The Kurds in northern Iraq have been up to dirty tricks, kidnapping several hundreds of the minority Arabs and Turkomens. They are abetted by the US military.
From such activities, it’s just a short hop, skip and jump towards ethnic cleansing.
The US is undoubtedly keen to have a friendly Kurdish government in control of the oil-rich north. Washington has always nurtured all sorts of dictatorships provided those regimes like the ones in Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, etc remain under their political patronage and control.
Should civil war breaks out in Iraq, a very distinct probability in the intermediate future, and the country splits asunder into independent segments controlled by ethnic groupings, won’t it just be dandy to have the oil-rich northern Iraq become the new Republic of Kurdistan, assuredly a staunch ally of the USA?
Hah, that glorious black gold!
Saturday, June 18, 2005
Friday, June 17, 2005
The NW Frontier – Sharia vs Lust! (3)
The most horrid story went like so:
Two clans lived in a village in Pakistan. Call them clans A (for aggressor) and V (victim) respectively. Apparently A-clan was of a higher caste than V-clan, though I wonder how the hell this could have existed in the claimed egalitarian society of the Islamic world.
A bastard from A-clan sodomised a 12-year boy from V-clan, but that was not enough for the animal. He and his clansmen fabricated a story that the 12-year old had sex with a 30-year old woman from A-clan, which was a no-no because of the caste bull$h*t. They took the issue to the village elders, who, would you believe, were coincidentally made up of other beasts from A-clan - 'A' now stands for 'animals' as well as @r$ehole$.
The tribal council passed a sentence of ‘revenge rape’ . What a f**ked-up council to invent a sentence obviously set up for the base gratification of animals. The victim chosen from V-clan was Mukhtaran Mai (or Bibi), the sister of the boy. Bearded beasts from A-clan including a couple of the lustful tribal council members gang-raped her.
Thus she was sexually brutalised on a fabricated case, AFTER her 12 year old brother had already been sodomised by a beast from A-clan.
Initially, the authorities took no action as such sexual abuses of women to satisfy the lust of animals were considered the norm. But due to subsequent international outcry, the Pakistani government had the criminals arrested and tried, with 6 of them sentenced to death.
Mukhtaran Mai showed the world what sort of woman she is. Despite and in spite of her personal trauma, she established two schools in her village with the compensation money given by the Paki government and donations from other countries.
In the meantime, hey ho, the rapists were all released by the Pakistani High Courts due to ‘lack of evidence’.
NOW, to add insult to injury, the Paki government has banned Mukhtaran Mai from leaving the country, on the recommendations of the Pakistani ambassador to Washington. Mai has been invited to the USA by Amnesty International. Can you beat that?
How f**kup and @r$ehole-lic (excuse my creative profanities on such occasions) can a country and its government be.
Australia has just entertained the Paki President on his first official visit Downunder. What an absolute disgrace to have an official from that terrible country, one that has the nerve to proudly claim it’s ruled by Sharia laws.
My skin crawled at the very thought of Australia being buddies with a country having such immoral values. My blood is still boiling away at the very injustice and further humiliation of an already humiliated innocent woman.
Though I am not above targeting certain national leaders, I am not one to slander an entire country. But I’ll make an exception for detestable Pakistan.
No wonder so many of the Pakistani are called ‘Khans’, though I would spell that name starting with a capital “C”.
Related posts:
The NW Frontier – Sharia vs Lust! (2)
The NW Frontier – Sharia vs Lust!
Two clans lived in a village in Pakistan. Call them clans A (for aggressor) and V (victim) respectively. Apparently A-clan was of a higher caste than V-clan, though I wonder how the hell this could have existed in the claimed egalitarian society of the Islamic world.
A bastard from A-clan sodomised a 12-year boy from V-clan, but that was not enough for the animal. He and his clansmen fabricated a story that the 12-year old had sex with a 30-year old woman from A-clan, which was a no-no because of the caste bull$h*t. They took the issue to the village elders, who, would you believe, were coincidentally made up of other beasts from A-clan - 'A' now stands for 'animals' as well as @r$ehole$.
The tribal council passed a sentence of ‘revenge rape’ . What a f**ked-up council to invent a sentence obviously set up for the base gratification of animals. The victim chosen from V-clan was Mukhtaran Mai (or Bibi), the sister of the boy. Bearded beasts from A-clan including a couple of the lustful tribal council members gang-raped her.
Thus she was sexually brutalised on a fabricated case, AFTER her 12 year old brother had already been sodomised by a beast from A-clan.
Initially, the authorities took no action as such sexual abuses of women to satisfy the lust of animals were considered the norm. But due to subsequent international outcry, the Pakistani government had the criminals arrested and tried, with 6 of them sentenced to death.
Mukhtaran Mai showed the world what sort of woman she is. Despite and in spite of her personal trauma, she established two schools in her village with the compensation money given by the Paki government and donations from other countries.
In the meantime, hey ho, the rapists were all released by the Pakistani High Courts due to ‘lack of evidence’.
NOW, to add insult to injury, the Paki government has banned Mukhtaran Mai from leaving the country, on the recommendations of the Pakistani ambassador to Washington. Mai has been invited to the USA by Amnesty International. Can you beat that?
How f**kup and @r$ehole-lic (excuse my creative profanities on such occasions) can a country and its government be.
