. “Before you tell me, I’d like you to apply a
little test. It’s called the Triple Filter Test.” “Triple filter?”,
asked the man. “That’s right,” Socrates continued. “Before
you talk to me about my student, let’s take a moment to filter what
you’re going to say. The first filter is Truth. Have you
made absolutely sure that what you are about to tell me is true?”
“No,” the man said, “actually I just heard about it and...”
“All right,” said
Socrates. “So you don’t really know if it’s true or not”.
“Now let’s try the second filter, the filter of Goodness. Is what you are about to tell me about my student something good?” “No, Socrates, on the contrary...” “So,” Socrates interjected, “you want to tell me something bad about him, even though you’re not certain it’s true?” The man shrugged, a little embarrassed. Socrates continued. “You
may still pass the test though, because there is a third filter - the
filter of Usefulness. Is what you want to tell me about my
student going to be useful to me?” “No, not really.”
“Well,”
concluded Socrates, “if what you want to tell me is neither True or
Good nor even Useful, why tell it to me at all?” Feeling defeated and
ashamed, the man slunk off. This is the reason Socrates was a great philosopher and held in such high esteem. It also explains why he never found out that his student Plato was sleeping with his wife.
Who said dentistry wasn't fun ? In Hong Kong school students, under the watchful eye of the HK Dental Association (founder in 1950 a certain Dr Allwright), just earned a place in the Guinness Book of Records for tying together the world's longest length of dental floss. After weeks of training and practice, 580 nimble-fingered youngsters co-operated to tie 25-centimetre segments of floss together till they provided a single length of 524.2 metres. What a useful enterprise. The next challenge is to find someone who wants half a kilometer of grubby dental floss.
Quote : “I'm never disappointed in my Secretary of Defence. He's doing a fabulous job, and America's lucky to have him in the position he's in.” President Georg |
During the ceremonies
in Dublin to welcome the ten new
countries into the EU on 1st May, I wandered around the 30-odd stalls
representing existing, new and would-be member states set up in a street
near the Irish parliament. In the Finnish tent, there was a small
poster about Mieskuoro Huutajat. 
North
Korea in last week's (subscription only) 
