Blog @ MoreWhat.com

As they say, this just in (at time of posting) …..

MOMBASA, Kenya (CNN) — Pirates hijacked a 35,000-ton Greek-owned bulk carrier in the Gulf of Aden on Tuesday, the European Union’s Maritime Security Center said.

The crew was thought to be unhurt and ships have been warned to stay clear of the area for fear of further attack, the security center said.

The hijacking follows the killing by U.S. Navy SEALs of three pirates who were holding an American ship captain hostage.

How about this for a suggestion to President Obama since it is clear the terrorists in Somalia are slow learners? Since the so-called ‘pirates’, nothing more than terrorists or extortionists, have puffed up their chests after being thwarted by Navy Seal precision Obama could raise the ante and do something effective.

Have some good old-fashioned US military air power within striking distance of the shipping lanes. If a ship with US personnel on board signals they are under threat from another vessel dispatch American air power to make a pass with a few well placed warning shots. If the offending vessel does not retreat, blow it out of the water on the next pass, end of story.

How long do you suppose it would take the so-called pirates to understand their strategy has become too costly? A side benefit might be other nations would take the same stance. To do less will only encourage the perps to continue.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

It is probably too early to draw a conclusion on President Obama’s reported ‘go ahead’ order on the Navy Seals mission to end the hostage situation involving Somali ‘pirates’ (thugs, terrorists, extortionists) and a now famous Captain Phillips of the ship Maersk Alabama. With one 16 year old perp in custody and Phillips still being held hostage, under imminent threat of death, the Navy team took out the remaining three thugs effectively freeing the captain from his captors.

If reports are accurate and President Obama twice gave the order to proceed then he should receive credit for doing the right thing. But that is what he is supposed to do, the right thing. While doing the right thing is subject to debate even in this case the outcome could have been a problem. What if the plan went forward and disaster was the result? That is the difficulty in doing the right thing under these circumstances. There would have been no shortage of criticism. So it was not an easy call contrary to what popular opinion might be but it was the right thing to do. And on that note this blog offers its first positive response to the new President.

Be it known that it is for this event and this event only that the positive response is offered. For between the Presidential agenda and the main stream media, what of it still remains viable, the phony treatment of current events distort reality. A report from AP this weekend emphasizes this assertion.

Obama Hopes to Use Dealmaking Skills Honed Abroad
Sunday, April 12, 2009 8:33 AM
WASHINGTON –

Let’s make a deal.

President Barack Obama honed his dealmaking skills on his maiden international trip, to Europe and the Middle East.

The trip helped burnish his image abroad. But can he translate that into getting his legislative priorities through Congress, where partisan lines continue to harden?

Analysts say the generally positive reception to his first venture on the international stage can’t hurt. But foreign-policy successes don’t necessarily mean achievements at home.

What analysts say any of that? Where are they? Why does the AP report not refer to them by name and offer supporting resources or evidence? Could it be the author is making it up? Like Obama suggested of those who presented less than flattering information on him during the 2008 campaign. ‘They’re just making it up.’

Analysts say. Sources say. Unnamed sources say. High level sources close to the President say. Under the promise of anonymity so and so said. This is not convincing. Right out of the gate on this one the AP is helping support the notion that the MSM is a fraud.

In the very next paragraph after such a pathetic beginning with the AP report the following was concluded. Obama helped negotiate a compromise among world powers to battle the global recession, helped break a deadlock over NATO’s next secretary-general and helped coordinate NATO’s strategy for Afghanistan. Where do they get this stuff? The G20 was a flop. Go read the statements of Merkel, Sarkozy, Brown and others at the G20. You will, if you haven’t already, see a different outcome from this particular international political show. Economic pledges of a trillion dollars do not a success make. No ‘fighting’ troops to Afghanistan from the EU is not an accomplishment. There is nothing about the G20, the UN, NATO or Obama that suggest the glowing report offered by the AP.

He agreed to restart languishing nuclear arms control talks with Russia, laid down a marker on terms for a Palestinian state, delivered a strong pitch for allowing Turkey to join the European Union and sought to heal a rift between the U.S. and the Muslim world.

Appeasement, surrender, appeasement, appeasement in that order on the last misguided excerpt from the report by AP. For a more realistic view on the nonsense that is President Obama’s agenda and his crews’ efforts thus far is another promotion from this blog to read yet another piece from George Will.

Rice really thinks there is a community out there. To believe that is to believe, as liberals do, that harmony is humanity’s natural condition, so discord is a remediable defect in arrangements.

Regarding North Korea’s missile launch, Rice was very stern. She said the U.N. Security Council would “meet,” and there would be “consultation with our partners,” who “all need to come together” and “add to” the 2006 U.N. resolution that North Korea had just disregarded, the one that demanded a halt to future missile-related activity, including launches. The Security Council met. It could not even bring itself to say North Korea’s launch had violated the resolution against launches.

The column by Will must be read in its entirety as the lone excerpt provided here doe not do it justice. Plus it is good to refer to other sources from this blog that have, shall we say, ’street cred’ in making the case or point suggested here. With more talent like George Will in the MSM they might have a better chance for survival as well as being taken seriously.

It would be wonderful if this blog could expand this one time positive response to the President’s action on the Phillips’ rescue to his entire agenda. But there is currently no evidence the remainder of his plans will be an exercise in doing the right thing.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

By Michael Bowman
Washington D.C.
13 April 2009

The U.S. Navy says fear that an American cargo ship captain’s life was in imminent danger prompted U.S. gunfire that killed three Somali pirates and secured the captain’s freedom after five harrowing days in captivity.

Late Sunday came word that Captain Richard Phillips, who offered himself as a hostage to secure the freedom of his crew aboard the Maersk Alabama, was unharmed aboard a U.S. Navy vessel.

Vice Admiral William Gortney of the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet says elite special forces aboard the USS Bainbridge took action on orders from President Barack Obama to use deadly force, if Phillip’s life was at stake.