Australia has just entertained the Paki President on his first official visit Downunder. What an absolute disgrace to have an official from that terrible country, one that has the nerve to proudly claim it’s ruled by Sharia laws.
My skin crawled at the very thought of Australia being buddies with a country having such immoral values. My blood is still boiling away at the very injustice and further humiliation of an already humiliated innocent woman.
Though I am not above targeting certain national leaders, I am not one to slander an entire country. But I’ll make an exception for detestable Pakistan.
No wonder so many of the Pakistani are called ‘Khans’, though I would spell that name starting with a capital “C”.
Related posts:
The NW Frontier – Sharia vs Lust! (2)
The NW Frontier – Sharia vs Lust!
American Nazis!
US Senator Dick Durbin has accused the guards at Guantanamo Bay military prison as Nazis.
After reading out a FBI report that described Guantanamo prisoners as being chained to the floor without food or water in extreme temperatures, Durbin asked of his audience:
"If I read this to you and did not tell you that it was an FBI agent describing what Americans had done to prisoners in their control, you would most certainly believe this must have been done by Nazis, Soviets in their gulags, or some mad regime - Pol Pot or others - that had no concern for human beings.”
The sad truth is that, under George Bush and his neo-cons, the USA has slipped down the slopes towards brutality and criminality from its traditional moral high ground. In the immediate aftermath of 9/11 and the early part of the Iraq Invasion, many troubled Americans were silenced by fear of appearing unpatriotic or disloyal to the US soldiers.
The Administration and top GOP leaders of course attempted to drag Senator Durbin’s qualified comments (hurled only at the Guantanamo military) into a wider context as if Durbin had accused and besmirched the entire US Armed Service. The aim is obviously an attempt to embarrass Durbin but the Senator has had enough of the Bush Administration's unAmerican atrocities and is standing firm with his comments.
After reading out a FBI report that described Guantanamo prisoners as being chained to the floor without food or water in extreme temperatures, Durbin asked of his audience:
"If I read this to you and did not tell you that it was an FBI agent describing what Americans had done to prisoners in their control, you would most certainly believe this must have been done by Nazis, Soviets in their gulags, or some mad regime - Pol Pot or others - that had no concern for human beings.”
The sad truth is that, under George Bush and his neo-cons, the USA has slipped down the slopes towards brutality and criminality from its traditional moral high ground. In the immediate aftermath of 9/11 and the early part of the Iraq Invasion, many troubled Americans were silenced by fear of appearing unpatriotic or disloyal to the US soldiers.
The Administration and top GOP leaders of course attempted to drag Senator Durbin’s qualified comments (hurled only at the Guantanamo military) into a wider context as if Durbin had accused and besmirched the entire US Armed Service. The aim is obviously an attempt to embarrass Durbin but the Senator has had enough of the Bush Administration's unAmerican atrocities and is standing firm with his comments.
The Hong Kong Story Continues
Donald Tsang, a former civil servant has been overwhelmingly nominated by Hong Kong’s election committee members to replace Tung Chee Hwa as the territory’s new leader. The fact that Beijing is backing him helps. But he is very popular with the Hong Kong public as well, though he may be expected to toe the Beijing’s line.
Unfortunately some in Hong Kong, misled by its last British governor into imaging that Hong Kong could achieve independence of some kind, still bemoan that Beijing maintains power over the territory.
Look, could it have been any other way?
Of course Beijing will never ever let Hong Kong go its own way or even elect the leader of its choice or redesign its political system. If anything, Beijing has been tolerating the HK-ites' occasional bursts of protests and democratic rallies, but only because the mainland wants to provide a reassuring picture of democratic autonomy in Hong Kong to the Taiwanese people.
On the twilight of its colonial and sometimes draconian rule over 150 years, where the Chinese were always second or third class citizens, the British authority suddenly and hypocritically made a last minute show of democratic reforms, principally to show the world that it was not handing Hong Kong and its people over to a communist dictatorship – oh no, it was promoting democracy and independence for Hong Kong.
"See, they are independent people, not British citizens, therefore the UK had no responsibility for them. If the Hong Kongites get f**ked, it's strictly an affair between an independent territory and those Chinese across the border!"
The 11th hour hypocritical show of an impossible democracy had one sole objective - to wash British hands off 6 million of its slant-eyed yellow skin citizens.
Once the handover, including the 6 million ‘former’ British citizens, was completed the British government changed its immigration laws (amended previously to prevent HK-ites from claiming right of access into Britain) to allow 'more desirable' citizens of its other colonies, like Falkland Islands, to be accepted once again into the UK.
Unfortunately some in Hong Kong, misled by its last British governor into imaging that Hong Kong could achieve independence of some kind, still bemoan that Beijing maintains power over the territory.
Look, could it have been any other way?
Of course Beijing will never ever let Hong Kong go its own way or even elect the leader of its choice or redesign its political system. If anything, Beijing has been tolerating the HK-ites' occasional bursts of protests and democratic rallies, but only because the mainland wants to provide a reassuring picture of democratic autonomy in Hong Kong to the Taiwanese people.
On the twilight of its colonial and sometimes draconian rule over 150 years, where the Chinese were always second or third class citizens, the British authority suddenly and hypocritically made a last minute show of democratic reforms, principally to show the world that it was not handing Hong Kong and its people over to a communist dictatorship – oh no, it was promoting democracy and independence for Hong Kong.
