Twittering Celebrations

So the twittering classes of Egypt have got a result - of sorts - and we in the west are all hoop de doo! Here's the problem: what comes next? The demonstrators showed that they were from a class which had acquired resources despite Mubarak's rule. If he was as portrayed they are surely a minority. If they were a majority then where was the huge problem?  What about the actual majority who were unable to advance their position because of Mubarak's rule. Who will lead them and what will be their priorities? Will we yet see the twittering minority retreat to a Cairo Green Zone surrounded by a defensive shield such as we have in Baghdad or Kabul? I think it less than likely that the American or NATO armies will be on hand to protect them.

Elected Police Commissioners

In the UK we are to have Elected Police Commissioners who will have powers to hire and fire Chief Constables! Candidates can (presumably will?) seek election on party political platforms! Knowledgeable experienced police officers are to be controlled by ignorant and ill informed politicians. As if the dead hand of political parties had not spread far enough we are now going to hand control of yet another key service to these unrepresentative minorities. Who is supposed to benefit from this nonsense?

The Lockerbie Bomber?

Is he?
Maybe and Maybe not. He was convicted yet doubts remain and even some of the victims families seem to believe he is innocent.
And yet we have the unedifying spectacle of  ill informed politicians astride the Atlantic condemning equally ill informed politicians in Scotland for having released him on compassionate grounds.
What is clear is that the man is terminally ill and where he is is largely irrelevant.
One day we may learn the truth - or maybe not!
In contrast it must be remembered that we do know who brought down the Iranian airliner!

Election Time

Here we are in a general election. No national focus apart from the leaders debates watched by a minority. Winners will be as ever individuals unfit to govern having long ago sold their intellect to a political party and lost the capacity to consider issues on their merits. Looks like this time we wont get a clear party majority. Might be good, damaging the party system. Some want PR as a means to never having a clear majority. American system of two indistinguishable parties (although the Republicans at times do seem to be wandering off) seems attractive.

Tiger’s Troubles

So Tiger Woods is in a bit of bother. He behaved badly. Many of us do at times. Many prominent public figures behave badly and we grin and shrug and life goes on. But not Tiger! The shutters come down the media snarl the sponsors withdraw. Couldn’t possibly be associated with such a person! Not the usual response! I wonder why. Is it that Tiger is a golfer? Hardly that. Is it because he has a beautiful blonde wife? Surely not. Try to spot what the difference is with Tiger. Go on. You’ve got it! Tiger is a black man, successful beyond compare in a quintessentially exclusive white sport and his wife is white. Racism lives. We should all be ashamed.

Nobel Peace Prize

Another unwise choice. Barack Obama in time may well merit the prize but now is not the time. The committee have a poor record. Too much politics. They gave the prize to some pretty warlike folks - Winston Churchill, David Trimble, Le Duc Tho and Henry Kissinger. Only once had they the insight to withold the prize. They need a fresh shot in the arm and start again. No world leaders might be a useful starting point!

Iraq Inqury

UK is flagellating itself with an inquiry into the Iraq war. Usual suspects in evidence. Most tragically are the relatives etc of soldiers killed there, being interviewed daily on why they are attending - to ensure that this sort of thing never happens again, prevent others from suffering as we have suffered etc. These are the self same families who perhaps permitted or encouraged their children to become soldiers in the first place. What did they think soldiering was like? The journalists covering the event have not the initiative to ask any of the families if their intense interest might not be connected in some way to the possibility that the inquiry report might provide some ammunition in a future claim for damages. This issue to my eye actually dominates the motives of lots of folks who are involved in unsavoury events but journalists will never ask the question!