Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Saudi woman to be lashed for driving car
A Saudi woman has been sentenced to to 10 lashes for challenging a ban on women driving.
Sheima Jastaniah was sentenced on Monday by a court in the Red Sea city of Jeddah, where she was caught driving in July.
There is no law banning women from driving, but there is a law requiring citizens to use locally issued licences while in the country. Such licences are not issued to women, making it effectively illegal for them to drive.
IMO: I have every sympathy for the Saudi administration for trying to enforce their own views in the 21st century, but it is quite difficult to avoid absurd and even harmful anachronisms and the like. One feels in the difficult present day situation it is rather easy to compare disparagingly the Saudi behaviour of a woman apparently trying to obey the Koran in terms she believed best, and the Saudis apparently avoiding real problems like the connivance of the Chinese and Pakistani authorities not just to spread nuclear terror, but to attempt to force the Uighur people to breach Islamic law. Surely the Saudis could be a lttle more responsive to world conditions without any real loss.
Sheima Jastaniah was sentenced on Monday by a court in the Red Sea city of Jeddah, where she was caught driving in July.
There is no law banning women from driving, but there is a law requiring citizens to use locally issued licences while in the country. Such licences are not issued to women, making it effectively illegal for them to drive.
IMO: I have every sympathy for the Saudi administration for trying to enforce their own views in the 21st century, but it is quite difficult to avoid absurd and even harmful anachronisms and the like. One feels in the difficult present day situation it is rather easy to compare disparagingly the Saudi behaviour of a woman apparently trying to obey the Koran in terms she believed best, and the Saudis apparently avoiding real problems like the connivance of the Chinese and Pakistani authorities not just to spread nuclear terror, but to attempt to force the Uighur people to breach Islamic law. Surely the Saudis could be a lttle more responsive to world conditions without any real loss.
Chinese involvement with Pakistan's illegal nuclear proliferation
It appears that confidential letters by AQ Kahn, many dating back to 2003, are being slowly leaked to Fox News.
IMO: Fox News is part of the Murdoch empire. Sometimes it obtains useful factual information.
Last week Fox News allegedly obtained Khan's 2003 letter to his wife in which the nuclear engineer reveals a stunning degree of proliferation between Islamabad and Beijing, evidently with government compliance.
In the letter Khan says, "You know we had cooperation with China for 15 years. We put up a centrifuge plant at Hanzhong. We sent 135 C-130 plane loads of machines , inverters, valves, flow meters, pressure gauges . Our teams stayed there for weeks to help and their teams stayed here for weeks at a time. Late minister Liu We, V M (vice minister) Li Chew, vice minister Jiang Shengjie used to visit us."
The C-130 military transport planes were given to Pakistan by the US under a military aid program, presumably to combat terror. China and Pakistan appeared to have collaborated to do exactly the opposite In fact, documents relating to Pakistan's proliferation through much of the 1990s suggest US was asleep on the watch through much of the nuclear exchanges involving Pakistan, China, North Korea , Iran, and Libya.
Khan also reveals that "the Chinese gave us drawings of the nuclear weapon, gave us 50kg enriched uranium , gave us 10 tonnes of UF6 (natural) and 5 tonnnes of UF6 (3%). Chinese helped Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission in setting up UF6 plant, production reactor for plutonium and reprocessing plant." Further, Khan said "Gen Jehangir Karamat (chief of army staff 1996-8 ) took $3 million through me from N Koreans and asked me to give them some drawings and machines" .
IMO: On the basis of the above information, it seems that if there is really a "war on terror", the administrators of both Pakistan and China are on the side of the evil doers. And Pakistan apparently is helping China to suppress its Muslim minority - hardly a pro-Islamic thing to do. That sort of thing would not be allowed in India.
IMO: Fox News is part of the Murdoch empire. Sometimes it obtains useful factual information.
Last week Fox News allegedly obtained Khan's 2003 letter to his wife in which the nuclear engineer reveals a stunning degree of proliferation between Islamabad and Beijing, evidently with government compliance.
In the letter Khan says, "You know we had cooperation with China for 15 years. We put up a centrifuge plant at Hanzhong. We sent 135 C-130 plane loads of machines , inverters, valves, flow meters, pressure gauges . Our teams stayed there for weeks to help and their teams stayed here for weeks at a time. Late minister Liu We, V M (vice minister) Li Chew, vice minister Jiang Shengjie used to visit us."
The C-130 military transport planes were given to Pakistan by the US under a military aid program, presumably to combat terror. China and Pakistan appeared to have collaborated to do exactly the opposite In fact, documents relating to Pakistan's proliferation through much of the 1990s suggest US was asleep on the watch through much of the nuclear exchanges involving Pakistan, China, North Korea , Iran, and Libya.
Khan also reveals that "the Chinese gave us drawings of the nuclear weapon, gave us 50kg enriched uranium , gave us 10 tonnes of UF6 (natural) and 5 tonnnes of UF6 (3%). Chinese helped Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission in setting up UF6 plant, production reactor for plutonium and reprocessing plant." Further, Khan said "Gen Jehangir Karamat (chief of army staff 1996-8 ) took $3 million through me from N Koreans and asked me to give them some drawings and machines" .
IMO: On the basis of the above information, it seems that if there is really a "war on terror", the administrators of both Pakistan and China are on the side of the evil doers. And Pakistan apparently is helping China to suppress its Muslim minority - hardly a pro-Islamic thing to do. That sort of thing would not be allowed in India.
Saturday, September 24, 2011
UN vote on Palestine
Dr. Ahmed Jaber, perhaps a typical educated Palestinian-American, says whether you are for, or against the UN statehood bid, the fact is that it has raised more questions than answers.
“Is it going to make problems on the street in the West Bank and Gaza? Will there be a third intifada? What is really the 1967 border, does that exclude the Palestinians who were inside the Green line in 1948 Palestine? What will happen to them? Are we abandoning them? How about the right of return?” Jaber asked. “Whether this step is good for the Palestinians or not, I don’t know, we have to wait and see.”
But some Palestinians have described the UN vote as a "powder keg" that could set off further violent protests – which will almost certainly prompt a harsh reaction from the Israeli government, with consequences for all Palestinians.
"These people are crazy," said a minibus driver, shaking his head as he sped past the protesters fighting at Qalandia. "This vote at the United Nations, it is like a bomb waiting to explode."
