Category: Politics & government

I watched Bush’s State of the Union speech over the net last night and I must say, Bush is a really good orator.

During the speech, he spoke about reducing the tax, a typical Republican decision since they always think that the American is on the left side of the Laffer Curve. I don’t have too much knowledge in economics but throughout history, there is no prove that the Laffer Curve exists although the idea seems acceptable. Reagan tried it but nothing happened. Bush is trying it and I with skepticism say the government revenue will not go up. Yet, tax cut is good. We all love tax cut huh?

What made me lift my eyebrow was Bush push for hydrogen-powered vehicle. He reason was this push will help the United States to be less dependent on the foreign oil-producing nations. For the first time, I think Bush is doing the right thing.

Another environmental related issue was Bush drive to cut power plants emission up to 75%. Now, this is a little bit manipulative. 75% is a huge number and no doubt, it is good. However, 75% cut on power plants is different from trying to cut even 10% of the polluting industries emission.

All in all, these steps are not enough. The push for hydrogen-powered vehicle is a noble effort but the technology won’t reach the public in mass number within a few short years. It would be well beyond 2010 before this hybrid technology is widely used. Furthermore, with Bush on the top, it is doubtful he will not bend to the oil companies demands (e.g. S.U.V. stuffs).

In the speech, he also touched about Medicare. He wants the rising medical cost to be cut down by releasing the doctors from liability. In other words, he tries to prevent the doctors from being sued unfairly. Another good thing but the Democrats don’t like it (I think).

On international affair, he mentioned about the Palestine struggled and he said he is on the PLO side. Israel is going to love that.

He also touched a few other things but he tarried on Iraq. One think is clear though, it is war for oil. Bush himself said he will not let an aggressive enemy occupy a strategic and rich region to threaten the United States. No more speculation. It is official that it is war for oil.

Well, it’s a pity but we will see another oil-rich territory fall into the hand of the oil megalomaniacs. After that, Bush has won the war. Sigh…

Wait a minute, isn’t State of the Union is supposed to be about state of the Union instead of promises?

A long time ago, well, maybe not so long ago but it was long enough, they were two brothers. They helped each other out and compromised on almost everything. They minded their own business but never reluctant to help each other out in times of desperation. There was even time when a bully came up at them and they stood together against the bully. Yes, that was a long time ago. One could only assume they would be good brothers for all eternity.

But one day, the mother of these two brothers bought them a cake. They enjoyed the cake together, having a chat with a few laugh just like they had as always. Then, it was time for the last piece. The smaller brother reached for it and thought the other wouldn’t mind. How wrong the little one could be. The older brother had wanted it too. The brothers started to argue. Harsh words were exchanged and they hurt each other pride.

In the end, both of the brothers refused to compromise until the cake went bad.

Yet, the cake was so small and uninteresting.

I mean, c’mon, they are arguing about water and the ownership of a freaking lighthouse on a bunch of rock in the middle of the sea!

That is stupid. Malaysia should just sell the water at the agreed price and wait until the water agreements end if it doesn’t want to sell the water anymore. The amount of money generated this water arrangement is nothing compared to Malaysia’s total GDP. Malaysia may operate at a loss but if Singapore is booming, Johor will also enjoy the ripe. In the end, both will prosper. I say just sell the water at 6 cent per gallon and move on. I am sure Malaysia and Singapore have other more important stuff to do.

Concerning the tiny piece of rock, heck, it’s merely a few kilometers from the Malaysian shore while the rock is more than fifty kilometers off Singapore. Where is the common sense? Just give it to Malaysia.

Moving on the subject, the current action by the Singaporean navy is somewhat questionable. Everybody realizes that Singapore is trying to practice the “effective occupation”, the principle that won Malaysia the Sipadan – Ligitan case recently. Nevertheless, the Singaporean Navy has only recently aggressively patrol Pulau Batu Puteh. From my opinion, that is not effective occupation. Looking back at Sipadan and Ligitan, Malaysia has enforced its law and patrol the sea around Sipadan and Ligitan for decades. Singapore on the other hand has only started to patrol the tiny rock for the pass what, months? Weeks?

In addition, Singapore increased patrol had even caused a laugh in Malaysia and Indonesia. Singapore so jealously guarded Pulau Batu Puteh that while looking for “trespassing” Malaysian vessels, it failed to see a huge tanker immediately in front of them. I know its bad for me to say that but hey, sometimes the truth hurts.