“The pirates were armed with AK-47s and small-caliber pistols.  And they were pointing the AK-47s at the captain.  It got heated, and the on-scene commander interpreted hostile intent by the pirates and took the appropriate action,” said Admiral Gortney.

The admiral says the pirates had been demanding a substantial ransom and repeatedly threatened to kill Phillips.  Phillips and the pirates were aboard a lifeboat from the Alabama that had run out of fuel. A fourth pirate was on the Bainbridge at the time the stand-off ended.

Gortney said, “The one pirate who surrendered early today is being treated humanely.  His counterparts [other pirates] who chose to continue to fight paid with their lives.  And the [U.S.] Department of Justice is working out the details with the intent of holding him [i.e., the 4th pirate] accountable for his actions.”

Gortney described Phillips and his crew as “heroic”. But the head of Maersk Line, John Reinhart, who spoke with Phillips by telephone after the ordeal had ended, said the captain insisted the real heroes were the U.S. service members who “brought me home.”

Phillips had tried to escape on his own, but the Somali pirates recaptured him.

At Captain Phillips’ home in Vermont, there was jubilation.  Family friend Alison McColl spoke to reporters. “This is truly a very happy Easter for the Philips family.”

Phillips was the first American to be taken by pirates who have plagued the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean shipping lanes for years.  Hundreds of other hostages of various nationalities are being held hostage by pirates.

The U.S. Navy’s rescue of Phillips was the second time that Somali pirates have faced deadly military force this month.  Last week, French forces killed two pirates and captured three others to end a hostage stand-off aboard a French yacht.

Commenting on the Phillips rescue, a self-proclaimed Somali pirate told the Associated Press that he and his fellow marauders have learned a lesson and that they will kill future hostages.

By Paula Wolfson
Washington
12 April 2009

An American cargo ship captain who had been held hostage by pirates in a lifeboat off the coast of Somalia is once again a free man. The incident brought the piracy threat to the fore for the Obama administration and the U.S. Congress.

Word from the Somali coast is that Captain Richard Phillips is free and safe.

News reports from the region quote unidentified U.S. military and intelligence officials as saying the cargo ship captain was freed Sunday and in now in American hands. Initial news reports say three of the pirates were killed and one was captured.

Phillips was the first American taken hostage by Somali pirates who have operated in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean shipping lanes for years.

His ship, the U.S. flagged Maersk Alabama, was attacked by pirates last Wednesday. Members of his crew said Phillips volunteered to become a hostage in exchange for their safety.

American military helicopters and warships kept close watch on the hostage situation, waiting for an opportunity. Reports from the scene say members of an elite Navy unit moved in Sunday and staged a successful rescue.

While United States Navy was responsible for the military operation, the U.S. Coast Guard coordinated with the company that owns the Maersk Alabama.

During an appearance on the CBS program Face the Nation, the Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, Thad Allen, was asked if more can be done to protect cargo ships from the pirate threat.

“For the past several years the United Kingdom has led a regional consortium where they pass information on sightings, best routings and so forth,” said Allen. “We are in the process of helping create a code of conduct for merchant ships so they can minimize the threats.”

There has been discussion of arming these cargo ships. Allen said that would create new problems in terms of training and certification. He said what is needed is an international legal framework to go after these pirates and bring them to justice.

“What you really have to have is a coordinating mechanism that brings these pirates to court where they can be held accountable,” added Allen.

Earlier, on the Fox News Sunday program, two members of the Senate Intelligence Committee talked about the various options before the Obama administration to deal with the piracy threat.

Republican Tom Coburn of Oklahoma said more military resources are needed. But he stressed it must be a true international effort.

“It can’t just be us,” he said. “It has got to be everybody because everybody is affected by it.”

Indiana Democrat Evan Bayh agreed the world must take a strong stand.

“I think a tough approach is in order here,” added Bayh. “Thomas Jefferson in dealing with the Barbary pirates of his day said “millions for defense, not one dime for tribute.”

Bayh said it is essential to create some sort of effective government amidst the chaos in Somalia.

“No. I am talking about helping responsible elements - and they are hard to find within Somalia - eventually have a government there that is capable of controlling its own territory so we don’t have to,” said Bayh.

Speaking just hours before the rescue mission became known, Bayh made remarks that now seem prophetic. He said the United States should send a clear signal that anyone who attacks a U.S. flagged ship and takes Americans hostage will face “some real problems”.

Nothing like a little egg on your face for helping terrorist-friendly clients access the US financial system. You could ask when people will begin to understand that giving terrorists or their enablers access to the world’s financial systems supports terrorism. But it is likely the truth is they know who they are dealing with and do not care. Here the terrorists use the infidels’ weakness for greed and corruption against them. Another sad fact is that even when such crimes are committed there is only another exchange of money. No one seems to be held personally responsible for their actions.

Of course the story includes the tainted bank expressing its concern and that it ‘is committed to maintaining the highest levels of integrity’, etc.,etc. What a load of manure that is. You were stripping customer information from transactions so they would not be flagged by filtering software at destination banks. How is that a matter of ‘enhancing compliance programs’? It is a matter of a conscious decision to defraud. Something that should not allow those involved to continue in the banking business……EVER AGAIN!!

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

Lloyds TSB Bank has agreed to pay a $350 million penalty to U.S. authorities for falsifying records to allow clients from Iran, Sudan and Libya illegal access to the U.S. financial system.

The London-based bank admitted responsibility for violating U.S. sanction laws under deferred prosecution agreements filed Friday by the U.S. Justice Department and the New York County District Attorney’s Office.

Their joint investigation accuses Lloyds of deliberately removing customer information - a process known as “stripping” - so that wire transfers would pass undetected through filters at U.S. financial institutions.

The process made it appear the transactions originated at Lloyds rather than the sanctioned banks.

In a statement announcing the deals struck with investigators, the bank said it is committed to maintaining the highest levels of integrity and has taken significant steps to enhance its compliance programs.

Under terms of the agreements, Lloyds must turn over all the data it still has that was removed from past money transfers to U.S. authorities. The bank is required to cooperate fully with U.S. authorities for the next two years.

Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau said the case against Lloyds grew out of an investigation into suspicious money transfers by alleged Iranian front companies and charities in New York.

In the New York agreement, Lloyds admitted that from 2002 to 2004 it allowed Iranian banks and their customers to illegally move more than $300 million. Most of the money was sent into the United States, but it is not clear if any of the funds ended up in terrorist hands.

Money transfers from sanctioned countries violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, which allows the U.S. president to block commerce with countries deemed a threat to the United States.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.

This picture of Nicolas Sarkozy and Carla Bruni could work for a caption contest. Lookin’ a little saggy there Nick, is the better half giving you the ‘what for’ starting on your wedding day? Wuz up, Nick, is she suggesting a beach diet? Gotta have some fun with a country’s leader when they marry a high profile celeb, current creds subject to debate, and then lectures the world on finance, Africa and who should or shouldn’t be subjected to the humiliating experience of membership in the UN.

But you have to give Sarkozy some credit. He’s done more to raise France’s reputation in the world since being elected than, uh, since, uh, I dunno, Napolean? Suggesting Marie Antoinette might be tasteless, but she was given a bad rap by the MSM or something.

Can’t be helped. On this blog any opportunity to exploit Carla Bruni at France’s expense is just too hard to resist.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

France Calls for Global Summit on Financial Crisis
By VOA News
23 September 2008
French President Nicolas Sarkozy has called for an emergency summit of world leaders to address what he calls the most serious financial crisis the world has experienced since the 1930s.

In a speech at the U.N. General Assembly Tuesday, Mr. Sarkozy said the international community has a political and moral responsibility to deal with the effects of such crises. He said world leaders should act now to create globalized institutions that will regulate financial activity and rebuild a system of capitalism where rules of caution apply to all.

Mr. Sarkozy, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency, also called for solidarity between Europe and Russia. He said Europe wants a partnership with Russia, but he warned that Moscow must not compromise respect for international law or territorial sovereignty.

Mr. Sarkozy mediated a truce ending last month’s conflict between Russia and Georgia for control of Georgia’s breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

On Iran, the French leader said Europe respects Tehran’s right to peaceful nuclear activity. But he said it cannot accept a nuclear-armed Iran that would endanger the peace and stability of the entire region.

Turning to Africa, Mr. Sarkozy said the world cannot wait to achieve peace and end the “tragedy” in Sudan’s western Darfur region. He said Europe also is committed to helping Somalia combat piracy off its coasts.

Mr. Sarkozy said Europe is working to ensure Africa has a place among the permanent members of the U.N. Security Council, and in what is currently the Group of Eight (G8) industrialized nations.

The French president called for enlarging the U.N. Security Council and the G8 in an effort to make the institutions more representative. He said the world can wait no longer to bring India, South Africa, Mexico and Brazil into the fold of international institutions.
Some information for this report was provided by AP.

US Protests China’s Visa Refusal for Olympian Joey Cheek

By VOA News
The United States is formally protesting China’s decision to deny a visa to U.S. Olympic gold medalist and Darfur anti-violence campaigner Joey Cheek.

White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said Wednesday the U.S. is disturbed to learn that China has refused his visa.

Cheek, a speedskater who competed in the 2006 Winter Olympics, had planned to go to Beijing to support Olympic athletes who are members of Team Darfur. The group aims to call attention to the humanitarian crisis in Sudan’s Darfur region.

China is a major investor in Sudan and has come under increasing pressure to help end the violence in Darfur.

International experts say more than 200,000 people have died and some 2.5 million have been displaced from their homes since Darfur rebel groups rose up against the Sudanese government in 2003.

Sudan says Western governments and media have exaggerated the scale of the conflict.

from MoreWhat.com:

…and Nancy Pelosi chimes in (of course)….

Pelosi Calls on President Bush to Secure Entry of Joey Cheek to Beijing Olympic Games Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Contact:Brendan Daly/Nadeam Elshami, 202-226-7616

Washington, D.C. – Speaker Nancy Pelosi released the following statement after the Chinese government revoked a visa for Olympic gold medalist and Team Darfur co-founder Joey Cheek:

“The Chinese government’s decision to bar Olympic gold medalist Joey Cheek from attending the Olympics because of his advocacy for Darfur is reprehensible. This action by Beijing’s leaders is part of an orchestrated campaign to deny entry to individuals because of their political views, beliefs, writings, association, religion, and ethnicity.

If an Olympic athlete, past or present, wishes to attend the Olympics no one should find that unusual or controversial. But if that athlete has chosen to add politics or activism or controversy to their resume’, is it surprising that the host country for the Olympics would refuse to let them enter the country? There have always been controversial overtones associated with the Olympic games. In a perfect world, this athletic event would be simply about sport and competition. It is not a surprise that China refused Joey Cheek’s visa. It is not a surprise that the White House expressed they are disturbed (ya, right) about Cheek being barred from China. And even less of a surprise is that Speaker Nancy Pelosi would offer her two cents on the matter.

Hey Joey, if you want ot be involved in sport, don’t make it political. Hey China, if you don’t want to draw attention to your political choices, don’t bar Joey. Hey White House, it was essentially required for you to respond (enough said). Hey Nancy, you have time to chime in on Joey Cheek but not attend to energy and other urgent matters related to what should be your real job or responsibility.

From this blog, on the energy issue and the one aspect of oil, build some refineries for converting oil to gasoline, etc., before you focus all your thoughts on drilling. On the drilling, fine, drill. Drill to your hearts content. But, up front, stop saying everything will be fine and no harm will come from drilling. Put some measures in place for what will be done to correct errors if you are wrong. And don’t forget about the refining. As for the alternative sources…. forget about it. You have for 30 or 40 years and so has the public. Only crisis will bring alternatives, as always. So forget about the alternatives. None have been brought forward yet and will not likely be for many decades to come. Remember, if you drill like there’s no tomorrow but fail to refine what you drill it is pointless, except for investors.

Go ahead, tell me I’m wrong.