IMO: Part of the trouble seems to be the present "veto" system at the UN, and there are many other problems. Why should once powerful but now declining countries like USA and Russia have veto rights. and to be honest, the idea of China having any veto rights at all, which I believe it does now, seems totally bizarre - the reasons are perhaps obvious, I hope so. And then there are factors like the Ostrogorski paradox, and the fact that even withinin the USA, the relative voting rights for individual States is still unclear and still contested. Probably Palestine will get some sort of minor recognition, but largely due to the US jewish lobby, not a lot. And even who is to say that that is bad ? But it is genuinely difficult to see a likely suitable conclusion and probably the UN should improve its arrangements.
“Is it going to make problems on the street in the West Bank and Gaza? Will there be a third intifada? What is really the 1967 border, does that exclude the Palestinians who were inside the Green line in 1948 Palestine? What will happen to them? Are we abandoning them? How about the right of return?” Jaber asked. “Whether this step is good for the Palestinians or not, I don’t know, we have to wait and see.”
But some Palestinians have described the UN vote as a "powder keg" that could set off further violent protests – which will almost certainly prompt a harsh reaction from the Israeli government, with consequences for all Palestinians.
"These people are crazy," said a minibus driver, shaking his head as he sped past the protesters fighting at Qalandia. "This vote at the United Nations, it is like a bomb waiting to explode."
IMO: Part of the trouble seems to be the present "veto" system at the UN, and there are many other problems. Why should once powerful but now declining countries like USA and Russia have veto rights. and to be honest, the idea of China having any veto rights at all, which I believe it does now, seems totally bizarre - the reasons are perhaps obvious, I hope so. And then there are factors like the Ostrogorski paradox, and the fact that even withinin the USA, the relative voting rights for individual States is still unclear and still contested. Probably Palestine will get some sort of minor recognition, but largely due to the US jewish lobby, not a lot. And even who is to say that that is bad ? But it is genuinely difficult to see a likely suitable conclusion and probably the UN should improve its arrangements.
Friday, September 23, 2011
"Guilty Men" by Oborne & Weaver
IMO: It's a good book, well worth reading. Perhaps a ltttle sharp in its rebuke on those who gave bad advice etc. But of course they should have got it right - and the man in the street is the loser, not the well paid advisors and perpetrators. Find the book on Google.
Some quotes:
"The cruel fact is that countries like Greece, Ireland, Spain and Portugal have been condemned to far worse austerity than Britain, precisely because of their membership of the Eurozone. It is the single currency in which Hutton so fervently believes that has brought up such terrible austerity across much of the European continent – and our own cuts would have been far worse had Britain taken his advice and joined."
and Lord Wilson said in 2005
"Although the BBC wishes to be impartial in its news coverage of the EU it is not succeeding".
On promises by politicians and would be statesmen.
"We were told that there could be no financial bail-outs of embattled member states – there have been three so far.
We were told they (financial bail-outs) were illegal – retrospective legislation is being introduced to change this.
We were told there could be no fiscal transfers between member states – the European Central Bank (ECB) in Frankfurt, as it provides tens of billions of liquidity to bankrupt peripheral economies, is now turning into a mechanism for quiet fiscal transfer, ultimately at the cost of the EU taxpayer.
We were told that the ECB President Jean-Claude Trichet would “defend the European Central Bank’s independence under any circumstance and with all my strength”. This promise proved futile and he and his bank have both been captured by the big EU politicians. As a result the balance sheet of his bank is now in ruins. Like ECB independence, it has become a fiction, since the ECB marks at or near to book value its vast holdings of near worthless Greek, Irish and Portuguese debt."
IMO: I certainly hope somebody sorts out the EU but the less I have to do with it, probably the better.
Some quotes:
"The cruel fact is that countries like Greece, Ireland, Spain and Portugal have been condemned to far worse austerity than Britain, precisely because of their membership of the Eurozone. It is the single currency in which Hutton so fervently believes that has brought up such terrible austerity across much of the European continent – and our own cuts would have been far worse had Britain taken his advice and joined."
and Lord Wilson said in 2005
"Although the BBC wishes to be impartial in its news coverage of the EU it is not succeeding".
On promises by politicians and would be statesmen.
"We were told that there could be no financial bail-outs of embattled member states – there have been three so far.
We were told they (financial bail-outs) were illegal – retrospective legislation is being introduced to change this.
We were told there could be no fiscal transfers between member states – the European Central Bank (ECB) in Frankfurt, as it provides tens of billions of liquidity to bankrupt peripheral economies, is now turning into a mechanism for quiet fiscal transfer, ultimately at the cost of the EU taxpayer.
We were told that the ECB President Jean-Claude Trichet would “defend the European Central Bank’s independence under any circumstance and with all my strength”. This promise proved futile and he and his bank have both been captured by the big EU politicians. As a result the balance sheet of his bank is now in ruins. Like ECB independence, it has become a fiction, since the ECB marks at or near to book value its vast holdings of near worthless Greek, Irish and Portuguese debt."
IMO: I certainly hope somebody sorts out the EU but the less I have to do with it, probably the better.
Speed of light broken - an expert's view
If CERN scientists are correct in claiming they have observed particles travelling faster than the speed of light it would fundamentally change our understanding of the laws of physics, experts say.
Prof Jenny Thomas, of University College London, says the claims, if proven true, would call into question our very understanding of physics and the universe.
She said: "It would turn everything on its head. It is too awful to think about.
"The basic thing it that would be questioned is that there is an absolute speed limit which is the basis of special relativity and that is a huge building block of modern physics.
"It permeates everything to do with how we have modelled the universe and everything. It would be very hard to predict what the effects would be."
IMO: It is not too surprising, and special relativity works - up to a point.
Prof Jenny Thomas, of University College London, says the claims, if proven true, would call into question our very understanding of physics and the universe.
She said: "It would turn everything on its head. It is too awful to think about.
"The basic thing it that would be questioned is that there is an absolute speed limit which is the basis of special relativity and that is a huge building block of modern physics.
"It permeates everything to do with how we have modelled the universe and everything. It would be very hard to predict what the effects would be."
IMO: It is not too surprising, and special relativity works - up to a point.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
ISI behind strikes on American targets, says US at last
The US panel's decision to reel back aid and make it conditional came after several US officials made scathing remarks about Pakistan's continued use of terrorism to achieve its objectives in Afghanistan and elsewhere.
