Wednesday, August 02, 2006

Another US Faliure

While the Middle East burns, and Afghanistan moves towards becoming the same old Islamic Republic it was under the Taliban, let us not forget that other American regional faliure; Somalia. Clearly freedom and democracy to these folks means Islam, not capitalist democracy. Opps.

Lawmakers' exodus leaves Somalia reeling

Somalia's government was trying to regroup on Wednesday after nearly 30 lawmakers resigned in less than a week, saying the virtually powerless administration has failed to reconcile with Islamic militants who have taken over the capital.

"The prime minister has failed to talk to the Islamic union," said Hasaan Abshir Farah, one of six ministers who stepped down overnight from Somalia's 275-member parliament.

Four resigned on Tuesday and 18 resigned late last week.

The administration was formed two years ago with the support of the United Nations to help Somalia emerge from more than a decade of anarchy, but it has no power outside its base in Baidoa, 250km from the capital, Mogadishu.


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Hezbollah Are Not Terrorists

As I said here Hezbollah is a nationalist movement, a poltical organization and civil defense army for the imporverished residents of Lebanon. As Juan Cole succinctly points out;

What is Hizbullah?

Western and Israeli pundits keep comparing Hizbullah to al-Qaeda. It is a huge conceptual error. There is a crucial difference between an international terrorist network like al-Qaeda, which can be disrupted by good old policing techniques (such as inserting an agent in the Western Union office in Karachi), and a sub-nationalist movement.

Al-Qaeda is some 5,000 multinational volunteers organized in tiny cells.

Hizbullah is a mass expression of subnationalism that has the loyalty of some 1.3 million highly connected and politically mobilized peasants and slum dwellers. Over a relatively compact area.

I take sub-nationalism as a concept from Anthony D. Smith. It would be most familiar to Western readers under the rubric of the Irish Catholics of North Ireland, or even the Scots of the UK. Subnationalism, like the larger, over-arching nationalism, is a mass movement.

Thus, a very large number of the Pushtuns in Afghanistan are sub-nationalists with a commitment to Pushtun dominance. They deeply resent the victory of the Northern Alliance (i.e. Tajiks, Hazara Shiites, and Uzbeks) in 2001-2002. A lot of what our press calls resurgent "Taliban" activity is just Pushtun irredentism. There are approximately 14 million Pushtuns in Afghanistan and another 14 million or so in Pakistan.

The continuing war in Afghanistan is not against the Taliban but the Pashtun, poor farmers and their only economical crop.

Fierce clashes around Afghan opium centre

War on Afghan opium farming an "absolute disaster"

So why is Canada involved in this opium war? Which the Harpocrites refuse to call a war! And which is causing the deaths of our troops. Why be where we are not wanted. Afghan Farmers Resentful

Oh yeah we are protecting democracy, Afghani women and girls and their ability to go to school and work in the new fledgling Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. Islamic republic. Afghan 'virtue' cops concern diplomats

A republic that allowed a Canadian to die for opening a school for women and girls. A Canadian abandoned by the Harpocrites, doing the real work of reconstruction, which was what the current Afghan mission was supposed to be about, but of course isn't.

A tip o the blog to Rusty Idols for this.

Also See:

Afghanistan

Israel

Lebanon



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Don't Cry For Me Little Havana

I like it when I can say; I told ya so.


Experts: Belief that Castro’s Illness Will Trigger Change in Cuba,
Premature

When news reports hit early this week that Fidel Castro had transferred the reins of power to his brother while he underwent serious gastrointestinal surgery, pictures of dancing expatriate Cubans and Cuban Americans in the streets of Miami flashed on television screens.

But suggestions of the Cuban leader’s imminent demise, as well as that of his form of government, may be greatly exaggerated.


Fidel Castro: The Last Titan

While the Cuban community in Miami is ecstatic, believing that Fidel’s illness and possible absence brings their day closer, the evidence points to the contrary. Going by all news reports there is a stark contrast between the scenes of exultation in Miami and the widespread mood, somber, hopeful, stoic, in Cuba. There is also a glaring gap between the reactions in Miami and those in the rest of Latin America. Whatever the outcome of Fidel’s health crisis, the repugnant scenes in Miami have widened the moral gulf between native and rightwing émigré Cubans, and between the latter and the rest of Latin America. Whatever the mirages of transition pursued by the White House, Fidel’s illness makes the reclaiming of Havana by Miami less not more likely.