By the way, effective occupation worked for Malaysia because Indonesia failed to counter Malaysia activities due to the turmoil in Indonesian domestic affair. Indonesia was still licking it wound caused by East Timor and the riot in Sulawesi. At same time, Acheh was waiting for an opportunity of a lifetime. By comparison, Malaysia is far from losing Kelantan (I know, I know, it’s a bad joke) and like it or not, Malaysia currently is doing economically better than Singapore. Plus, the lighthouse on Pulau Batu Puteh was not built by Singapore. It was built by the British with the consent of the Sultan of Johor.

Thus, effective occupation won’t work for Singapore.

Also, Singapore is arguing that the Malaysian Royal Navy frequently intrudes Pulau Batu Puteh. Well, I think intruding Pulau Batu Puteh is like saying the Malaysian Army is intruding Kuala Lumpur. By the way, the ICJ hasn’t even decided on the case yet. Might I add, if the Malaysian Royal Navy ever crosses Singapore precious border, how about Singapore Royal Air Force intrusion of Johor air space?

Give me a break.

Damn, look at how entry digressed.

Damn, I forgot, I’m a Green. I’m pro-peace (I’ve just found out that the term pro-peace looks better than anti-war – something that I learned from The Daily. That is the first time I learned something from The Daily. Wait, maybe the second time. Who cares?)

Who says there’s no adventure in today’s life

I am one of those persons who are in love with history, especially about war. Nevertheless, falling in love with history of wars doesn’t make me to be a nasty person who demands war each and every time chance crosses my path (like Bush). In fact, learning the dates and the factors that started wars makes me falling more and more in love of peace and hence, in the end, resulting me more or less believing in the Green doctrine.

Certainly, the tall tells in ancient battles inspire most of us to a new height. The Peloponessian War, the Napoleon War, the Second World War and lot of others gave birth to many changes. The Peloponessian War were important to the ancient Greek, The Napoleon War redrew the European border drastically and the WWII foreseen the end of Imperialism. War is important but going through it is not very pleasing.

As you guys have predicted, this argument brings us to the present time.

The current war against terrorism seems to have taken a new twist. It started the 11th day of September 2001. It was a day that shocked not just America, but also the very foundation of the world as we now see. Immediately after that fateful day, America declared a war against Afghanistan and quickly overran the Afghan authority without much problem. Later, President George W. Bush declared the members of a so-called Axis of Evil. Now, the war maniac is threatening to topple Saddam Hussein.

The war against terrorism has brought us a new concept of fighting a war. A conventional war will involved at least two entities, two countries with defined borders, much like the Vietnam War or the Korean War. That kind of war has significantly decreased due to United Nations’ Charter that prevents any country from invading another country. Unfortunately, the war of terrorism is a subtler war. It is impossible to declare a war against an enemy that does not have a defined border. Moreover, the enemy is ever hiding in the modern world.

The problem of trying to identify and eliminate terrorism has brought some countries, the US in particular, seeking a revision of the United Nations’ Charter. The main change that they are demanding is the permission to commit pre-emptive strike. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to realize that pre-emptive strike goes directly against the very values that the United Nations is built upon. The world doesn’t need Winston Churchill to rally itself against this suggestion save the US.

The latest advocate of pre-emptive doctrine is the Australian Prime Minister, John Howard. His words agitated Australia’s neighbors and strong words had already been exchanged between Australia and four of ASEAN main members. As usual, the only one that kept his mouth quiet was Singapore.

Although I believe the four ASEAN leaders have overreacted over their Australian counterpart comment, nevertheless the development is interesting. Leaders of the four countries made strong statements but Dr. Mahathir had gone one step further by saying it will be an act of war if Australia’s force set its foot on Malaysian’s soil.

Imagine a war where Australia is up against combine might of Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand. The war will surely hurt the world economy by bringing the most dynamic economies to a standstill. In addition, the Japanese economy will be dragged down even deeper because Japan in one way or another relies on ASEAN’s economy performance. A downward trend on the Japanese shore in turn will bring the already in recession American economy to a worse condition.

If the war came to a reality of which I doubt will, certainly there will some other war here and there and finally bringing a collapse to the United Nations. Iraq on the other hand might exercise its might and Al-Qaida without doubt will be seeking revenge. Russia will step up its authority in Chechnya, war will be omnipresent in Afghanistan, trouble might arise in the Korean Peninsula, Pakistan and India will surely be against each other, and Israel goes without saying. In other word, the Third World War.

Unbelievable but hey, I was arrested by the state police for throwing a snowball.