IMO: Also, the US is short of funds because of bad planning for many years. Infrastructure throughout USA has been neglected and now unemployment levels have reached a high standard on a worldwide basis.
The ISI specifically directed, or urged, the Haqqani network to carry out the September 13 attack on the US embassy and a Nato headquarters in Kabul, two unnamed US officials said, recalling a similar ISI-sponsored attack on the Indian embassy in Kabul which killed a diplomat and a military attache.
US lawmakers also said that Pakistani officials had knowledge of illicit money transfers to Times Square bomber Faisal Shahzad, following up serious charges by the US ambassador to Islamabad Cameron Munter to the effect that ''there is evidence linking the Haqqani Network to the Pakistan government".
Washington believes the Pakistani government to engage in terrorist activity. In a Congressional hearing on terrorism financing on Wednesday, Democratic Representative Richard Blumenthal substantiated this view by saying the major source (of funding) for Shahzad was in Pakistan, ''possibly with the complicity of the financial institutions there, possibly with the knowledge of officials in Pakistan."
IMO: Of course you cannot really blame the man in the street. And what is worse, many Pakis actually believe the oily speeches their leaders make, most of which bear no relation to the truth. Imran Kahn, for example, seems to be as well brainwashed with the lies of a few Saudis and his own over opulent country members. You realise that Bush's comment that he would "bomb the Pakis back to the stone ages" at least would resolve the problem as the Paki leadership do not seem to be doing so. I feel sorry for the police and even many of the ordinary soldiers
IMO: Also, the US is short of funds because of bad planning for many years. Infrastructure throughout USA has been neglected and now unemployment levels have reached a high standard on a worldwide basis.
The ISI specifically directed, or urged, the Haqqani network to carry out the September 13 attack on the US embassy and a Nato headquarters in Kabul, two unnamed US officials said, recalling a similar ISI-sponsored attack on the Indian embassy in Kabul which killed a diplomat and a military attache.
US lawmakers also said that Pakistani officials had knowledge of illicit money transfers to Times Square bomber Faisal Shahzad, following up serious charges by the US ambassador to Islamabad Cameron Munter to the effect that ''there is evidence linking the Haqqani Network to the Pakistan government".
Washington believes the Pakistani government to engage in terrorist activity. In a Congressional hearing on terrorism financing on Wednesday, Democratic Representative Richard Blumenthal substantiated this view by saying the major source (of funding) for Shahzad was in Pakistan, ''possibly with the complicity of the financial institutions there, possibly with the knowledge of officials in Pakistan."
IMO: Of course you cannot really blame the man in the street. And what is worse, many Pakis actually believe the oily speeches their leaders make, most of which bear no relation to the truth. Imran Kahn, for example, seems to be as well brainwashed with the lies of a few Saudis and his own over opulent country members. You realise that Bush's comment that he would "bomb the Pakis back to the stone ages" at least would resolve the problem as the Paki leadership do not seem to be doing so. I feel sorry for the police and even many of the ordinary soldiers
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Chandor Frogs
12 New Frog Species have been discovered in India’s Western Ghats Western, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Goa and Maharashtra. All the new species are night frogs, which made the research projects more challenging. Six of the new species are already in a highly vulnerable state due to damage to their habitats. “The major threat to amphibians in India is massive habitat loss. Taking any conservation effort for amphibians will indirectly conserve several other important biodiversities of that area,” said one of the researchers.
IMO: We mentioned this matter some time ago and even published a photo of one of our attractive 'designer frogs'. Recently more photographs of some of these frogs have been published. Right now there are three frogs sitting happily in the well. They actually live in the well. They look exactly like number 7 on the list here. The area around here has been identified as one of the ten hottest biodiversity hotspots in the world.
IMO: We mentioned this matter some time ago and even published a photo of one of our attractive 'designer frogs'. Recently more photographs of some of these frogs have been published. Right now there are three frogs sitting happily in the well. They actually live in the well. They look exactly like number 7 on the list here. The area around here has been identified as one of the ten hottest biodiversity hotspots in the world.
The Ostrogorski paradox
The Nationalist Congress Party has indicated its displeasure over the proposed Prevention of Communal and Violence Protection Bill which has been close to the heart of Congress president Sonia Gandhi. Interestingly, several alliance partners supporting the Congress coalition government in the UPA government have opposed the Bill. The most vocal has been the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress. Some of the leaders representing the DMK and the National Conference (NC) have also expressed reservations to the Bill in its current form.
IMO: Such a bill may well be a good idea, but it would need to be drafted carefully and deal with local conditions, and indeed possible or contrived local conditions, carefully to reach a reasonable effect.
RR Patil (of Maharashtra) said, “If we go by presumptions that majority Hindus are the target in states like Gujarat or Maharashtra. Then we should not lose sight of the fact that in Kashmir the Hindus would be in minority. Or in several northeastern states, Christians would be in majority etc.”
Interestingly, the Assam Sentinal says "The Communal Violence Bill as suggested by the Sonia Gandhi-led National Advisory Council is unacceptable and must be opposed" . In fact the Sentinal writes quite a good case to support its viewpoint. For example "Under (the Bill's) definition of “group”, in a State like Assam, by way of illustration, where about eight districts have already become Muslim majority, due to influx, the religious majority in those districts would continue to be minority at the State level, and hence would get all protection, though some of their members could be involved in inciting or engaging in communal hatred and violence in different forms against the Hindu community, who happen to be a majority in the State but minority in those eight districts".
IMO: Looked at on the broader scale, we also should perhaps consider the Ostrogorski paradox and related matters.
IMO: Such a bill may well be a good idea, but it would need to be drafted carefully and deal with local conditions, and indeed possible or contrived local conditions, carefully to reach a reasonable effect.
RR Patil (of Maharashtra) said, “If we go by presumptions that majority Hindus are the target in states like Gujarat or Maharashtra. Then we should not lose sight of the fact that in Kashmir the Hindus would be in minority. Or in several northeastern states, Christians would be in majority etc.”
Interestingly, the Assam Sentinal says "The Communal Violence Bill as suggested by the Sonia Gandhi-led National Advisory Council is unacceptable and must be opposed" . In fact the Sentinal writes quite a good case to support its viewpoint. For example "Under (the Bill's) definition of “group”, in a State like Assam, by way of illustration, where about eight districts have already become Muslim majority, due to influx, the religious majority in those districts would continue to be minority at the State level, and hence would get all protection, though some of their members could be involved in inciting or engaging in communal hatred and violence in different forms against the Hindu community, who happen to be a majority in the State but minority in those eight districts".