In his Cuba: A New History, a work that is rather critical of Fidel Castro, Richard Gott, veteran commentator on Latin America, author of a standard work on the region’s guerrilla movements and one of those who identified Che Guevara’s body in Bolivia, concludes with an unconventional observation, namely that the post Castro transition had already taken place:

‘Personally I expect little change in the years ahead, or even when Castro dies. Cuba has already been governed for several years by a post-Castro government. Raul Castro runs the armed forces today as he has done since 1959. Ricardo Alarcon at the national assembly is the country’s political guru, aware of shifts in public opinion as well as a long serving and expert negotiator with the United States. Carlos lage is the prime minister and controller of the country’s economy. Felipe Perez Roque is a sure hand at foreign affairs, sustaining Cuba’s extraordinary worldwide support. This is a more than competent team that could run the affairs of any country at any time, as one admiring western ambassador explained to me.

By Stephen Gibbs
BBC News, Cuba

On the streets of Havana there has been a remarkable sense of calm, almost nonchalance, in the face of the dramatic news that President Castro has undergone complicated surgery to stem intestinal bleeding.

Poster of Fidel Castro in Havana
President Castro's exhortations to Cuban remain highly visible

People have been going to work as normal. Shops remain open. Cinemas are full.

In the shadow of one of the posters of the smiling president that last year were put up around the capital, pasted with the words "Vamos Bien" ("we are doing well"), Dinorah Padron, a retired nurse in her 60s, expresses an opinion that reflects the thoughts of many Cubans of her generation.

"We think he will be better very soon", she says. "He's healthy".

After 47 years in power many assume that President Castro will live, if not for ever, then at least for the foreseeable future.

"He has to recover", said David Santos, 54, who was wearing a revolutionary T-shirt and was on his way to see his grandchildren. "He is our leader, the maximum, the best."



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Cuba



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Hey Richard I R A Communist

Richard over at the misnamed Let Fredom Reign, or is it Rain? Cry me a river Richard.Anyways he takes umberage at those of us supporting Cuba. Cuba stupid, the people, not Castro. And not the exile terrorist community in Maimi. He says:

Under the SpotLight - Blogging Dippers

Here are some of the headlines from the "Blogging Dippers" aggregator this morning:
Ever wonder what would happen if we let the socialists retake control of Canada? Methinks they should rename themselves. "The Blogging Communists" would be more appropriate.

Yep wll ya got me on that one, Richard I already am a blogging Communist, albeit a Libertarian one. Heh, Heh.

As for the claim about socialists taking control of Canada, we already have a one party state here, its called Alberta, and it is ruled by Conservatives, so we couldn't do worse.

Also See:

Cuba

One Party State

Libertarian Communist



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Before MTV


MTV celebrates its 25th birthday. Its all growed up now. However its claim to fame being the rise and advent of the Rock Video and the Video VJ is suspect. The first ever Rock Video was Frank Zappa's 200 Motels made in 1971. While it was a movie, it was actually recorded on Video and transfered to 35mm. Making Zappa the first Rock Video producer and VJ.


Also See:

Classical Rock




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One Party State


What does the One Party State of Alberta and the One Party State of Cuba have in common? Sherrit Inc.

In Cuba, it's business as usual


Also See:

Cuba

One Party State



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Ghouls

The reactionary terrorists in Maimi were out in the streets celebrating the pending death of Fidel Castro.Miami Cubans celebrate, plan for long-anticipated end to Castro's rule Ghouls. He isn't dead yet. They can hope, however even if he passes on their mafia/cia/batista politics will not be welcomed back in Liberated Cuba. Regardless of who is in charge. Why would the people who live in the most developed nation in the region want to return to the horrors of American style capitalism?

Also See:

Cuba



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Feel Free To Kill Canadians

Under the Harpocrites Israel is given a free hand to kill Canadian civilians and UN peacekeepers. Unlike the Liberals, who let the U.S. do that to us. But at least under the Liberals they protested the Canadian deaths by 'friendly fire'. This isn't even friendly and the Harpocrties cheer it on, blaming Hezbollah.
Hello, earth to Harper, it was Israeli missles that killed Canadians. Israel who refuses to consider a ceasefire. Israel the terrorist war criminal state.
And if the Israel State Terrorists illegally arrest and detain you and you are Canadian, don't expect any support from the Harpocrites.However they will email you a fundraising letter!

Also See:

Israel

Lebanon




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Misleading Headline


Mackay Holds Fast

Oh I thought he was fasting. Instead he is making sure he gets another date with the cougar of the South, Connie Rice.

Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay used apocalyptic language to condemn Hezbollah and brush aside suggestions by opposition critics that he was absent during the early part of the latest Middle East conflagration.

Also See:

McKay


Israel

Lebanon




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Now We Are Threatening


Heard on the radio the latest Census Canada ad, ominous male narrator telling me that "by law my household MUST complete a census form". Desperately seeking Albertans to comply with the law. So much for the carrot; ads cajoling us to complete the census, Census Beer (only available in Alberta, eh) The Census ended in May, it's August, and still the civil disobedience of Albertans continues, or else they are all so busy working they have no time to fill in the stupid form.
See: Census


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