"See, they are independent people, not British citizens, therefore the UK had no responsibility for them. If the Hong Kongites get f**ked, it's strictly an affair between an independent territory and those Chinese across the border!"
The 11th hour hypocritical show of an impossible democracy had one sole objective - to wash British hands off 6 million of its slant-eyed yellow skin citizens.
Once the handover, including the 6 million ‘former’ British citizens, was completed the British government changed its immigration laws (amended previously to prevent HK-ites from claiming right of access into Britain) to allow 'more desirable' citizens of its other colonies, like Falkland Islands, to be accepted once again into the UK.
US House of Rep Says No to Big Brother
America is finally waking up to the nefarious BS of Bush and his neo-cons who exploited the misery and confusion of 9/11 to slam draconian laws on a nation famed for its democracy, freedom and due process.
The House of Representatives has passed an amendment to the Big Brother component of Bush's very draconian USA Patriot Act.
The House of Representatives has passed an amendment to the Big Brother component of Bush's very draconian USA Patriot Act.
Cambodian Police Battled Canadian Child-Killers
Aussie kids are safe but a 3-year old Canadian boy was killed by unknown armed criminals.
The criminals had seized pupils of the International School in Siem Reap, near the Angkor Wat temple, as hostages before demanding arms and money. They had threatened to kill 30 hostages if their demands were not met. The poor Canadian kid was then cold bloodedly executed to show that they meant bloody business.
A gun battle ensued between the Cambodian police and hostage takers when the latter attempted to escape. One of the criminals was killed with a few others taken captive.
I have difficulty breathing just imaging the evil of those f**king murderous criminals, and I weep for the poor parents of that dead kid.
The criminals had seized pupils of the International School in Siem Reap, near the Angkor Wat temple, as hostages before demanding arms and money. They had threatened to kill 30 hostages if their demands were not met. The poor Canadian kid was then cold bloodedly executed to show that they meant bloody business.
A gun battle ensued between the Cambodian police and hostage takers when the latter attempted to escape. One of the criminals was killed with a few others taken captive.
I have difficulty breathing just imaging the evil of those f**king murderous criminals, and I weep for the poor parents of that dead kid.
Criminals of the Willing?
As the attack by the Coalition of the Willing on Iraqi has been determined to be illegal, Philippe Sands, QC, director of the Centre for International Courts and Tribunals at University College London, warned that Australia’s PM John Howard, British PM Tony Blair and US President George Bush and a few henchmen could face criminal prosecution for illegal agression against a sovereign country.
The charges are likely to apply even when these 3 and their cohorts leave office. They may even face extradition charges at some point in time.
But practically speaking, Professor Sands said that of the 3, John Howard will be the most likely candidate for prosecution because Australia doesn’t have much clout internationally.
The story seems to be that if the accusers can’t lay their hands on Bush or Blair, because no one will be likely to challenge the USA (and even Britain), they may go for the consolation prize in poor Howard.
The charges are likely to apply even when these 3 and their cohorts leave office. They may even face extradition charges at some point in time.
But practically speaking, Professor Sands said that of the 3, John Howard will be the most likely candidate for prosecution because Australia doesn’t have much clout internationally.
The story seems to be that if the accusers can’t lay their hands on Bush or Blair, because no one will be likely to challenge the USA (and even Britain), they may go for the consolation prize in poor Howard.
Thursday, June 16, 2005
Schapelle Corby's Appeal - Looking Rather Shaky
The Bali prosecutor Ida Bagus Wiswantanu is confident that Schapelle Corby’s appeal will fail, which if true, means that Corby will at best retain the 20 years sentence, or if the prosecutor succeeds in convincing the appeals court of the serious of her crime, have her sentence increased.
His confidence is chilling to say the least, but unfortunately he seems to be on more solid grounds than the circus on the other side.
And the saddest part is that in real life there is no such thing as a last minute rescue by a legal superman.
His confidence is chilling to say the least, but unfortunately he seems to be on more solid grounds than the circus on the other side.
And the saddest part is that in real life there is no such thing as a last minute rescue by a legal superman.
Sophie Panopoulos - Silly She Ain't!
John Howard’s draconian detention policy for both illegal immigrants and refugees doesn’t sit well with some of his own Liberal Party MPs. They deem it too harsh and unAustralian.
Led by the Petro Georgiou, MP for Kooyong, a number of Liberal Party MPs may cross party lines to vote for a Private Member’s Bill (to be introduced by Georgiou) that calls for the release of refugees’ children and long time detainees into the Australian community while their cases continue to be heard. They don’t want to see detainees ‘lost forever’ behind barbwires.
Georgiou's constituency, Kooyong is a Liberal Party’s blue ribbon seat, virtually the very heart of political conservatism, so he isn't your typical do-gooder leftwinger. The spectre of refugees' children held behind barbwire has been and still is very troubling even to many conservative Australians like Georgiou.
While rare even in Australia, crossing party lines to vote against one’s own party had occurred in Australian Parliament before, and reflected the admirable consciences of some MPs. Even the now-very-rightwing Attorney General (and former Immigration Minister) Philip Ruddock had once crossed party lines to vote on his conscience.