IMO: Looked at on the broader scale, we also should perhaps consider the Ostrogorski paradox and related matters.
Foreign criminals are allowed to stay in the UK
Europe’s corrupt judges rule that – regardless of what the British public and legal system may think – a Nigerian sex offender should be allowed to stay in the UK. For good. His right to a family and private life must be protected, the judges say – and to hell with the rights of his victim or anybody else for that matter. Yet again, it is proof that Strasbourg’s unaccountable judges – who most notoriously granted the vote to convicted UK prisoners - have zero respect for laws made by the British Parliament, or the verdicts of our courts.
IMO: All this is why many decent people want to leave the UK for good, if they have the chance. The UK citizens were never given a proper vote on EU membership and now the euro seems to be becoming trash. There are no really good and obvious reasons for the UK to remain part of Europe any longer, and two of the 'cuts' it seems Cameron should making are (1) cut salaries of MPs, teachers and 'civil' servants. (2) Get out of the EU fast (except possibly as an associate) so as to cut out paying money to it. Otherwise the money will just go to benefit German industrialists, doubtless of the Zyclon B variety - they are toxic waste.
IMO: All this is why many decent people want to leave the UK for good, if they have the chance. The UK citizens were never given a proper vote on EU membership and now the euro seems to be becoming trash. There are no really good and obvious reasons for the UK to remain part of Europe any longer, and two of the 'cuts' it seems Cameron should making are (1) cut salaries of MPs, teachers and 'civil' servants. (2) Get out of the EU fast (except possibly as an associate) so as to cut out paying money to it. Otherwise the money will just go to benefit German industrialists, doubtless of the Zyclon B variety - they are toxic waste.
Saturday, September 17, 2011
US and Mayawati
The US has recently lauded the efforts of two Chief Ministers — Gujarat’s Narendra Modi and UP’s Mayawati for their efforts in development of their respective States. But why Mayawati when there are so many allegations by the Opposition accusing her of corruption. Even the Ministers in her Cabinet have been indicted by the Lokayukta for their involvement in corruption. The silver lining to all the allegations is that the US report states that Mayawati has done commendable work in constructing highways and in the power sector.
IMO: Neither Modi nor Mayawati sound like the sort of persons those who approve of Hazare would like.
For example, Mayawati flies a private jet to Mumbai when she needs sandals. Mayawati is undoubtedly the most controversial women in Indian politics. She has been charged in a series of cases including disproportionate assets and Taj Corridor case etc. The self-proclaimed face of the poorest of the state's poor Dalits who came to power on the call of 'sarvajan hitaye' (for the benefit of all) has always getting richer and richer. Her net worth in 2010 was at 87 crore, an increase of at least Rs 35 crore in three years' time. Besides these, she owns properties in different parts of the country, the cumulative cost of which is valued around 73 crore. The Dalit queen has been fighting many legal battles over cases relating to the Taj corridor case, diamond-laden lavish birthday parties, disproportionate assets case and spend large sums of money on building statues of herself. The UP Chief Minister has been exposed by WikiLeaks to have a "penchant for corruption".
IMO: Well Tony Blair was approved of by many in the US. He was head of the UK party supposedly representing the poor and the underdogs, and many people feel he mainly acted badly and mulcted the funds. It all sounds somewhat like a very shady version of the Teamsters.
Interestingly, emboldened by WikiLeaks revelation that Sonia holds a soft corner for Mayawati, a section of the Congressmen even feel Mayawati could be a suitable support option. Nothing can be ruled out, though it is too premature to predict anything yet, remarked a senior Congress leader, when contacted. However, the prospect is alarming for some of the leaders in the saffron army. Having shared power three times, the BJP and the BSP are considered natural allies. The UP Chief Minister has been exposed by WikiLeaks to have a "penchant for corruption".
IMO: Chilling. India certainly needs more people like Anna Hazare.
IMO: Neither Modi nor Mayawati sound like the sort of persons those who approve of Hazare would like.
For example, Mayawati flies a private jet to Mumbai when she needs sandals. Mayawati is undoubtedly the most controversial women in Indian politics. She has been charged in a series of cases including disproportionate assets and Taj Corridor case etc. The self-proclaimed face of the poorest of the state's poor Dalits who came to power on the call of 'sarvajan hitaye' (for the benefit of all) has always getting richer and richer. Her net worth in 2010 was at 87 crore, an increase of at least Rs 35 crore in three years' time. Besides these, she owns properties in different parts of the country, the cumulative cost of which is valued around 73 crore. The Dalit queen has been fighting many legal battles over cases relating to the Taj corridor case, diamond-laden lavish birthday parties, disproportionate assets case and spend large sums of money on building statues of herself. The UP Chief Minister has been exposed by WikiLeaks to have a "penchant for corruption".
IMO: Well Tony Blair was approved of by many in the US. He was head of the UK party supposedly representing the poor and the underdogs, and many people feel he mainly acted badly and mulcted the funds. It all sounds somewhat like a very shady version of the Teamsters.
Interestingly, emboldened by WikiLeaks revelation that Sonia holds a soft corner for Mayawati, a section of the Congressmen even feel Mayawati could be a suitable support option. Nothing can be ruled out, though it is too premature to predict anything yet, remarked a senior Congress leader, when contacted. However, the prospect is alarming for some of the leaders in the saffron army. Having shared power three times, the BJP and the BSP are considered natural allies. The UP Chief Minister has been exposed by WikiLeaks to have a "penchant for corruption".
IMO: Chilling. India certainly needs more people like Anna Hazare.
Monday, September 12, 2011
Jimmy Carter
Carter says: "It's not just George W Bush who has blood on his hands, but Tony Blair too". "Blair's made a fortune since leaving office".
IMO: Only too true.
On Carter's Presidency: "We never went to war. We never dropped a bomb. We never fired a bullet. But still we achieved our international goals. We brought peace to other people, including Egypt and Israel. We normalised relations with China, which had been non-existent for 30-something years. We brought peace between US and most of the countries in Latin America because of the Panama Canal Treaty. We formed a working relationship with the Soviet Union."