Stanford Matthews

crossposted at:
Reject the UN
Screw the UN

There is a noticeable amount of chatter regarding economic issues of Africa lately. For how long has it been claimed that the poorest, most destitute group of people live in Africa. Or more accurately, the people living in Africa may represent some of the world’s most needy populations until the UN is seeking money by using other examples. Then that part of the world is in the worst shape. But that is not really the issue of economics in Africa either. First, an excerpt from a current quote from someone from the United Nations on economics and Africa.

“What we are advocating is that these intellectuals give priority to Africa. If you go to the U.S., you go to other countries, there are outstanding African intellectuals and economists working in this context, in these institutions, and they are involved in a lot of global issues, and their voices are being heard,” said Janneh. “We are saying, this is fine, continue to do so, but reserve a substantive portion of your intellect, or your attention, on African issues. Once you do that, I think it is fine. Do not leave this to outsiders.”

What is the United Nations if not outsiders no matter where they are? And has economics become the current buzzword for their agenda? It seems that it was just moments ago they were describing the inhabitants of Burma as the most economically disadvantaged due to the financial rape by a military junta of a country with abundant resources. A situation allowed to continue fo decades. Another example of the impotent, incompetent or simply corrupt nature of the United Nations and their claim to be representatives of international cooperation.

So the United Nations once again is serving up sage advice for individuals with African roots to dedicate some portion of their skills and expertise to economic development of their home country even though they may no longer live there. And yet the very outsider influence typically sought by the UN is at least temporarily being rejected in the case of Africa. A continent the UN most often pleads for as a worthy recipient of food and medicine to cover the basic needs of impoverished citizens. In addition, the UN is not formally discouraging the outside influence they want native talent to replace.

Delegates to the U.S.-Africa business summit say Africa is open for business. Many sub-Saharan economies are growing by more than five percent per year. Wiseman Nkuhlu of Pan-African Capital Holdings says much of the continent has entered a productive era.

The first concern should be whether or not private sector involvement in Africa’s economic development will result in common exploitation of vulnerable socieities plagued by corruption internally and externally. Not like the UN has been without the influence of corruption but the internal variety in the form of military dictators or the flux of near continuous civil war or the ravages of rebel militias are a constant risk to investment even if it is entirely benevolent.

The following is not an example of benevolent economic development but merely a common tactic to profit indirectly from investments that do not have the host country’s best interests in mind.

China Invests $5.5 Billion in South African Bank
By Delia Robertson
Johannesburg

In the largest post-apartheid direct investment deal in South Africa, the state-controlled Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, ICBC, has purchased 20 percent of Standard Bank, South Africa’s largest lender.

Many reports coming out of Africa are suggesting various economies on the continent are emerging as competitive. At best, with countries like Zimbabwe yet in political turmoil and others simmering from recent widespread violence or devastation by disease or natural disasters, honest and effective development will certainly not come from the pathetic fiasco known as the Millennium Development Goals. That said, Africa’s chances for avoiding scams from strangers bearing gifts may expose them to an equal risk. With the United Nations talking about African economic development that outcome is almost guaranteed. So Africa will have to survive more decades of abuse before they may emerge viable as an economic force able if not willing to attend to the needs of their citizens.

By Phillip Wellman
Abidjan, Ivory Coast
10 November 2007
The ministry of tourism in Ivory Coast says it disagrees with warnings issued by many Western nations advising against all but essential travel to the country. The ministry says although full reconciliation has yet to occur, Ivory Coast is peaceful. It says revenue generated from tourism could help boost the country’s economy, which has suffered from years of conflict. Phillip Wellman reports for VOA from Abidjan

At the Hotel Ivoire in Abidjan, three tourists are playing a game of ten-pin bowling. They are the only customers this evening, which does not surprise the bowling lanes’ manager, who says many people are afraid to come to Ivory Coast following the country’s brief civil war five years ago.

Chief spokesman for the Ivorian ministry of tourism, Satigui Kone, says a fear of violence, which he describes as unnecessary, is the biggest problem facing the country’s travel industry. He says the fear is costing the country crucial revenue and is being prolonged by Western governments that continue to post travel warnings for Ivory Coast.

“Some embassies want their populations not to come here. We don’t know why. If you consider Ivory Coast like it was (before the peace accord), it is a very, very big fault. There is no reason for tourists to stay in their countries because of those messages you can find by some embassies. We are very sad to know of them,” he said.

Several unexplained killings of prominent foreigners have occurred in Ivory Coast since the civil war which began in 2002.. A strong anti-French sentiment also swept though Abidjan in 2004, with mobs of government supporters looting French businesses throughout the city and attacking French nationals.

In March, a peace accord was signed by Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo and the rebel leader Guillaume Soro. The agreement stipulated that northern rebels would be integrated into the country’s army and free and fair elections would be held. Elections are now due to be held next year.

Although tourism is not a major industry in Ivory Coast, the Tourism Ministry thinks it can be. Kone says the March agreement has brought peace to Ivory Coast. He admits that there have been setbacks which have delayed the accord, but says none poses a threat to foreign visitors.

However, in June, the U.S. State Department issued a new travel warning, saying political violence could erupt at any time because most key goals of the peace accord remain unachieved. The warning said the security situation is particularly poor and unpredictable in Abidjan and in the west part of the country.

Canada, Britain and New Zealand updated their travel warnings on Ivory Coast last month.

The manager of Abidjan’s Hotel Tiama, Christian Filiol, also says tourists have little to worry about when visiting Ivory Coast, but he says he does not blame them for being scared.

He says like other businesses that rely on tourism, the hotel is struggling to make a profit. He says this is because the Ivorian government is not accelerating the peace accord, which is provoking the travel warnings. “The peace process is going very slowly- too slowly. The question is why. I suppose the slow process is a good arrangement for certain people, but for the economical situation, it is very bad,” he said.