This is one political gesture of conscience that is unlikely to be seen in the Malaysian or Singaporean parliaments.
However, Sophie Panopoulos, also a Liberal Party MP, has condemned Georgiou and his group for acting like political terrorists in threatening the government with the embarrassment of crossing party lines over an issue that is supported by the majority of Liberal Party members.
She is of course wrong in her belief that the majority of her Party MPs supported the hardline detention policy, as silence among the others doesn’t necessarily mean support. They could just be chickenhearted.
Some have condemned Sophie Panopoulos comments as downright ‘silly’. But I don’t think so. No, I don’t support her comments, but a silly woman she certainly isn't - in fact, far from it.
Sophie Panopoulos came to public notice during the last referendum on the issue of an Australian republic, where she proved to be a formidable speaker for the monarchist lobby. A lawyer, she’s smart, highly qualified, attractive, young, articulated and very vitriolic in her attacks on the Republican movements, so much so, that Malcolm Turnbull, a Liberal Party rising star, and the former leader of the Republican movement, in his book Fighting for the Republic described her as particularly ‘vicious’.
I have been observing Panopoulos' actions - one couldn't but help notice her the way she had gone about them. I reckon the ambitious and very savvy Panopoulos knows that the short cut to the top echelon of the Liberal Party is to project herself as an ardent and articulate supporter of PM John Howard, so as to attract his favourable notice. Hence her strategy appears to be always siding Howard, and in an ostentatious manner.
Howard is of course a staunch monarchist and the champion of the tough government’s policy on mandatory detention. Personally I am not sure whether Panopoulos is the monarchist that she portrayed herself to be, but what does that matter so long as Howard notices her, and he most certainly has.
But watch out for her career. This lady will surely climb up the political ladder.
Led by the Petro Georgiou, MP for Kooyong, a number of Liberal Party MPs may cross party lines to vote for a Private Member’s Bill (to be introduced by Georgiou) that calls for the release of refugees’ children and long time detainees into the Australian community while their cases continue to be heard. They don’t want to see detainees ‘lost forever’ behind barbwires.
Georgiou's constituency, Kooyong is a Liberal Party’s blue ribbon seat, virtually the very heart of political conservatism, so he isn't your typical do-gooder leftwinger. The spectre of refugees' children held behind barbwire has been and still is very troubling even to many conservative Australians like Georgiou.
While rare even in Australia, crossing party lines to vote against one’s own party had occurred in Australian Parliament before, and reflected the admirable consciences of some MPs. Even the now-very-rightwing Attorney General (and former Immigration Minister) Philip Ruddock had once crossed party lines to vote on his conscience.
This is one political gesture of conscience that is unlikely to be seen in the Malaysian or Singaporean parliaments.
However, Sophie Panopoulos, also a Liberal Party MP, has condemned Georgiou and his group for acting like political terrorists in threatening the government with the embarrassment of crossing party lines over an issue that is supported by the majority of Liberal Party members.
She is of course wrong in her belief that the majority of her Party MPs supported the hardline detention policy, as silence among the others doesn’t necessarily mean support. They could just be chickenhearted.
Some have condemned Sophie Panopoulos comments as downright ‘silly’. But I don’t think so. No, I don’t support her comments, but a silly woman she certainly isn't - in fact, far from it.
Sophie Panopoulos came to public notice during the last referendum on the issue of an Australian republic, where she proved to be a formidable speaker for the monarchist lobby. A lawyer, she’s smart, highly qualified, attractive, young, articulated and very vitriolic in her attacks on the Republican movements, so much so, that Malcolm Turnbull, a Liberal Party rising star, and the former leader of the Republican movement, in his book Fighting for the Republic described her as particularly ‘vicious’.
I have been observing Panopoulos' actions - one couldn't but help notice her the way she had gone about them. I reckon the ambitious and very savvy Panopoulos knows that the short cut to the top echelon of the Liberal Party is to project herself as an ardent and articulate supporter of PM John Howard, so as to attract his favourable notice. Hence her strategy appears to be always siding Howard, and in an ostentatious manner.
Howard is of course a staunch monarchist and the champion of the tough government’s policy on mandatory detention. Personally I am not sure whether Panopoulos is the monarchist that she portrayed herself to be, but what does that matter so long as Howard notices her, and he most certainly has.
But watch out for her career. This lady will surely climb up the political ladder.
Japan's PM Koizumi Announces Retirement in 2006
Japan’s Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, with looks likened to Hollywood’s heart throb Richard Gere, has announced his retirement for September of next year, when his term as head of the liberal Democratic Party expires.
Australian Hostage in Iraq Rescued
A happy ending for Australian hostage in Iraq, Douglas Wood.
He was freed by Iraqi forces yesterday.
The American military also laid claim that they had supported the Iraqis in the rescue. However, after the fabricated story of the rescue of Jessica Lynch I am sceptical of any US heroic claims.
It's virtually equivalent to Ronald Reagan stating he wanted to send Rambo, yes, that movie character played by Sylvester Stallone, to Beirut to fight the Hezbollah. Wait for this, Reagan was actually applauded by Americans for such an idiotic statement of fantasy. Someone in Malaysia suggested that along the same wishful fantasizing, perhaps the Americans should send GI Jane to Baghdad too. Well, that's the inevitable consequences of an America hungry for heroes, where fictitious ones for them would even do.