IMO: And unlike most of today's heads of state, Carter did not mulct the US funds - he now lives in a small cheapish bungalow where he lived before he became President. What a shame there are not more heads of State like Carter.
IMO: Only too true.
On Carter's Presidency: "We never went to war. We never dropped a bomb. We never fired a bullet. But still we achieved our international goals. We brought peace to other people, including Egypt and Israel. We normalised relations with China, which had been non-existent for 30-something years. We brought peace between US and most of the countries in Latin America because of the Panama Canal Treaty. We formed a working relationship with the Soviet Union."
IMO: And unlike most of today's heads of state, Carter did not mulct the US funds - he now lives in a small cheapish bungalow where he lived before he became President. What a shame there are not more heads of State like Carter.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Criminals now post their photos with robbery loot on Facebook
“GIVE ME ALL THE MONEY OR ELSE EVERYBODY DIES!!! 100s 50s 20s ONLY," is one typical quote.
IMO: Apparently it can happen a lot. (The above case happened in the US). In the UK, the "bankers" steal £100 million, £50 million, £20 million etc and do not even have to take the trouble to post their photos. We all know who they are. Obviously, things are going from bad to worse with the Cameron Tory party.
IMO: Apparently it can happen a lot. (The above case happened in the US). In the UK, the "bankers" steal £100 million, £50 million, £20 million etc and do not even have to take the trouble to post their photos. We all know who they are. Obviously, things are going from bad to worse with the Cameron Tory party.
Saturday, September 10, 2011
But what have we now ?
Eight CMs, including two of Congress- ruled states, skipped the NIC meeting - Mamata Banerjee, Narendra Modi, Jayalalithaa, Nitish Kumar, Mayawati, Parkash Singh Badal, Ashok Gehlot and Ooman Chandy.
The National Integration Council (NIC) meeting in Delhi was called after a gap of three years.
West Bengal's finance minister Amit Mitra spelt out the Trinamool Congress's stand on the issue.
"Our government has serious objections to the introduction of such a Bill. The contemplated Bill is tantamount to a direct intervention of constitutional and functional powers of a state government and undermines the very principle of federalism.
"Instead of bringing such a Bill, we suggest that if serious violence breaks out in a state, the Centre should commit to give full cooperation to the state in handling such an exigency," Mitra said.
IMO: I am curious as to what happens next. I am thinking of the relevance of such procedures to other situations, such as the rather more homespun would-be U.S.E. and the 'ignorants' movement in Greece. They would have said in London "What London does today, Manchester does tomorrow" if anyone in London cared what happened elsewhere, and of course Manchester rather feebly but loudly inverts the reference. What I am saying could happen is, reasonably, "what Greece does today, the UK does tomorrow". Maybe there will be defenestration not just at Westminster, but of all the overpaid local Government buffoons, and plenty of the Nazi coppers as well. I am not expressing a view as to what should happen in the UK, but thank my lucky stars that I spend a lot of time in India..
The National Integration Council (NIC) meeting in Delhi was called after a gap of three years.
West Bengal's finance minister Amit Mitra spelt out the Trinamool Congress's stand on the issue.
"Our government has serious objections to the introduction of such a Bill. The contemplated Bill is tantamount to a direct intervention of constitutional and functional powers of a state government and undermines the very principle of federalism.
"Instead of bringing such a Bill, we suggest that if serious violence breaks out in a state, the Centre should commit to give full cooperation to the state in handling such an exigency," Mitra said.
IMO: I am curious as to what happens next. I am thinking of the relevance of such procedures to other situations, such as the rather more homespun would-be U.S.E. and the 'ignorants' movement in Greece. They would have said in London "What London does today, Manchester does tomorrow" if anyone in London cared what happened elsewhere, and of course Manchester rather feebly but loudly inverts the reference. What I am saying could happen is, reasonably, "what Greece does today, the UK does tomorrow". Maybe there will be defenestration not just at Westminster, but of all the overpaid local Government buffoons, and plenty of the Nazi coppers as well. I am not expressing a view as to what should happen in the UK, but thank my lucky stars that I spend a lot of time in India..
Didi again
I now gather that Banerjee’s objection to the Teesta deal was not over the release of 50 per cent of the water to Bangladesh. It was due to the clause which put a 25 per cent cap on discharge, which would have been harmful to North Bengal’s interests in the dry season. In fact, the draft treaty was submitted to Trinamool Congress’s Dinesh Trivedi just two hours before the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs met. Trivedi refused to be intimidated into accepting the draft in its existing form despite Pranab Mukherjee’s stern reprimand.
In contrast, the Congress government in Assam went along blindly with the Centre’s treaty and now finds it difficult to explain to the people of the state why such large tracts of land were handed over to its neighbour.
Incidentally, Banerjee who has an excellent personal relationship with Sheikh Hasina, sent an emissary to the Bangladesh Prime Minister to make clear that she would be willing to agree to the fifty per cent sharing of river water, once the other clause had been re-worked. No doubt, at that stage Banerjee will pay a delayed visit to Bangladesh to personally capitalise on the treaty.
IMO: Well, that's all right then ! (Though not for Assam). Perhaps shows the general value of coalitions, though they have not quite worked it out in the UK.
In contrast, the Congress government in Assam went along blindly with the Centre’s treaty and now finds it difficult to explain to the people of the state why such large tracts of land were handed over to its neighbour.
Incidentally, Banerjee who has an excellent personal relationship with Sheikh Hasina, sent an emissary to the Bangladesh Prime Minister to make clear that she would be willing to agree to the fifty per cent sharing of river water, once the other clause had been re-worked. No doubt, at that stage Banerjee will pay a delayed visit to Bangladesh to personally capitalise on the treaty.
IMO: Well, that's all right then ! (Though not for Assam). Perhaps shows the general value of coalitions, though they have not quite worked it out in the UK.
Friday, September 09, 2011
We are all doomed
We are all doomed. So says Prince Charles, who warns that the human race faces extinction unless action is taken to stop the rapid decline of biodiversity on earth.
The temptation is to shrug off yet another warning from a king-in-waiting who has carved himself a controversial role with contentious comments on the environment. But Prince Charles is in good company when speaking about the demise of the human race. Stephen Hawking, the theoretical physicist, Lord Rees, the Astronomer Royal, and Professor Frank Fenner, the scientist who helped eradicate smallpox, have all warned of the imminent danger of extinction.