The United States embassy in Abidjan was unavailable for comment on the U.S. warning.

from MoreWhat.com:
Let’s see. A recent history of civil war and indications that a peace settlement has items yet unresolved. And the ministry of tourism considers travel warnings as something of an overreaction. Maybe right when he said things were ‘peaceful’ they were. But what’s to say it will remain that way? But then, if you really need travel warnings as enlightenment on where to go and not go, you’re already an easy target.

Avian flu may be the best example of a potential catastrophic event that will be largely ignored or shrouded with incompetence or sheer apathy right up until the moment it becomes a pandemic. While considerable focus and attention was placed on the topic early on, since then the tiny foe has systematically gone about its business with little opposition from any source capable of mounting a reasonable defense.

Not like there are no other major issues about which we should be concerned. However, avian influenza is a threat that can make all the others rather moot. It is the sort of problem that displays no discrimination or prejudice or other human attribute when selecting targets. Whatever can be defined as part of the biosphere is on its list of targets. No socio-economic or geopolitical considerations here. No personal preferences or bias or any other subjective analysis clouds its judgment. As a matter of fact, there is no judgment. It’s not that kind of arrangement.

Most people are aware that H5N1 is only advancing as slow and methodical as it has for lack of successful method to infect other species. There have also been reports that much progress has been made in developing vaccines. Reports in addition to the two presented here have suggested enough vaccine can be produced but there may be shortcomings attached to this solution. And of course, the early discussions made many comparisons to the 1918 flu epidemic as well as the frequency of such events and that we are overdue for another.

The primary point of this post is to publish another warning that there may be a serious lack of concern and response to the risk from this particular foe. The virus is extending the courtesy of giving the human species a great deal of time to solve the problem. But just like the fact that this living organism does not apply subjective analysis to its daily business, the time allowed thus far to prepare ourselves is simply the result of a natural sequence of events. If we end up not being prepared when the threat advances we will have no one to blame but ourselves.

Scientists Say Bird Flu Spreading in Several Asian, African Countries

By Luis Ramirez
Bangkok
07 November 2007

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Nations in Asia and Africa have had much success in stopping the spread of bird flu, but experts meeting in Bangkok this week say the H5N1 virus continues to spread in a number of countries. VOA’s Luis Ramirez reports from Bangkok.

Experts with the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization say bird flu is still considered an animal disease, affecting only a small number of humans so far. But they say the threat of a human pandemic, in which millions could die, is still very real.

Dr. David Nabarro, the United Nations’ senior Coordinator for Avian and Human Influenza, told reporters in Bangkok Wednesday that while most nations have made progress in containing the virus’ spread, there remain some problem areas.

“We’ve seen during the last three years that countries have invested a lot of resources in vaccination of poultry, in improving veterinary services, and also in what we call bio-security, in order to try to reduce the risk of…avian influenza continuing to circulate in poultry or in wild birds,” he said. “We’ve seen in many countries, extraordinary success in getting this under control: (but) not everywhere. There’s some problems in the region.”

He says the virus continues to spread in Bangladesh, Indonesia and Vietnam in Asia, and Egypt and Nigeria in Africa.

Experts say nations that have yet to develop an export-oriented poultry industry are finding it more difficult to contain the disease.

They say Thailand, as one example, has had greater success in controlling bird flu, because it already had a veterinary system in place to support its sizable poultry exports.

Another challenge that could hinder efforts to contain the spread of H5N1 is the reluctance by some countries to hand over tissue samples of bird flu cases. China is one of them. Dr. Nabarro says negotiations continue in efforts to get Beijing to disclose more data and materials that could help scientists develop a vaccine.

“There are some situations in which countries have asked for clarification on the benefits that they’re likely to get as a result of sharing samples, and there is some international negotiation under way at the moment to try to establish a satisfactory basis for sample-sharing by seeing whether or not it will be possible to ensure that those who do provide samples are able to benefit from products that are produced with the help of those samples,” he said.

Experts say Beijing’s concerns have to do with intellectual property rights to any vaccine that is developed with data or research originating in China. Indonesia has hesitated to supply tissue samples for similar reasons.

Representatives of several nations are scheduled to meet in Geneva later this month to address those concerns and talk about setting up a new international standard of sharing information and samples.

The H5N1 strain of the avian influenza virus mainly affects birds and has struck primarily in Asia, but it has also appeared in Europe and Africa. Since its appearance in Hong Kong in 1997, the H5N1 virus has killed at least 211 people in eleven countries. Tens of millions of poultry have died or been slaughtered due to the disease.

The World Health Organization says all evidence to date indicates that close contact with dead or sick birds is the principal source of human infection. Scientists say they are mainly concerned about the virus in animals for now, but fear that the virus could mutate and become easily transmissible between humans.

UN Expert Says World Unprepared for Avian Flu Pandemic

By Lisa Schlein
Geneva
24 October 2007

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A top United Nations expert on Avian influenza says the world is not yet ready to protect itself from a potential avian influenza pandemic that could kill millions of people. He says it will take another few years before countries complete their pandemic preparedness plans. Lisa Schlein reports for VOA from Geneva.

Health experts are concerned that the deadly H5N1 bird flu virus will transform itself into the virus that causes the next human pandemic.

David Nabarro is senior U.N. systems coordinator for avian and human influenza. He says many uncertainties surround the disease. But, what is certain, he says, is that there will be a human influenza pandemic some time in the future.

He says no one knows when or where this will happen or how severe it will be. But, he says, given the potential magnitude of human suffering and of the economic consequences, it is essential to be prepared.

He says most countries have some kind of pandemic preparedness plan in the works.

“Unfortunately, only a relatively small proportion are adequately prepared to keep going in the event that the pandemic has massive absenteeism associated with it. And we need hard work for at least two or three years more to make sure that the whole world is properly pandemic ready. It is not easy. But, I will tell you one thing: being prepared for a pandemic will help countries to be prepared for other mega-catastrophes, not just those that are due to infectious disease,” said Dr. Nabarro.

The World Health Organization reports bird flu has spread to about 60 countries and territories. It says the H5N1 virus appears to be entrenched in the poultry populations of Indonesia, northern Egypt and parts of Nigeria, Bangladesh, China and Vietnam.