Back to Douglas Wood's rescue - To what extent Australia’s top Imam, Sheik al Hilaly, had played in the Wood’s location and rescue remains unknown at this stage. If it is suspected that he had, through his intelligence, revealed the location to the Iraqi forces, his life may be in serious danger from the insurgents.
Sheik al Hilaly had been actually scheduled for a heart operation in Australia, but on hearing of Wood’s predicament, postponed his medical treatment and flew immediately to Iraq to try to secure Wood’s release.
Related:
Sheik al Hilaly – From Australian Villain to Australian Hero?
He was freed by Iraqi forces yesterday.
The American military also laid claim that they had supported the Iraqis in the rescue. However, after the fabricated story of the rescue of Jessica Lynch I am sceptical of any US heroic claims.
It's virtually equivalent to Ronald Reagan stating he wanted to send Rambo, yes, that movie character played by Sylvester Stallone, to Beirut to fight the Hezbollah. Wait for this, Reagan was actually applauded by Americans for such an idiotic statement of fantasy. Someone in Malaysia suggested that along the same wishful fantasizing, perhaps the Americans should send GI Jane to Baghdad too. Well, that's the inevitable consequences of an America hungry for heroes, where fictitious ones for them would even do.
Back to Douglas Wood's rescue - To what extent Australia’s top Imam, Sheik al Hilaly, had played in the Wood’s location and rescue remains unknown at this stage. If it is suspected that he had, through his intelligence, revealed the location to the Iraqi forces, his life may be in serious danger from the insurgents.
Sheik al Hilaly had been actually scheduled for a heart operation in Australia, but on hearing of Wood’s predicament, postponed his medical treatment and flew immediately to Iraq to try to secure Wood’s release.
Related:
Sheik al Hilaly – From Australian Villain to Australian Hero?
Wednesday, June 15, 2005
The Wahhabi N-Bomb!
There are growing suspicions and concerns that Saudi Arabia has approached Pakistan for assistance to develop the N-bomb. Saudi Arabia is a big financier of various Islamic countries, and possesses considerable hold over these poorer nations including Pakistan.
Pakistan has already shown that it could be utterly irresponsible in controlling nuclear weapon technology. While many blamed Pakistan's AQ Khan as the 'Merchant of Menace', a Pakistani friend told me Khan couldn't have made those illegal transfer of nuclear technology without the instructions or blessings of the military rulers.
The US, Europe and Australia are so concerned that they have now jointly urged the Arab Kingdom to open up more of its nuclear programmes for inspection by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
These nations are deeply troubled that the Saudis could be exempt from any outside policing of their nuclear agenda under an agreement, the Small Quantities Protocol (SQP), they have negotiated with the IAEA. The Saudis have a record of nuclear ambiguities, including reported interest in a weapons program.
If we remember that 15 0f the 19 attackers on 9/11 were Saudis, the nightmare of the Islamic bomb may be realised when the Wahhabi Saudis get their hands on one.
Pakistan has already shown that it could be utterly irresponsible in controlling nuclear weapon technology. While many blamed Pakistan's AQ Khan as the 'Merchant of Menace', a Pakistani friend told me Khan couldn't have made those illegal transfer of nuclear technology without the instructions or blessings of the military rulers.
The US, Europe and Australia are so concerned that they have now jointly urged the Arab Kingdom to open up more of its nuclear programmes for inspection by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
These nations are deeply troubled that the Saudis could be exempt from any outside policing of their nuclear agenda under an agreement, the Small Quantities Protocol (SQP), they have negotiated with the IAEA. The Saudis have a record of nuclear ambiguities, including reported interest in a weapons program.
If we remember that 15 0f the 19 attackers on 9/11 were Saudis, the nightmare of the Islamic bomb may be realised when the Wahhabi Saudis get their hands on one.
War Draft May be Back for Americans!
In 1973 after massive anti-war protests in the USA in the wake of 55,000 US troops killed in Vietnam and several hundreds of thousands wounded and maimed, the American Administration dismantled the unpopular military conscription. Many young Americans were drafted for military service in Vietnam, never to return.
508 Australians including 7 civilians were killed in that war.
Not everyone was drafted of course, and from this inequality and the shocking hypocrisy of Vietnam evaders in positions of power today to send other people’s sons and daughters to war which they themselves avoided, gave rise to the term chickenhawks – chicken in their personal patriotic commitments but hawkish in urging others to go to war.
The official definition of a chickenhawk is a person enthusiastic about war, provided someone else fights it; particularly when that enthusiasm is undimmed by personal experience with war; most emphatically when that lack of experience came in spite of ample opportunity in that person’s youth.
Now, with the unpopularity of the Iraqi war, where American dead may top 2000 two years after President Bush declared the end of combat operations in Iraq, young Americans are not enlisting in the country’s armed services.
The recruiting is so abysmally low that some Congressional members believe military draft may be back soon.
Canada, Sweden and a host of European countries will undoubtedly play host again to war objectors who may have to seek asylum beyond the reach of the US Administration.
508 Australians including 7 civilians were killed in that war.
Not everyone was drafted of course, and from this inequality and the shocking hypocrisy of Vietnam evaders in positions of power today to send other people’s sons and daughters to war which they themselves avoided, gave rise to the term chickenhawks – chicken in their personal patriotic commitments but hawkish in urging others to go to war.