IMO: Even the pink FT seems to be prepared to concur. So eventually all these billionaires who have mainly seemed to have purloined everyone else's money will hopefully realise that they also will not be able to live with this matter. It will not be like a new version of the movie "Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb" where a few rich people and a few carefully chosen people will be able to hide away and perhaps continue to live in luxury. No, not only do these billionaires have to work out what will happen, but they will have to realise that it will happen to THEM as well.
The temptation is to shrug off yet another warning from a king-in-waiting who has carved himself a controversial role with contentious comments on the environment. But Prince Charles is in good company when speaking about the demise of the human race. Stephen Hawking, the theoretical physicist, Lord Rees, the Astronomer Royal, and Professor Frank Fenner, the scientist who helped eradicate smallpox, have all warned of the imminent danger of extinction.
IMO: Even the pink FT seems to be prepared to concur. So eventually all these billionaires who have mainly seemed to have purloined everyone else's money will hopefully realise that they also will not be able to live with this matter. It will not be like a new version of the movie "Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb" where a few rich people and a few carefully chosen people will be able to hide away and perhaps continue to live in luxury. No, not only do these billionaires have to work out what will happen, but they will have to realise that it will happen to THEM as well.
UK Parliament has no time for 100,000+ signature e-petitions
The UK's e-petitions initiative, intended to get the public's issues debated in the Commons, has fallen at the first hurdle, with two petitions on ice due to lack of time.
The e-petitions website lets the public start a campaign and invite people to sign to support it. Once signatures go over 100,000 – as has been the case for a petition for cutting benefits for rioters as well as one seeking the release of documents on the Hillsborough disaster – the issue is supposed to be debated by the House.
Commentators say: "100 people raising the same issue with a single MP should be enough to the thing brought before parliament."
IMO: Possibly. But I doubt it. The original 100,000 petition idea could be considered further with a view to improving it sufficiently to make it workable. Like most of Cameron's ideas, so far it has proved unworkable and is generally regarded - perhaps correctly - as self-serving spin.. The e-petition idea could relatively easily have been made more workable. For example it could have required fines and additional taxes to ALL MPs if the e-petitions were not dealt with properly. That could ensure that further redrafting of the legislation to avoid inappropriate use of the facility - which hardly anyone takes seriously at the moment. E-petitions could be made an important democratic feature. Anyway, the current Government seems to have done nothing useful at all, except criticising poor old Rupert Murdoch, and that has not helped much either.
The e-petitions website lets the public start a campaign and invite people to sign to support it. Once signatures go over 100,000 – as has been the case for a petition for cutting benefits for rioters as well as one seeking the release of documents on the Hillsborough disaster – the issue is supposed to be debated by the House.
Commentators say: "100 people raising the same issue with a single MP should be enough to the thing brought before parliament."
IMO: Possibly. But I doubt it. The original 100,000 petition idea could be considered further with a view to improving it sufficiently to make it workable. Like most of Cameron's ideas, so far it has proved unworkable and is generally regarded - perhaps correctly - as self-serving spin.. The e-petition idea could relatively easily have been made more workable. For example it could have required fines and additional taxes to ALL MPs if the e-petitions were not dealt with properly. That could ensure that further redrafting of the legislation to avoid inappropriate use of the facility - which hardly anyone takes seriously at the moment. E-petitions could be made an important democratic feature. Anyway, the current Government seems to have done nothing useful at all, except criticising poor old Rupert Murdoch, and that has not helped much either.
UK joins laser nuclear fusion project
Requiring only pellets composed of hydrogen isotopes and producing helium and neutrons, this method of nuclear fusion would provide nuclear power without many of the downsides of nuclear fission – the process that powers our nuclear power plants today – and sweep away many of the current geopolitical energy problems around fossil fuel supplies.
IMO: It could be extremely important if successful. But I am not yet sure that it may not be 'spin' caused by tight budgets. It will take several years for practical results, and how often have we heard that about nuclear fusion ? Maybe for 50 years. Anyway I hope it works,
IMO: It could be extremely important if successful. But I am not yet sure that it may not be 'spin' caused by tight budgets. It will take several years for practical results, and how often have we heard that about nuclear fusion ? Maybe for 50 years. Anyway I hope it works,
Tuesday, September 06, 2011
Manmohan Singh had to direct Hamlet without Ophelia
According to media reports Mamata Banerjee believes the Teesta agreement will grant Bangladesh upwards of 33,000 cubic feet per second, or cusecs, of water each year instead of some 25,000 cusecs she had agreed to in earlier discussions.
IMO: So Teesta deal seemed scuppered but Singh got his brief hour of fame over some attention at last to the enclaves caused by princely gaming by kings in the days of the Raj.
IMO: So Teesta deal seemed scuppered but Singh got his brief hour of fame over some attention at last to the enclaves caused by princely gaming by kings in the days of the Raj.
Sunday, September 04, 2011
Darling & his memoirs
Some say "If David Miliband had the courage to tell Darling that they should oust Brown, history might be very different. They could have forced Brown out, changed economic course and lured the LibDems into a post-election coalition".
A comment made was "The turd Darling signed us up to the EU bail outs, he exploited the rotten expenses rules to the full and now he continues his greed and lack of personal qualities to cash in on his version of a relationship with a man unsuited for office. Both Darling and Blair never had the guts to feed Brown to the wolves or in Blair’s case sack him. Too many dirty deals."
"Parliament is still in need of radical change. Institutionalised corruption pervades all corners of Westminster. None of the current political leaders of the three main stream parties have the moral fortitude to bring about that change. The public needs to bring change by voting UKIP to send a clear message to these corrupt people. The taxpayer has suffered enough from these greedy self indulgent incompetent fools".
IMO: All the above and more in quite an interesting post. UTAP I share the views in the last paragraph. I even mentioned earlier that a UKIP vote might help, but now I'm not so sure. The country has too much inertia. Shirley Williams helped to liven things up for the Libdems but now we just have Clegg. I think we need a new Tory party as stated earlier.
A comment made was "The turd Darling signed us up to the EU bail outs, he exploited the rotten expenses rules to the full and now he continues his greed and lack of personal qualities to cash in on his version of a relationship with a man unsuited for office. Both Darling and Blair never had the guts to feed Brown to the wolves or in Blair’s case sack him. Too many dirty deals."
