Friday, January 16, 2009
Hell Hole
One day after Ethiopean troops pulled out of the Somali capital of Mogadishu, Somali rebels have attacked the presidential palace. The group, seeking to establish in Somalia a Muslim state, say they will now turn to the thousands of AU peacekeepers in the country as targets, reports the LA Times.
Failed State
The death toll from Zimbabwe's cholera outbreak hit 2,201 today, and there is no sign it is under control. Meanwhile, 1,550 new cases are being reported daily, with the grand total of infected people standing at 41,986.
The Washington Post says that the disease is due to the country's crumbling health care system and economy -- many doctors can no longer afford to work.
In related news, the country has also rolled out a new $100 trillion bank note -- worth about $30 US -- to fight back the dollarisation process underway. Yes, you read that right; 100 trillion, with a T.
The Washington Post says that the disease is due to the country's crumbling health care system and economy -- many doctors can no longer afford to work.
In related news, the country has also rolled out a new $100 trillion bank note -- worth about $30 US -- to fight back the dollarisation process underway. Yes, you read that right; 100 trillion, with a T.
White Smoke
The UN is accusing Israel of illegal use of phosphorous munitions, saying such bombs hit their facility today. In the facility were thousands of tons of food and medicine aid.
Human Rights Watch says it has witnessed "dozens and dozens" of such bombs used in heavily civilian-populated areas.
The Israeli army says it uses all weapons legally.
The BBC put it guardedly, saying "there is no way independently to explain the contradiction between both sides' reports, as Israel has prevented international journalists from entering Gaza since its offensive began."
Human Rights Watch says it has witnessed "dozens and dozens" of such bombs used in heavily civilian-populated areas.
The Israeli army says it uses all weapons legally.
The BBC put it guardedly, saying "there is no way independently to explain the contradiction between both sides' reports, as Israel has prevented international journalists from entering Gaza since its offensive began."
Something to Think About
The CFR asks if peaceful elections in Ghana are an anomaly or a signal of a wider trend to follow throughout Africa.
What do you think?
What do you think?
This is Not News
Condoleezza Rice and Tzivi Livni signed today a "Memorandum of Understanding" concerning the prevention of the supply of arms and related materials to terrorist groups. Whoopity-doo.
ECB Rate Cut
The Economist takes a look at the European Central Bank's recent rate cut and the state of the European economy (hint: it's dismal).
The Celtic Tiger of yesteryear seems to have its tail between its legs these days; the article notes that Ireland and Spain are seeing the fastest retreats in consumer spending. Germany has seen dramatic falls in its exports, a large source of the nation's GDP.
The Celtic Tiger of yesteryear seems to have its tail between its legs these days; the article notes that Ireland and Spain are seeing the fastest retreats in consumer spending. Germany has seen dramatic falls in its exports, a large source of the nation's GDP.
On Day One
Obama told USA Today that he plans, "on day one," to appoint a special team of diplomats to tackle the Israel-Gaza conflict.
Obama acknowledged the issue is interwoven into the politics of the entire Middle East, signaling a departure from Bush's strategy, which tended to isolate the issue.
Obama acknowledged the issue is interwoven into the politics of the entire Middle East, signaling a departure from Bush's strategy, which tended to isolate the issue.
New York City Game
Attorney General-designate Eric Holder laid out a somewhat expansive, if not ambiguous, definition of torture in his Senate confirmation hearing Thursday, saying that waterboarding and some other methods approved under the Bush administration do constitute torture.
The decisions regarding torture will have consequences that defy easy solutions. With many of the tactics used to gain information in Guantanamo deemed as torturous, such evidence must be thrown out in court, only complicating the matter of what to do with and how to try those detainees still in holding.
Still, many upon release have gone on to fight against America throughout the world, whether they were a threat to America before or as a result of their time in Guantanamo. "I've struggled with that," said Holder. "We're going to have to come up with an American solution."
Holder also voiced a strong desire to bring the Justice Department back to a standing where it represents "not one president, not one political party, but the people."
In the morning session of Holder's first hearing, democratic senator from Wisconsin Herb Kohl, in making sure that Holder understood the Attorney General must act independently of the president, asked:
The decisions regarding torture will have consequences that defy easy solutions. With many of the tactics used to gain information in Guantanamo deemed as torturous, such evidence must be thrown out in court, only complicating the matter of what to do with and how to try those detainees still in holding.