The official definition of a chickenhawk is a person enthusiastic about war, provided someone else fights it; particularly when that enthusiasm is undimmed by personal experience with war; most emphatically when that lack of experience came in spite of ample opportunity in that person’s youth.
Now, with the unpopularity of the Iraqi war, where American dead may top 2000 two years after President Bush declared the end of combat operations in Iraq, young Americans are not enlisting in the country’s armed services.
The recruiting is so abysmally low that some Congressional members believe military draft may be back soon.
Canada, Sweden and a host of European countries will undoubtedly play host again to war objectors who may have to seek asylum beyond the reach of the US Administration.
Tuesday, June 14, 2005
Schapelle Corby Defence - Face That Launches a Thousand Doubts?
Mark Trowell, one of QC’s assigned by the Australian government to assist Schapelle Corby’s court appeal, has expressed surprise at the recruitment of an Indonesian soap starlet, Anisa Tri Hapsari, by the Corby Indonesian-based defence team.
Trowell thought the time involved in the publicity stunt, sweet looking as Hapsari certainly is, would have been better spent preparing the appeal grounds.
But then, the flamboyant Indonesian defence lawyer, Hotman Paris Hutapea has already demanded that the Australian government produce two key witnesses known only by their first names. This feeble clutch at straws has been based on an Australian drug convict’s hearsay evidence based on further hearsay evidence, that these two know who had been responsible for the marijuana in Corby's boogie bag. Another member of Corby’s defence team has even brazenly demanded the Australian government account for the 4 kg of marijuana found in Corby’s boogie bag.
Maybe that explains Paris Hutapea’s unusual confidence in his seemingly lack of appeal preparation, or his unrealistic confidence that the Australian government will meet all his demands. Maybe he has an ace up his sleeve? But then, maybe I am Ida Dalem Ketut Kresna Kapakisan.
Trowell stated what everyone knows, except it seems the Corby Indonesian-based defence team, that an appeal must have sufficient evidence to convince the judges to overturn the earlier conviction.
But then, as Helen of Troy was known as the face that launched a thousand ships, Paris Hutapea rather wishfully hopes that Anisa Tri Hapsari can be the face that will launch a thousand doubts – in the judges’ minds.
Trowell thought the time involved in the publicity stunt, sweet looking as Hapsari certainly is, would have been better spent preparing the appeal grounds.
But then, the flamboyant Indonesian defence lawyer, Hotman Paris Hutapea has already demanded that the Australian government produce two key witnesses known only by their first names. This feeble clutch at straws has been based on an Australian drug convict’s hearsay evidence based on further hearsay evidence, that these two know who had been responsible for the marijuana in Corby's boogie bag. Another member of Corby’s defence team has even brazenly demanded the Australian government account for the 4 kg of marijuana found in Corby’s boogie bag.
Maybe that explains Paris Hutapea’s unusual confidence in his seemingly lack of appeal preparation, or his unrealistic confidence that the Australian government will meet all his demands. Maybe he has an ace up his sleeve? But then, maybe I am Ida Dalem Ketut Kresna Kapakisan.
Trowell stated what everyone knows, except it seems the Corby Indonesian-based defence team, that an appeal must have sufficient evidence to convince the judges to overturn the earlier conviction.
But then, as Helen of Troy was known as the face that launched a thousand ships, Paris Hutapea rather wishfully hopes that Anisa Tri Hapsari can be the face that will launch a thousand doubts – in the judges’ minds.
French fries to freedom fries to freedom lies?
Republican Party representative for North Carolina, Congressman Walter Jones, famed for his cry for French fries to be renamed freedom fries, and French toast to freedom toast, when the French refused to back the illegal US attack on Iraq, has now changed his mind about the Iraqi invasion and occupation.
Nearly 2000 dead US service people and several thousands maimed have finally convinced him the US had been wrong to go to a war based on a pack of lies.
What now for freedom fries? Should the restaurant menu on Capitol Hill be changed back to French fries or more appropriately freedom lies?
Nearly 2000 dead US service people and several thousands maimed have finally convinced him the US had been wrong to go to a war based on a pack of lies.
What now for freedom fries? Should the restaurant menu on Capitol Hill be changed back to French fries or more appropriately freedom lies?
Monday, June 13, 2005
Who was Abraham? (20)
Based on the works of scholars, who will be revealed when the blogging for this topic ends. Works of other authors may be included, but where these are done, full acknowledgement will be made.
Advice: Those who may take offence in seeing biblical (OT) quotations or liberal discussion of OT biblical characters should not read this topic.
In Who was Abraham? (19), we discussed the allegorical incident in the Book of Exodus, where after nearly three decades of Horemheb’s rule, Moses or rather Akhenaten tried to reclaim his Pharaonic rights. To validate his claims of kingship he showed his Pharaonic sceptre with the brass serpent. And as the Bible narrates, his serpent swallowed the serpents of the Egyptian Pretender, demonstrating allegorically his more solid royal credentials.
Incidentally, Ahmad Osman author of Moses and Akhenaten quoted the Haggadah, the legendary part of the Talmud, that “the rod which Moses used ….. was shaped and engraved in the image of a sceptre”.
He also stated that the Hebrew word used to describe Moses’ staff was nahash, meaning both ‘serpent’ and ‘brass’.