Bird flu remains a largely animal disease. But, latest figures show about 350 people who had close contact with diseased poultry have become infected and more than 200 have died.

Dr. Nabarro says health experts fear that one day H5N1 or another animal virus will mutate into a form that could spread easily from one human to another.

In anticipation of this, he says WHO is working with national authorities to make sure they will be able to respond promptly to contain the virus wherever it emerges.

“That prompt response has to be within days,” said Dr. Nabarro. “WHO has worked with countries to develop protocols for rapid response and has also been ensuring that there are adequate stockpiles of Oseltamivir or Tamiflu, which is part of the rapid response. WHO is also working on trying to ensure that there will be a plan that can be put into place for rapid production of pandemic vaccines once the new virus appears and also is looking at the possibility of vaccines against H5N1 in humans stockpiled.”

Dr. Nabarro says it will take drug companies about six months to manufacture vaccines against avian influenza once a pandemic appears and the viral strain is identified. He says millions of people could die during that period.

Should avian influenza strike, he says people should stay away from crowds. They should wear protective gear, such as masks and they should use the anti-viral drug Tamiflu.

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Reject the UN
Screw the UN

Every now and then an absolutely classic example of what is wrong with the United Nations emerges. This is not only a criticism aimed at the UN but at least one former employee (featured in the story) and voices from around the world who take pleasure in complaining about the United States.

If the US is not being characterized as a saber rattling bully interfering in the affairs of other nations it is being accused of indifference or reluctance to intervene on behalf of the cherry picked victims of the week in the media’s latest scoop.

Who the hell is Stephen Lewis and where does he get off laying blame on others. For someone who worked for the UN, he should know better than most of the total lack of genuine concern within that organization. A major point of such a group of nations should be to bring pressure to bear on those in the international community who allow situations described by Lewis.

Stanford Matthews
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IDS Activist Accuses UN, Western Nations of Ignoring Congo Sexual Abuse
By Nick Wadhams
Nairobi
13 September 2007

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The chairman of an anti-AIDS group has accused the U.N. Security Council and the West in general for ignoring what he calls a litany of horror against women in eastern Congo. For VOA, Nick Wadhams has the story from Nariobi

In a blistering statement, Stephen Lewis, a former U.N. envoy on AIDS in Africa, said sexual violence against women and girls is endemic in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo, where millions of people are still suffering from the aftershocks of years of civil war and unrest.

He cited thousands of rapes each month, as well as torture and killings by militias, and the miserable funding of limited health care in eastern Congo. While the crisis in Sudan’s Darfur province has received attention from both the U.N. and Hollywood stars, the plight of women in eastern Congo has been largely ignored despite numerous reports, journalist accounts, and visits by diplomats.

“The entire world is preoccupied with Darfur, understandably,” Lewis said. “But it must be said that between ten and twenty times of the number of people have died in the eastern Congo as have died in Darfur. There are more displaced persons in the eastern Congo than in Darfur. Darfur has been going on for four years, the eastern Congo has been ravaged for ten. And nowhere on this planet is there such a holocaust of horror visited on women and girls.”

Lewis, who is Canadian, heads his own foundation which works to fight the spread of AIDS across Africa. He spoke after a trip to the region. His comments came days after the U.N. emergency relief coordinator, John Holmes, relayed similar concerns after visiting Congo.

Some analysts fear that Congo is on the brink of a new civil war. Tens of thousands of people have fled the east in recent months because of fighting between government forces and various militias that have taken shelter there.

Lewis said the ongoing violence against Congolese women, including sexual assault and murder, proves how badly the U.N. has failed to confront the country’s problems. He said U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon must press the International Criminal Court to declare rape a crime against humanity and indict suspected war criminals on charges of committing it.

“Neither the United Nations nor the international community has the faintest idea what to do about the catastrophe for women in the Congo,” Lewis said. “Where the Congo is concerned, all the Security Council is really concerned about, as evidenced in their most recent discussions, is questions of troop numbers, arms embargoes and sanctions. Rape is not on the agenda.”

Lewis argues that the world’s leaders, mostly men, have applied what he called a “spectacular lack of energy” in ending the abuse of women in Congo. He suggests it is time these men turned to women to solve the problem.

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Reject the UN
Screw the UN

The UN’s Millennium Development Goals program includes topics claimed to address basic problems worldwide such as hunger and poverty. Currently, the program is about halfway through its schedule to accomplish the goals. Based on how benchmarks are designed and appraised there is plenty of room for argument on what has or has not been accomplished. It is the opinion of the author of this post that the UN’s MDG are nothing more than a proclamation of grandiose plans intended to justify the existence of this impotent international organization.

Today’s installment focuses on one country in Africa. There was no special formula or criteria used to select today’s featured country. It was more a matter of what was readily available and being covered by various news sources at the time of this writing.

The country is Zimbabwe. Whether or not this country is typical or common in terms of the obstacles that face any attempt to improve conditions for people around the world is unknown. But certainly this example cries out for recognition as evidence supporting the fact that UN policies toward problem solving are fundamentally flawed.

It is ironic that Robert Mugabe came to power in Zimbabwe in 1980 which is the same year the now failing water supply infrastructure was installed. One of Magabe’s recent moves (July 2007) was to force businesses to slash prices on products like wide-screen TV’s. Hurry folks, you can get ‘em for about 20 pounds. In a country with a 20,000% inflation rate and the economic crisis Mugabe blames on business that is trying to undermine his government, cars are also going for the incredible price of 30 pounds.

Even though economists weighed in on the situation, it doesn’t require a financial genius to understand the stupidity of this move by Mugabe. It is also not surprising that this country’s leader has been subject to criticism for most of the time he has been in power.

The insanity in contrasts between the problems faced by Zimbabwe, the solutions offered and apparent mixture of priorities demonstrated by the following news accounts reinforce the notion that the UN Millennium Development Goals are either naive in their simplistic approach to problem solving or believe the rest of us are.

