Thursday 23 May 2002

lambent: Dictionary.com Word of the Day. lambent [Dictionary.com Word of the Day] It's quite a while since I posted one of these definitions, but I really took a fancy to this one. Now all I have to do is find an opportunity to drop it into a conversation! 9:18:08 AM  Your view

U.S. Farm Bill Adds to a Rising Canadian Anger Over Trade. Angered by American moves against some of Canada's biggest exports, many Canadians see the farm bill approved by Congress this month as yet another slap in the face. By Bernard Simon. [New York Times: International] There's something reassuring about the fact that the US even imposes tariffs on its geographically closest and economically largest trading 'partner'. Once again, agreements go out the window when it suits this administration. 9:02:46 AM  Your view

Security Council Tries to Ease Tensions Between U.S. and Iraq. Diplomats on the Security Council are working quietly but persistently to head off American military action against Iraq. By Somini Sengupta. [New York Times: International] Let us hope that common sense prevails and that the efforts of the Security Council bear fruit. Iraq would certainly attain the moral high ground if it not only agreed to allow inspectors in but then cooperated with them. Where then would be Dubyoo's justification for invasion? 8:57:02 AM  Your view

Militants Leave Cyprus for Exile. Twelve Palestinians whose exile helped end Israel's siege at a revered Bethlehem shrine flew Wednesday from Cyprus to the six European nations that have offered them temporary asylum. [AP World News] At last reports the two coming to Ireland had still not arrived, although this may well be part of a media blackout aimed at keeping their movements secret. I must admit that I was surprised when it was announced that we were among the host countries. There hasn't been any adverse reaction to the announcement, nor any other negativity as the arrival approaches. Interesting times, indeed! 1:40:48 AM  Your view

Israeli Shells Kill Leading Militant. Israeli forces killed a leading West Bank militant and three other Palestinians in a refugee camp Wednesday, residents and the military said, after troops rounded up hundreds of men in a West Bank village and cut the Gaza Strip in half by blocking the main north-south road. [AP World News] How does Israel get away with this? What is this but another instance of international terrorism? As far as Sharon is concerned, apparently it's just a question of pointing the finger and taking the roles of accuser, judge, jury and executioner. Yes, of course the suicide bombing are inexcusable, but nothing is ever going to resolved with both sides apparently immersed in an endless cycle of tit-for-tat attacks. We've seen it all too often in Northern Ireland, but at least here (thanks in no small way to the efforts of Bill Clinton) the political process has won out.       Just how many more people have to be killed? Don't we all know that it all has to stop some time, and that both sides will eventually sit down across the table from one another and talk about peace. But in the meantime hundreds of people die. Can we not just bypass the killing and get down to the talking? 1:32:14 AM  Your view

Bush Arrives in Berlin at Start of European Tour. President Bush today urged U.S. allies to continue their support for military action in the war against terrorism. By David E. Sanger. [New York Times: International] I sincerely hope that Dubyoo and his aides are under no illusions about the reception they should expect on this European trip. It's all very well trotting out the agreement with Russia on nuclear weapons as a wonderful achievement and trying to concentrate attention on it, but this can in no way outweigh the huge negativity of Kyoto, steel tariffs, rejection of the international court, the various machinations which led to removal of so many leaders of international agencies, and the high-handed 'I've got a little list' mentality of the 'War on Terror'. (Does anyone in the US administration seriously think the rest of the world is so naîve as not to know that domestic politics were behind the recent statements on Cuba, for instance?)       I note that this New York Times report, dealing with the Putin negotiations says: 'It was a lopsided negotiation, during which Mr. Putin, who cannot afford a larger nuclear force, won only one major victory: a formal treaty that binds further presidents.' The sad thing about all this is that Dubyoo himself has shown all too clearly that he does not consider himself bound by any agreement if it doesn't suit him. The question we all must ask ourselves is: How can this man be trusted? 1:17:52 AM  Your view

Election update Well, now there's only one seat remaining to be decided. The final result has now been announced in the constituency I mentioned earlier. Things remain as they were after the first recount, although with the winning margin increased from 2 to 6 votes. Since the contest for this seat was between Fianna Fáil and an independent candidate, the outcome was going to have an important bearing on the overall result of the election. As it happened, the eventual winning 6 votes were to the benefit of Fianna Fáil, and bring their total number of seats to 81 (still 2 short of an overall majority).       The one seat now remaining to be decided does not affect either FF or its likeliest coalition partner, the Progressive Democrats, so the final strength of the major players is now known. In an earlier development today, the PD's parliamentary party members (all 8 of them) met and decided in favour of entering negotiations with Fianna Fáil for a renewal of the outgoing coalition arrangement. Assuming that negotiations proceed as expected, this in itself is a quite extraordinary development, since it is most unusual (to say the least!) for the complexion of the Irish government not to change after a General Election. Mind you, whoever the Government is, they will be faced with some tough decisions, since the roar of the Celtic Tiger has apparently been reduced to a feeble whimper over the past year.       Why do politicians wish this on themselves? 12:24:57 AM  Your view

		© Copyright 2002 Jim MacCormaic . Last update: 29/09/2002; 06:02:58 am .