Osman made particular mention of the biblical author of the Book of Exodus writing in Aaron rather than Moses as the thrower of the serpent-staff when in front of the Egyptian, whereas Moses did it by himself when he was with God. This was undoubtedly a deliberate attempt to distance Moses as far as possible from the royal Egyptian symbol.
Moses serpent rod was worshipped with incense in the Temple of Solomon until the time of King Hezekiah, who broke it up as part of his religious reforms (with political overtones).
"He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake into pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan." (2 Kings 18:4)
The term Nehushtan might have also implied that the worship of serpents was of ancient date in Israel.
The Koran presents Moses as the one who cast the serpent-staff in front of the Egyptian court. We will discuss the Koranic version later.
The other proof of Akhenaten’s royal rights to the throne was again presented as another allegory in the Bible. Moses was apparently taught by God (apart from showing off his serpent-staff) what he had to do in front of the Egyptians:
“And the lord said furthermore unto him, Put now thine hand into thy bosom. And he put his hand into his bosom: and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous as snow.” (Exodus 4:6)
Then he did the movement again, and the hand became normal. (Exodus 4:7)
And significantly God gave him this assurance:
“And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe thee, neither hearken to the voice of the first sign, then they will believe the voice of the second sign.” (Exodus 4:8)
It seems that the second trick, the hand signal was more important than the serpent sceptre. Ahmad Osman explains why.
The Egyptian kings celebrated the Sed festivals to rejuvenate their powers, which included rituals that required the showing of the serpent rod and secret hand signs.
In his book, Osman provided an example of scenes found in royal tombs to confirm these rituals. Only the Pharaoh and his high court officials could recognise the secret hand signals of the king.
The movement God supposedly taught Moses was eventually demonstrated in front of the people - presumably the relevant court officials, even though the Bible states ‘children of Israel’, which not surprisingly could be another disguising attempt by the biblical author of Exodus.
Again, probably as another masking intention, the Bible does not have, contrary to God’s instructions, Moses demonstrating the hand signals in front of the Pharaoh. The Bible states:
“And Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the children of Israel;
And Aaron spake all the words which the Lord had spoken unto Moses, and did the signs in the sight of the people.
And the people believed; and when they heard that the lord had visited the children of Israel, and that he had looked upon their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshipped.” (Exodus 4:29 to 31)
On the other hand, the Koran had no such qualms showing Akhenaten or Moses demonstrating the secret hand signs in front of the Pharaoh and court officials.
To be continued ……..
Advice: Those who may take offence in seeing biblical (OT) quotations or liberal discussion of OT biblical characters should not read this topic.
In Who was Abraham? (19), we discussed the allegorical incident in the Book of Exodus, where after nearly three decades of Horemheb’s rule, Moses or rather Akhenaten tried to reclaim his Pharaonic rights. To validate his claims of kingship he showed his Pharaonic sceptre with the brass serpent. And as the Bible narrates, his serpent swallowed the serpents of the Egyptian Pretender, demonstrating allegorically his more solid royal credentials.
Incidentally, Ahmad Osman author of Moses and Akhenaten quoted the Haggadah, the legendary part of the Talmud, that “the rod which Moses used ….. was shaped and engraved in the image of a sceptre”.
He also stated that the Hebrew word used to describe Moses’ staff was nahash, meaning both ‘serpent’ and ‘brass’.
Osman made particular mention of the biblical author of the Book of Exodus writing in Aaron rather than Moses as the thrower of the serpent-staff when in front of the Egyptian, whereas Moses did it by himself when he was with God. This was undoubtedly a deliberate attempt to distance Moses as far as possible from the royal Egyptian symbol.
Moses serpent rod was worshipped with incense in the Temple of Solomon until the time of King Hezekiah, who broke it up as part of his religious reforms (with political overtones).
"He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake into pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan." (2 Kings 18:4)
The term Nehushtan might have also implied that the worship of serpents was of ancient date in Israel.
The Koran presents Moses as the one who cast the serpent-staff in front of the Egyptian court. We will discuss the Koranic version later.
The other proof of Akhenaten’s royal rights to the throne was again presented as another allegory in the Bible. Moses was apparently taught by God (apart from showing off his serpent-staff) what he had to do in front of the Egyptians:
“And the lord said furthermore unto him, Put now thine hand into thy bosom. And he put his hand into his bosom: and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous as snow.” (Exodus 4:6)
Then he did the movement again, and the hand became normal. (Exodus 4:7)
And significantly God gave him this assurance:
“And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe thee, neither hearken to the voice of the first sign, then they will believe the voice of the second sign.” (Exodus 4:8)
It seems that the second trick, the hand signal was more important than the serpent sceptre. Ahmad Osman explains why.
The Egyptian kings celebrated the Sed festivals to rejuvenate their powers, which included rituals that required the showing of the serpent rod and secret hand signs.
In his book, Osman provided an example of scenes found in royal tombs to confirm these rituals. Only the Pharaoh and his high court officials could recognise the secret hand signals of the king.
The movement God supposedly taught Moses was eventually demonstrated in front of the people - presumably the relevant court officials, even though the Bible states ‘children of Israel’, which not surprisingly could be another disguising attempt by the biblical author of Exodus.
