Does anybody remember Iraq anymore?
All I have to say is, once this is over, the Iraqi people better be the freest fucking people on the face of the earth. They better be freer than me. They better be so fucking free they can fly.
From Get your war on. It’s old but then again, it never gets old.
By this September, a decision on the new structure of the Security Council, the most powerful body in the United Nations will be made known. Or at least, Kofi Annan wants a decision on it within the next six months.
Currently, two models have been presented. The first model includes six new permanent members. So far, it seems that should the members of the UN accept the first model, Germany, Brazil and India should have a great chance of getting their hands on the extra tickets for the seats. Two African nations and Japan would complete the quorum.
Model two is about tier membership of which, I have yet to understand. Whatever model two is, the former model has been talked about a lot and many favor it to the latter model.
For Germany, Brazil and India, there aren’t many obstacles for them. Germany in particular has a comfortable claim – France and Japan fully support the inclusion of Germany. Really, Germany and Japan are having a sort of you-back-me-and-I-back-you alliance, pretty much like, as I’d imagine China would imagine, in the last world war. China, if you haven’t notice, isn’t quite eager to meet a Japanese.
This has proven to be an headache to Japan. China and South Korea oppose the idea of giving Japan a seat. Both opposing countries have repeatedly mentioned that Japan hasn’t been apologetic enough for its past war crime. Japan or maybe it’s just Koizumi, despite needing support from China, has ignored China.
The war ended almost 60 years ago. Many of us on this planet don’t even remember seeing the war with our own two eyes. China and South Korea need to move on and quit whining for something that happened generations ago.
I’m just glad Japan has stopped apologizing. Else, China would have a too much fun bullying others.
So, the bid to remove the ANWR provision from the budget has predictably failed by a small margin. The Senate voted 51-49 to reject the amendment. With this, the probability of seeing ANWR being drilled is higher than any other time the drilling idea has reached the floor. The shroud of the dark side has fallen, begun the clone wars has. Er, I mean, er, – actually this ANWR scuffle has been dubbed the first political battle of the year. And Star Wars latest trailer is goddamn sexy though was out a week ago.
And the left is losing badly though the vote will be slim. (Cough) But it’s not so bad. Looking at history, the left loves losing actually.
Official result can be read from the Senate website. Creek Running North has a short entry on who voted what.
Half way around the world, the New York Times has reported earlier last week that progress is being made by conservationist in the Tigris-Eupharates marshes that were devastated by Saddam Hussein. I’m unable to provide the link since it has been archived. However, and fortunately, Google provides an excellent search. For background on the story, read some of my earlier entry and also the enlightening Laputan Logic.
In Malaysia, the ones that are responsible for the environmental destruction near a nature reserve – the ones in the government – has gotten away. Instead, some of the the developers, are being charged. While it’s good to see action is being taken, sadly, the target should be the ones that approved the irresponsble projects, not the ones that conducted the project. But then, again, in Malaysia, priority means nothing. Hey, we will have the biggest courthouse in the world but not the best judiciary system in the world.
p/s – update on Coke campaign. Some student entity from outside Michigan and other schools (Canada… eh?) has contacted the people in Michigan about solidarity and cooperation when Coke is concerned. And some has somewhat called for a North America anti-Coke coalition.
Plus, the College Democrats has jumped onto the bandwagon. The Republicans, I’d imagine, would love to be on the other side. And the official color for this campaign should be green instead of red. Red looks like too commie.
John Kerry offers to strip the drilling proposal from the budget (via). I don’t think Kerry’s suggestion will work, unfortunately.
The Republicans are shrewd to attach the drilling proposal along with the budget. Because of such arrangement, it would only take a simple majority to pass the drilling bill. At the same time, the Republicans are controlling the House.
Alternative Hippopotamus aptly describes the situation for ANWR. The real quote however is:
It would take a miracle to get you out of Casablanca and the Germans have outlawed miracles.
The hippo is right; it would take a miracle to prevent drilling and time to resist is running out. ANWR’s only hope to be left undisturbed is the word no from rational Republican representatives that understand that, as John Kerry has stated during the 2004 Presidential campaign, we can’t drill our way out of this energy crisis.
After more than two decades of fighting, it all comes down to here and now. And the future looks grim.
And yes, it will be in Malaysia! (via)
KUALA LUMPUR: The new Kuala Lumpur court complex, scheduled for completion in February next year, will be the biggest in the world, with 77 courtrooms.
The RM290mil complex will house the magistrate’s courts (26 courtrooms), Sessions Courts (21 courtrooms) and the High Court, including the Family Court (30 courtrooms)…
(Cough) I’d suggest Malaysia strengthens the separation between the executive, the judiciary and the Parliament before we start building the world’s largest parliament house. As in right now, the Parliament is under Jabatan Perdana Menteri (that’s the Prime Minister Department for those that are mentally challenged in Malay), which technically, as I understand it, means that the Parliament is under the power of the executive branch of the government.
I’d suppose next year, the Sultan Abdul Samad Building is nothing but history.
p/s – Danny Blind is the new Ajax coach. Ajax for Ajax!