Infrastructure problems would be expected as a problem in nations suffering from the ills of ineffective or corrupt governments. As mentioned earlier, the water supply infrastructure in Zimbabwe is seriously inadequate. Frequent interruptions to the supply of water as well as electricity are cited as primary influences in the economic crisis within Zimbabwe. The municipal control of the water supply being transferred to a national authority has not improved the situation. Failure to provide adequate water for the needs of the population creates obvious risks.

Another result of Zimbabwe’s economic crisis has been a flood of two or three million refugees to neighboring the neighboring countries of Zambia, Mozambique and South Africa. There has been some question of how South Africa will handle the swell of mostly illegal immigrants. About one week ago, the UN in their wisdom had stated there is a plan for responding to the refugee situation but no mandate is in place to intervene. This suggests the UN’s grand MDG has no realistic solutions either. Is this not exactly the kind of problem the UN should be capable of resolving?

While Mugabe continues to express his position that the West is trying to bring about regime change, infrastructure problems with water and electric power have created another crisis. People have resorted to using wood to fill the void for cooking requirements. This has resulted in devastation to Zimbabwe’s forests. The power failures have also caused problems for irrigation and a reduction in the food supply. Go figure, the UN will be looked to for supplying food to more than a third of the population through next April’s harvest. So much for the MDG hunger program as it relates to Zimbabwe. Rather than fewer hungry people it appears as there will be more.

No crisis would be complete without headlines suggesting an opposition leader to Mugabe’s government is involved in actions that will impede progress in ‘crisis talks.’ Perhaps this is an area the UN may have previously been expected to participate in and direct other UN member to provide incentives for resolution. The membership of the UN as well as government leadership in struggling nations can be viewed as the central obstacles to problem solving. It would be no surprise that those in positions of authority do not share the concerns of ordinary citizens within troubled nations. If that is the case, how can the UN be a catalyst for improving conditions for the less fortunate throughout the world?

While this next story does not address the MDG primary education goals directly, it offers some insight to the difficulties of education in troubled nations as well as an example of another aid complaint that has targeted the US as not doing enough. Who can hope for the promise of education in areas where basic human needs are in crisis? Must those issues be solved before education can truly help? A tiny fraction of the funds provided by the US recently paid for one week’s training for Zimbabwe teachers to be instructed on how to teach ‘life skills’ as a deterrent to the spread of HIV/AIDS. For a mere $500,000 of aid, or about $40 per day, 1500 teachers attended the training for a week. Considering the difficulties presently faced by Zimbabwe, the wisdom of this activity is suspect.

The final story provided for contrast in this post deals with a topic that by luck of the draw was available as a current example of what makes little sense in the scheme of things. There is a Zimbabwe film festival celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. The usual descriptions and hype for such an event are expressed in the article. But to the outside observer, relying only on media reports, it serves as another reason to ask what the hell goes on in places in the world that seem to be consumed by strife? People cannot eat, attend to common tasks, are exiting the country by the millions and yet there is demand for a film festival. Not that anyone in Zimbabwe should be denied an opportunity to develop whatever skills they can, but doesn’t this seem out of place?

Certainly we discuss similar contrasts in the US. The United States is not exempt from bizarre combinations of circumstances featuring the over privileged and underprivileged. It is not expected that these same situations would not be present in other countries.

The central question for this post is how does the UN reconcile public opinion about its operations? It appears they don’t as their activities continue to demonstrate peculiar responses to chronic problems. More statements, more research, more monitoring, more appeals for funding and excuses for performance that never seem to solve anything is what maintains a less than positive public opinion of the United Nations.

Zimbabwe’s problems may be generally representative of nations throughout the world requiring international attention and resolution. Perhaps the UN could spend some of the funding used for communication to explain why its members cannot see their way clear to negotiate effectively with countries around the world like Zimbabwe. Even if one country at a time, the United Nations should be able to rally members to solve problems of poverty, hunger, disease, etc., without the hype and suspicious characteristics of projects like the Millennium Development Goals. The solutions to these problems do not require all the sophisticated and complex arrangements often described by the UN and related organizations.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

sources:
Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwe strongman

Mugabe’s price cuts bring cheap TVs today, new crisis tomorrow

Water Shortages Make Every Day Life A Struggle In Zimbabwe’s Cities

Zimbabweans Fleeing Economic Collapse Not Refugees - UN Agency

South Africa Mulls New Response To Massive Zimbabwean Immigration

Zimbabwe Economic Crisis Wipes Out Forests

Harare Says Tsvangirai’s Australia Contacts Jeopardize Crisis Talks

Zimbabwean Teachers To Instruct Life Skills To Avoid HIV Infection

Zimbabwe Film Festival Celebrates a Decade in Cinema

By Thomas Rippe
Kigali
15 August 2007

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Actors, athletes and politicians from Europe and the United States have joined genocide survivors from Rwanda and Darfur to put pressure on Olympic host China to help end genocide in Darfur. For VOA, Thomas Rippe has more from Kigali, where the gathering was held.

American actress Mia Farrow joined human rights activists and genocide survivors in Kigali Wednesday to put pressure on China to take on a bigger role in Darfur. Farrow lit a symbolic Olympic torch in memory of genocide victims.

“This flame was first lit on August 9 on the Chad - Darfur border, where genocide is ongoing,” she said. “This flame honors all those who have been lost and those who suffer. This flame celebrates the courage of those who have survived. And this flame symbolizes the hope we all share for an end to genocide everywhere.”

In the run-up to the Beijing Olympics, China, which is by far the largest foreign investor in Sudan and absorbs almost two thirds of its oil output, has been under mounting pressure to use it influence with Khartoum to ease the suffering in Darfur.

Dream for Darfur, a U.S.-based human rights group, organized the event. It was held at the Ecole Technique Officielle, a school where 2,000 Rwandans were killed in 1994.

According to the United Nations, a total of at least 800,000 people were slaughtered in the space of a few weeks during the genocide.

Director Jill Savitt says China is key to resolving the crisis.