Again, probably as another masking intention, the Bible does not have, contrary to God’s instructions, Moses demonstrating the hand signals in front of the Pharaoh. The Bible states:
“And Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the children of Israel;
And Aaron spake all the words which the Lord had spoken unto Moses, and did the signs in the sight of the people.
And the people believed; and when they heard that the lord had visited the children of Israel, and that he had looked upon their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshipped.” (Exodus 4:29 to 31)
On the other hand, the Koran had no such qualms showing Akhenaten or Moses demonstrating the secret hand signs in front of the Pharaoh and court officials.
To be continued ……..
Schapelle Corby Defence - 'Home & Away' Appeal
Schapelle Corby’s defence team in her appeal process may be low in substance but rich on gimmicks. They have just recruited one of Indonesia’s best known soapie starlets, Anisa Tri Hapsari.
Corby’s hotshot Indonesian lawyer Hotman Paris Hutapea believes the key to her appeal success lies with the Indonesian public. The enlistment of Hapsari is intended to sway Indonesian public opinion over to Corby's side.
Apart from an earlier tug at the emotions of the Australian public so that blame may be placed squarely on the Australian government should Corby's appeal failed, her defence team now attempts to tug at the emotions of the Indonesian public.
What about something legally useful from them for a change?
Related post:
Schapelle Corby Story – Appeal Grounds a Dog Breakfast?
Corby’s hotshot Indonesian lawyer Hotman Paris Hutapea believes the key to her appeal success lies with the Indonesian public. The enlistment of Hapsari is intended to sway Indonesian public opinion over to Corby's side.
Apart from an earlier tug at the emotions of the Australian public so that blame may be placed squarely on the Australian government should Corby's appeal failed, her defence team now attempts to tug at the emotions of the Indonesian public.
What about something legally useful from them for a change?
Related post:
Schapelle Corby Story – Appeal Grounds a Dog Breakfast?
Koizumi told: Let War Dead Rest in Peace, Stop Visit to Yasukuni!
Leaders of the powerful Japan War Bereaved Association, a key support group for Koizumi's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, representing families of Japanese war dead urged Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to show consideration for China, Korea and other Asian countries with regard to his visits to the Yasukuni war shrine.
The shrine is viewed by China and other countries in the region as a symbol of Japan's WWII barbaric militarism.
The Association said that while it has been the 'ardent wish' of the group to have prime ministers pay homage at the shrine, it is also equally important that the spirits of the war dead rest in peace, which may only be achieved through consideration to neighbouring countries.
Banzai, you are understanding people, and through you and your influence, it may be possible to put Japan's past to rest too, and bring peaceful and amicable closure to a sad episode in Asian history.
The shrine is viewed by China and other countries in the region as a symbol of Japan's WWII barbaric militarism.
The Association said that while it has been the 'ardent wish' of the group to have prime ministers pay homage at the shrine, it is also equally important that the spirits of the war dead rest in peace, which may only be achieved through consideration to neighbouring countries.
Banzai, you are understanding people, and through you and your influence, it may be possible to put Japan's past to rest too, and bring peaceful and amicable closure to a sad episode in Asian history.
IAEA Appointment - USA Eats Crow!
The USA hated ElBaradei and had objected to his reappointment to the IAEA, purely because he had been very firm and honest about Iraq’s lack of WMD capacity prior to the American invasion. Now, that wouldn't and couldn't do for those Republican Party neo-cons with a invasion agenda for the oil-rich nation. It buggered up their justification for the illegal attack.
Then he made his position with the American Administration even worse by showing his independence of the US hardline attitude towards Iran.
Oh boy, the Bush Administration tried every possible trick to place political barriers in ElBaradei’s path.
Now, the USA has to eat crow and back ElBaradei because everyone wants the man back to head the IAEA.
Washington is slowing realising that, notwithstanding its sole superpower status, not everyone automatically genuflects to its sometimes outrageous demands.
Then he made his position with the American Administration even worse by showing his independence of the US hardline attitude towards Iran.
Oh boy, the Bush Administration tried every possible trick to place political barriers in ElBaradei’s path.
Now, the USA has to eat crow and back ElBaradei because everyone wants the man back to head the IAEA.
Washington is slowing realising that, notwithstanding its sole superpower status, not everyone automatically genuflects to its sometimes outrageous demands.
Sunday, June 12, 2005
Shaolin Temple in Thailand?
The scared sanctity of Thailand's Buddhist temples and monkhood have been exploited from time to time by criminals and other unsavoury characters. By becoming a monk, a criminal avoids prosecution from the authority, at least until he leaves the monkhood. Apparently in the earlier days when Thailand had a national military conscription programme, some would avoid the harsh army life by becoming a monk for the period they were eligible for conscription.
One doesn' have to be a lifelong monk, and in this we see young boys sometimes taking up the wearing of the saffron robe for a short period of, say, 30 days or three months (particularly during long school holidays), to bring blessings upon their families.
But this Shaolin-like behaviour is ridiculous, bringing disrepute to the Sangha.
One doesn' have to be a lifelong monk, and in this we see young boys sometimes taking up the wearing of the saffron robe for a short period of, say, 30 days or three months (particularly during long school holidays), to bring blessings upon their families.
But this Shaolin-like behaviour is ridiculous, bringing disrepute to the Sangha.
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