Still, many upon release have gone on to fight against America throughout the world, whether they were a threat to America before or as a result of their time in Guantanamo. "I've struggled with that," said Holder. "We're going to have to come up with an American solution."
Holder also voiced a strong desire to bring the Justice Department back to a standing where it represents "not one president, not one political party, but the people."
In the morning session of Holder's first hearing, democratic senator from Wisconsin Herb Kohl, in making sure that Holder understood the Attorney General must act independently of the president, asked:
"(Obama) is reported to have considerable skills as a basketball player, and you have indicated to me. . .that you also are a person of considerable skill. In the event, Mr. Holder, that he invites you to the gym for a little one-on-one, will you promise us and the American people that you will do everything in your power to defeat him as badly as you can?"
To which the Honorable Mr. Holder replied:
"Senator Kohl -- he's ten years younger than me; he plays a lot more frequently than I do. Having said that, I got a New York City game. I come from the city that produced Connie Hawkins, Kareem Abdul Jabar, Nate "Tiny" Archibald; I learned how to play ball at PS127 in Queens. If you give me a little time and a little space to get back in shape, I think I could hang with him. I don't think I'll ever be in a position to beat him, nor do I think that would be a wise thing to do.
Starving
Kenya is now making pleas for international food aid after a famine has left 10 million hungry. The government has labeled the famine a national emergency.
“The primary cause is the severe drought we are currently facing, including the failure of the short-rains throughout most of the country and the cumulative effects of four consecutive poor rain seasons in the last two year," said President Kibaki.
Kibaki also laid some blame on the nation's post-election violence this past year, which he said had "severly disrupted the planting season."
“The primary cause is the severe drought we are currently facing, including the failure of the short-rains throughout most of the country and the cumulative effects of four consecutive poor rain seasons in the last two year," said President Kibaki.
Kibaki also laid some blame on the nation's post-election violence this past year, which he said had "severly disrupted the planting season."
Balance of Power
Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai will meet with President Robert Mugabe in an effort to salvage the decrepit power-sharing deal between the two.
I'm unsure why the media continues to call Tsvangirai the "opposition leader" when the elections in Zimbabwe are long behind us and the so-called "unity government," which is entirely in disrepair, is supposed to be leading.
The article refers to the meeting as one of Zimbabwe's "last chances" of saving itself from becoming a failed state, but it is obvious Zimbabwe, largely due to Mugabe's dereliction of duty and leadership, has already earned itself that label. I think the international community or the AU need to apply pressure on Mugabe to get the hell out of there.
I'm unsure why the media continues to call Tsvangirai the "opposition leader" when the elections in Zimbabwe are long behind us and the so-called "unity government," which is entirely in disrepair, is supposed to be leading.
The article refers to the meeting as one of Zimbabwe's "last chances" of saving itself from becoming a failed state, but it is obvious Zimbabwe, largely due to Mugabe's dereliction of duty and leadership, has already earned itself that label. I think the international community or the AU need to apply pressure on Mugabe to get the hell out of there.
I'm Not a Copy Editor
Afghanistan's private sector seems to be having trouble importing certain necessary staples, though the government denies there are problems.
Governement efforts to buy other staples seemed to have hit a roadblock as well.
Governement efforts to buy other staples seemed to have hit a roadblock as well.
Lashkar-e-Tai-Notgunnawork in Pakistan Anymore
Pakistan says it has shut down five training camps, all publications and banned all websites of the outlawed Jamaatud Dawa and Laskar-e-Taiba terrorist groups, that latter of which has been widely accused of carrying out the attacks in Mumbai.
Is it Clear that I'm Sick of Writing Headlines Yet?
UK Foreign Secretary David Milliband, who made headlines the other day (seen here checking out a goat's arse) decrying the Bush administration's use of the term "war on terror", travelled to Pakistan today to urge the governement to move quicker in their probe of the Mumbai terrorists.
Milliband said he believes Islamabad is committed to uncovering the facts, but says the "whole international community wants Pakistan to go further and go faster."
Milliband has disagreed with India that the attacks were carried out by Pakistani state institutions, but that he has no doubt the attack did originate from within Pakistan.