“We believe that the host of the 2008 Olympic games, China, can play a powerful role, and a positive role, in resolving the Darfur crisis,” she said.

Omer Ismail is a survivor of the genocide in Darfur. He spoke directly to the Rwandans attending the event.

“I, like you, am a survivor. And us survivors, we know that we cannot leave anyone behind. We must work together to stop genocidal violence wherever it occurs,” he said.

U.S. Congressman Donald Payne helped push Congress to call the crisis in Darfur genocide back in 2004.

“Three years later, from the declaration of genocide, genocide is still occurring. And that’s wrong,” he said.

Activists hope that continued pressure will lead to a strong U.N. peacekeeping force in Darfur.

Mauritania Makes Slavery a Criminal Offense
By Phuong Tran
Dakar
09 August 2007

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Mauritania’s legislature has approved a law that will criminalize slavery. Anti-slavery lobbyists say enforcement will determine if this law can end slavery in the West African country where it has continued despite earlier bans. Phuong Tran has more from VOA’s West Africa Bureau in Dakar.

Ending slavery was one of President Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdellahi’s campaign promises.

The newly-elected president told VOA this law has a better chance to end slavery than previous attempts.

The president says the government will be vigilant in enforcing the law, which for the first time, punishes acts of slavery with jail time and fines. He adds it is now illegal for officials who know about an act of slavery to not intervene.

Secretary and co-founder of the Mauritanian non-profit, anti-slavery group SOS Esclaves, Abdel Nasser Ould Yessa, says he is relieved the long legal battle against slavery is over.

He says this law is specific in describing what constitutes slavery, such as debt bondage and forced marriage. He says the law reverses denials under previous governments about the existence of slavery in Mauritania.

The lobbyist adds the state needs to set up programs to provide employment help and social services to former slaves.

He says there are often cases when victims leave slave-like relationships, but then must return, because they cannot find work or afford health care on their own.

Slavery has not been permitted legally in Mauritania since French colonizers abolished the practice, which had existed before colonialism. A previous government passed numerous laws starting in 1981 to reinforce the colonial ban on slavery.

Sociologists and religious scholars say slave-like practices continued, in part, because some mistakenly believe the Koran allows it.

But Mauritanian religious leaders, widely respected in the Islamic state and looked to for guidance on public behaviors, have not formally endorsed any legislation to end slavery.

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Reject the UN

Sometimes justice is slow and chasing down the large cast of characters in the UN oil for food scandal is no exception. The public outcry, outrage and continued criticism can soften greatly over time. That is why periodic reminders are helpful and needed to keep more than politically correct government pressure on the source of the scandal. That source would be the United Nations, no doubt.

Also sometimes, the public suggestions for a potential solution to the world’s problems are not necessarily slow, but exceptionally mindless. Not only is the following suggestion ridiculous but it is more a suggestion of how to keep China happy satisfying its thirst for oil than how to solve the crisis in Darfur. Not to mention the unsupported claim that just because an oil for food program was responsible for massive corruption in Iraq does not mean that will happen again.

‘Oil for food’ in Sudan proposed

Kenya Broadcasting Corporation, Kenya - Jun 14, 2007
Written By:Muthoni Kariuki/bbc , Posted: Thu, Jun 14, 2007

The creation of an “oil for food” programme has been proposed as a way of ending Sudan’s conflict in Darfur by South African judge Richard Goldstone.

The former war crimes prosecutor said his proposal was a peaceful means to put pressure on the Sudan government.

He said it would enable China to continue buying oil, while supporting global efforts to end Darfur’s crisis.

Lessons had been learned from the UN oil-for-food programme for Iraq, which was tainted by corruption, he said.

“Because an idea was flawed to an extent in its execution should not, in my view, be the basis for excluding it under all circumstances in the future,” he told the BBC’s Newshour programme.

In the past, China has used its veto at the UN Security Council to block moves to impose sanctions on Sudan.

The typical resistance to UN-sponsored weak-kneed sanctions and empty promises of compliance by the target country again highlight the futility of the international organization’s largely public relations stunts commonly employed to provide the appearance of concern.

“Oil for food” in Sudan proposed

BBC News, UK - Jun 13, 2007Meanwhile, the UN Human Rights Council gave its unanimous support to the report on human rights in Darfur and is expected to adopt it within a few days.

The BBC’s Imogen Foulkes in Geneva, where the council is currently meeting, says Sudan has said it is ready to implement some of the recommendations.

African countries have blocked previous attempts to censure Sudan and for years the UN’s human rights watchdog has wrestled with what to do about Darfur, our correspondent says.

Another source is heard from on the same story who indicates involvement with the IIC and an apparent recommendation of an oil for food program also. The author does this as if merely by participating in the investigation qualifies as convincing proof that another UN fiasco-producing initiative is a reasonable idea.

An ‘oil-for-food’ program for Darfur

By Richard Goldstone
Published: June 12, 2007
CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts:
Memories of the UN Oil for Food Program in Iraq may cause some to dismiss this idea, but that would be a mistake. The International Inquiry Committee into the program, on which I served, uncovered several serious weaknesses in the program.

There is some comfort in the convictions of those involved in the oil for food scandal that appear from time to time. Just this month there was a PR from DOJ indicating the convictions of Sanjaya Bahel and Nishan Kohli. Earlier this year Vladimir Kuznetsov and Alexander Yakovlev were also convicted as well as Tongsun Park.

But the size of the list of offenders as published by Al-Mada and translated from Arabic indicates an overwhelming task that may never be completely finished. Another trio of offenders were recently apprehended in Britain and are in the process of extradition to the US. But it still leaves the burning questions over such notables as Kofi Annan and his son Kojo as well as relatives in NY still profiting by the family involvement with the UN and the fact that Kofi is still an ambassador. And last but not least are the remaining allegations of scandal involvement by officials at the highest levels in the UN and a laundry list of offenses by many UN individuals for a wide variety of crimes. Yet the UN lives on as evidence of world-wide complicity by all member nations in failing to correct this madness.

Stanford Matthews
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