"Parliament is still in need of radical change. Institutionalised corruption pervades all corners of Westminster. None of the current political leaders of the three main stream parties have the moral fortitude to bring about that change. The public needs to bring change by voting UKIP to send a clear message to these corrupt people. The taxpayer has suffered enough from these greedy self indulgent incompetent fools".
IMO: All the above and more in quite an interesting post. UTAP I share the views in the last paragraph. I even mentioned earlier that a UKIP vote might help, but now I'm not so sure. The country has too much inertia. Shirley Williams helped to liven things up for the Libdems but now we just have Clegg. I think we need a new Tory party as stated earlier.
A flawed bill threatens the very future of the UK NHS
"The new health bill displays an unhealthy fascination with the discredited US system." says Shirley Williams.
IMO: Yes, the bill is flawed and very bad. A pity so many people were gulled into voting Cameron Tory. Maybe there should be a new 'Democratic Tory' party which could do a lot of things. e.g (a) bar any member or previous member of the Bullingdon and similar clubs. The Tory party is not for lifelong wealthy criminals and louts, and should not be allowed to be. (b) stick to its pre-election promises, and only change the way of doing things after open and transparent scrutiny and then within reasonable bounds. Insurance salesmen would be jailed if they broke their promises as easily as the Cameron Tory party is doing. (c) Cameron Tories should not destroy the NHS and all donations should be given careful scrutiny, particularly in view of previous apparenly fraudulent donations to the Tories to ruin the NHS. Surely £750 million cannot be easily covered up..... And much more.
Protests against the Government's controversial health reforms took place across England on Saturday, with union leaders warning of a "battle" over the future of the NHS.
Candlelit vigils and demonstrations were being held, petitions organised and street stalls mounted in towns and cities on Saturday and Sunday.
Protests were held in areas including Reading, London, Cambridge, Norwich, Sunderland, Jarrow, Manchester, Burnley, Brighton, Leeds and Portsmouth.
Unison said the so-called NHS Big Weekend showed opposition to the reforms from health workers and members of the public.
IMO: Let us hope these protests work. When Blair was complained about, he took no notice. And neither will his pal Cameron unless much stronger pressure is brought to bear.
IMO: Yes, the bill is flawed and very bad. A pity so many people were gulled into voting Cameron Tory. Maybe there should be a new 'Democratic Tory' party which could do a lot of things. e.g (a) bar any member or previous member of the Bullingdon and similar clubs. The Tory party is not for lifelong wealthy criminals and louts, and should not be allowed to be. (b) stick to its pre-election promises, and only change the way of doing things after open and transparent scrutiny and then within reasonable bounds. Insurance salesmen would be jailed if they broke their promises as easily as the Cameron Tory party is doing. (c) Cameron Tories should not destroy the NHS and all donations should be given careful scrutiny, particularly in view of previous apparenly fraudulent donations to the Tories to ruin the NHS. Surely £750 million cannot be easily covered up..... And much more.
Protests against the Government's controversial health reforms took place across England on Saturday, with union leaders warning of a "battle" over the future of the NHS.
Candlelit vigils and demonstrations were being held, petitions organised and street stalls mounted in towns and cities on Saturday and Sunday.
Protests were held in areas including Reading, London, Cambridge, Norwich, Sunderland, Jarrow, Manchester, Burnley, Brighton, Leeds and Portsmouth.
Unison said the so-called NHS Big Weekend showed opposition to the reforms from health workers and members of the public.
IMO: Let us hope these protests work. When Blair was complained about, he took no notice. And neither will his pal Cameron unless much stronger pressure is brought to bear.
Saturday, September 03, 2011
USA aided Gadaffi against England and France till the end
Al Jazeera uncovers evidence that influential Americans tried to help the now-deposed Libyan leader cling to power.
IMO: Well, you cannot be surprised at that from a fraudulent, debt-ridden country that was even led by the Republican Party, who let little kids starve on rubbish heaps and gave money to billionaires.
The disgusting details are in the BBC spinoff Al Jazeera. David Welch and Denis Kucinich are two names mentioned. Welch (now with Bechtel) was expected. Kucinich I don't know about but he seems to have made odd decisions a lot in the past in other directions.
IMO: At this rate, we may really get the so-called 'rapture' (or Armageddon) after the next major US election. It could make one rethink views on present voting systems.
IMO: Well, you cannot be surprised at that from a fraudulent, debt-ridden country that was even led by the Republican Party, who let little kids starve on rubbish heaps and gave money to billionaires.
The disgusting details are in the BBC spinoff Al Jazeera. David Welch and Denis Kucinich are two names mentioned. Welch (now with Bechtel) was expected. Kucinich I don't know about but he seems to have made odd decisions a lot in the past in other directions.
IMO: At this rate, we may really get the so-called 'rapture' (or Armageddon) after the next major US election. It could make one rethink views on present voting systems.
Friday, September 02, 2011
Darling’s ‘dentist’ swipe at Brown in latest leak
Dealing with Gordon Brown was “like having dental treatment with no anaesthetic”, Alistair Darling’s memoirs say, according to yet more leaks from the book.
The words are supposedly attributed to Tony Blair, the former Prime Minister, about his successor in No 10 with whom he had numerous heated run-ins.
IMO: There is clearly a lot of difficulty in dealing with the British people as they all seem to be half way crazy. The "Prime Mentalist" as Brown was called, just seem to be one sad sample. And the metaphor quoted by Darling is actually not even that of the relatively timid Darling, but of spin-happy Blair. It is such a pity that UK politics is so badly organised. You'd think they could find some psychologists/psychiatrists (say like Ariely, who apparently really had problems and faced them) to sort out the whole lot for the good of the nation.
The words are supposedly attributed to Tony Blair, the former Prime Minister, about his successor in No 10 with whom he had numerous heated run-ins.
IMO: There is clearly a lot of difficulty in dealing with the British people as they all seem to be half way crazy. The "Prime Mentalist" as Brown was called, just seem to be one sad sample. And the metaphor quoted by Darling is actually not even that of the relatively timid Darling, but of spin-happy Blair. It is such a pity that UK politics is so badly organised. You'd think they could find some psychologists/psychiatrists (say like Ariely, who apparently really had problems and faced them) to sort out the whole lot for the good of the nation.
Bullingdon Club & Cameron
The PM, who was in Oxford University’s infamous Bullingdon Club, was asked if there were similarities between being a member of “a youthful gang that engages in violent behaviour” and the rampaging mobs who brought anarchy to our streets.