Milliband said he believes Islamabad is committed to uncovering the facts, but says the "whole international community wants Pakistan to go further and go faster."
Milliband has disagreed with India that the attacks were carried out by Pakistani state institutions, but that he has no doubt the attack did originate from within Pakistan.
Thai Brutality
A boat carrying 46 refugees from Burma was intercepted off a southern Island of Thailand this morning, reports the BBC.
This comes as some have accused the Thai military of taking boatloads of Burmese asylum-seekers deep into the Indian Ocean on motorless boats with no food, then setting the refugees adrift.
The military is denying the claims, but testimony taken from dehydrated and exhausted survivors found in neighboring Indonesia or on the Andaman Island well off the coast of Thailand described brutal treatment from Thai security forces.
The refugees are of a Burmese minority group known as Rohingyas, a Muslim group of Indo-origin seen by the Buddhist rulership in Burma as the lowest of the low. Rising numbers of Rohingyas in Bangladesh and Thailand are seen by some as a security threat with possible ties to Islamic extremists, though there is no evidence of this.
The Thai government has ordered an investigation into the matter, declaring its dedication to dealing humanely with immigration.
This comes as some have accused the Thai military of taking boatloads of Burmese asylum-seekers deep into the Indian Ocean on motorless boats with no food, then setting the refugees adrift.
The military is denying the claims, but testimony taken from dehydrated and exhausted survivors found in neighboring Indonesia or on the Andaman Island well off the coast of Thailand described brutal treatment from Thai security forces.
The refugees are of a Burmese minority group known as Rohingyas, a Muslim group of Indo-origin seen by the Buddhist rulership in Burma as the lowest of the low. Rising numbers of Rohingyas in Bangladesh and Thailand are seen by some as a security threat with possible ties to Islamic extremists, though there is no evidence of this.
The Thai government has ordered an investigation into the matter, declaring its dedication to dealing humanely with immigration.
Shake-Up
The South Korean government is in the midst of a large shake-up; heads of the nation's major agencies -- the Prosecutor General, the National Tax Service (NTS), National Intelligence Service (NIS) and the National Police Agency (NPA) -- are all expected to be renamed as early as this weekend.
The shake-up comes after NTS leader Han Sang-ryule had announced plans to resign. Han has been mired in corruption and bribery allegations, says the Korea Times, including giving an expensive painting to his predecessor -- all accusations Han denies.
The shake-up comes after NTS leader Han Sang-ryule had announced plans to resign. Han has been mired in corruption and bribery allegations, says the Korea Times, including giving an expensive painting to his predecessor -- all accusations Han denies.
More Talk
Diplomatic efforts to end the war in Gaza have intensified yet again, but I'd put my money on Israel stopping whenever she feels ready.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon is in the West Bank, Israeli Defense Minister Tzivi Lipni is in Washington, and new Arab leadership meetings are being held in Kuwait and Qatar.
Egyptian and Saudi Arabian officials declined the Doha, Qatar talks and are headed to Kuwait -- a sign of a major rift in the Arab world, say some.
The leadership in Doha recognizes Palestinian political factions Hamas, Islamic Jihad and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), whereas Egypt, Saudi Arabia (both meeting in Kuwait) and Western nations have sidelined such factions in cease fire talks, seeking to delegitimize the groups. The former want to condemn Israel, show solidarity with Palestine and keep the US and the West out of the Middle East; the latter seek to find a so-called moderate solution and keep Iran -- Hamas' main sponsor -- out of their region.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon is in the West Bank, Israeli Defense Minister Tzivi Lipni is in Washington, and new Arab leadership meetings are being held in Kuwait and Qatar.
Egyptian and Saudi Arabian officials declined the Doha, Qatar talks and are headed to Kuwait -- a sign of a major rift in the Arab world, say some.
The leadership in Doha recognizes Palestinian political factions Hamas, Islamic Jihad and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), whereas Egypt, Saudi Arabia (both meeting in Kuwait) and Western nations have sidelined such factions in cease fire talks, seeking to delegitimize the groups. The former want to condemn Israel, show solidarity with Palestine and keep the US and the West out of the Middle East; the latter seek to find a so-called moderate solution and keep Iran -- Hamas' main sponsor -- out of their region.
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