IMO: So, like me and many many others, the BBC "see it" unlike Cameron and Blair. So no wonder those two crooks want to close the BBC.
John Mann, MP for Bassetlaw, said: “David Cameron has questions to answer after his claim that he did not witness people throwing things through windows or smashing up restaurants during his days as a Bullingdon Club member.
“This is very different to what other people remember.
“If we are to get more responsibility throughout our society following the riots then the Prime Minister should set an example.”
But no: The PM yesterday hit back with his own attack on the BBC’s reporting of the riots.
IMO: So basically Cameron is both a fool and the sort of weak, naive hypocrite who wishes to censor those who expose his exploitation of the public, his intolerance, and his weakness of character.
IMO: I really think I might have felt better if Cameron had led the riots from the front, and admitted it. Then we might have a PM who faces up to life's challenges, like I have had to do, and so have many others. All we seem to have is a weak guy with money who says we have a 'nanny state' just because many people try to have a sense of responsibility.
IMO: So, like me and many many others, the BBC "see it" unlike Cameron and Blair. So no wonder those two crooks want to close the BBC.
John Mann, MP for Bassetlaw, said: “David Cameron has questions to answer after his claim that he did not witness people throwing things through windows or smashing up restaurants during his days as a Bullingdon Club member.
“This is very different to what other people remember.
“If we are to get more responsibility throughout our society following the riots then the Prime Minister should set an example.”
But no: The PM yesterday hit back with his own attack on the BBC’s reporting of the riots.
IMO: So basically Cameron is both a fool and the sort of weak, naive hypocrite who wishes to censor those who expose his exploitation of the public, his intolerance, and his weakness of character.
IMO: I really think I might have felt better if Cameron had led the riots from the front, and admitted it. Then we might have a PM who faces up to life's challenges, like I have had to do, and so have many others. All we seem to have is a weak guy with money who says we have a 'nanny state' just because many people try to have a sense of responsibility.
More need for a Tobin tax
The New York Times says "...banks, hedge funds and venture capitalists are geared toward investing in financial instruments and software companies. In such endeavors, even modest investments can yield extraordinarily quick and large returns. Financing brick-and-mortar factories, by contrast, is expensive and painstaking and offers far less potential for speedy returns".
IMO: So more and more money in supposedly 'safe' banks will be wasted on "spin", "vapourware" and the like. They are turning the banks into CCC rateable garbage, like some say the PIIGS economies are already. Give us Glass-Steagal back, give us Tobin taxing.
IMO: So more and more money in supposedly 'safe' banks will be wasted on "spin", "vapourware" and the like. They are turning the banks into CCC rateable garbage, like some say the PIIGS economies are already. Give us Glass-Steagal back, give us Tobin taxing.
Ganesh Chaturthi
Thursday, September 01, 2011
The London Stock Exchange has made a bid for a majority stake in Clearnet on Friday.
The bid values Europe's last remaining independent clearing house at about 1 billion euros ($1.4 billion).
IMO: The LSE seem to be in competition with Markit for this clearing house. FYO Markit is the old Lance Uggla firm (Lance Uggla is on Facebook and Twitter).
IMO: The LSE seem to be in competition with Markit for this clearing house. FYO Markit is the old Lance Uggla firm (Lance Uggla is on Facebook and Twitter).
Hysteria is sweeping Germany
Christian Wulff, Germany's president, stunned the country last week by accusing the European Central Bank of going "far beyond its mandate" with mass purchases of Spanish and Italian debt, and warning that the Europe's headlong rush towards fiscal union strikes at the "very core" of democracy. "Decisions have to be made in parliament in a liberal democracy. That is where legitimacy lies," he said.
The Bundesbank condemned the ECB's bond purchases and warning the EU is drifting towards debt union without "democratic legitimacy" or treaty backing.
Joahannes Singhammer, leader of the CSU's Bundestag group, accused the ECB of acting "dangerously" by jumping the gun before parliaments had voted. The ECB is implicitly acting on behalf of the rescue fund until it is ratified.
"An unlimited transfer union and pooling of debts for any length of time would imply a shared financial government and decisively change the character of a European confederation of states," said a CSU draft, obtained by Der Spiegel.
IMO: A pity if this marks the end of the Eurozone. This could hurt the UK as it could wipe out 1/3 of UK banks assets. This will be OK if there is not a big run on the bank and Cameron does not panic and order banks to raise huge amounts of capital in a few weeks. Cameron has done nothing much but panic since he has been in office. We should at least get a Tobin tax. I am also a little worried about the Chancellor's proposed deal with Switzerland on numbered accounts as I hardly think it will help, probably the reverse. The Germans may wind up better in the long run if they do not panic, but they need a Tobin tax and tighter external control. Soon it will be like when if the English went to France, they had to try for a toast 'a bas Wilson' so they could cadge free beers, as they were only allowed a £5 travel allowance! Maybe it will be 'a bas Merkel' now. either way. It looks like a good idea to continue to try for the USE anyway by now, but more care and preparation should have been done long ago.
The Bundesbank condemned the ECB's bond purchases and warning the EU is drifting towards debt union without "democratic legitimacy" or treaty backing.
Joahannes Singhammer, leader of the CSU's Bundestag group, accused the ECB of acting "dangerously" by jumping the gun before parliaments had voted. The ECB is implicitly acting on behalf of the rescue fund until it is ratified.
"An unlimited transfer union and pooling of debts for any length of time would imply a shared financial government and decisively change the character of a European confederation of states," said a CSU draft, obtained by Der Spiegel.
IMO: A pity if this marks the end of the Eurozone. This could hurt the UK as it could wipe out 1/3 of UK banks assets. This will be OK if there is not a big run on the bank and Cameron does not panic and order banks to raise huge amounts of capital in a few weeks. Cameron has done nothing much but panic since he has been in office. We should at least get a Tobin tax. I am also a little worried about the Chancellor's proposed deal with Switzerland on numbered accounts as I hardly think it will help, probably the reverse. The Germans may wind up better in the long run if they do not panic, but they need a Tobin tax and tighter external control. Soon it will be like when if the English went to France, they had to try for a toast 'a bas Wilson' so they could cadge free beers, as they were only allowed a £5 travel allowance! Maybe it will be 'a bas Merkel' now. either way. It looks like a good idea to continue to try for the USE anyway by now, but more care and preparation should have been done long ago.
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