Syria Uprising: Asma al-Assad, For Whom Power Doth Crush #3

Re-framing reality is a game most dictators and their wives indulge in. It offers solace, a justification for passing their guilt to others. This is usually towards people they are supposed to serve and protect. There is never any doubt in the mind set of these people that citizens are nothing but a brutish, lowly rabble, lacking appreciation of their masters and all they have done for them.

Asma al-Assad goes shopping for luxury goods in Paris and London while her
dictator husband stays at home to brutalize Syrian resistance to the regime. Facebook 2012 

Being devoid of anchors to reality, while society disintegrates around them, is the story of most failed dictators. It peppers history.

Asma al-Assad's shopping spree for luxury goods in London, Paris and Dubai while her husband brutally crushes dissent and uprising, is proof of the delusion which finally grips the dictators circle.

When it comes to her murder and that of her husband Bashar and his brother Mahar it possibly may be their very inner circle which administers the deed if and when the wolves of the Free Syrian Army get close to the ballroom doors.

That is price for leaving the real world to dance with a power which drugs its victim. The Assad trio may continue for some time to bombard Syrian people and inflict suffering. But for whom, power doth crush has mostly the same outcome. The music stops, the dance is over and and the drug effect wears off. You are lead away from the dance floor to meet a man with a gun. 

E.U. Crisis: And Then There Was 2 For Confederate Nations of Europe. Germany Ponders Euro Future

UK and Czech Republic form the tiny but growing block I refer to as the Confederate Nations of Europe. This confederacy is the counterweight to the federalist rump core led by an empowered Germany and the central Euro sphere. Both groups share concern for Europe's interests and the interests of citizens. They differ in policy over the legitimacy of the Euro currency. Confederate Nations is winning hearts and minds of some in the debate. Federalist core is reassessing its strategy to maintain the Euro's future.

The falcon cannot hear the falconer;
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,

Confederate Nations of Europe become two by March 2012. Federalists
gather in Berlin to decide the fate of the Euro. Brussels is sidelined . Picture
Frankfurt Central Bank

Ireland must ratify with a referendum, Greece is looking at pulling out under the sheer weight of pain. Some in the Netherlands are calling for retreat from the currency. Portugal looks increasingly weak. And of course Spain and Italy are holed up at the Alamo....a desperate last stand against the onslaught of the cruel financial markets. Or is this just rhetoric. Bad as they are and they have behaved appallingly, the financial markets do reflect to a large degree the reality over Europe's flawed decisions.

Only Federalist Union in a pure and unselfish manner will save what will be left of the Eurozone. There will only be one question for Germany when this happens. Is she happy to provide for poorer cousins in order to save the extended family and the rewards extended families can bring. When it all comes down to it, this is what Art of Superstate is all about. Grown men know the world they live in and in Europe today “All Roads lead to Berlin.” But alas, are the city gates open for all who wish to enter.

but now I know
That twenty centuries of stony sleep
Were vexed to nightmare by a rocking cradle,
And what rough beast, its hour come round at last,
Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born? W.B Yeats

The Irish Referendum: Democracy Fights Back: Austerity on Trial.

Lets face it, this is not going to be billed as “the Mother of all Referendums.” In fact it's a Welterweight bout. Firstly, nothing about this one rounder will change the issue of the December 2011 fiscal treaty. That's a done deal. Guaranteed to go ahead.

"So Glad I'm on this Side of the Fence"......"Yea, This is Where All the Action Is, Right"
Proletariats together, speak-out and share what they had left in the wake of their
Revolution in 1990. Elitist Nomenklature were ostracised and vilified in the process.
Picture: From the series, Post Communism: Bulgarian Black Sea 1990.

 No! This is a judgement. A peoples examination board. A review on Superstate's performance over its first major test. Did it work well. Did it lead well. Did it support its citizens well. Did it make us proud to be part of “Dimension” Art of Superstate.”

Superstate will join the debate. The E.C.B (European Central Bank, Frankfurt) opened the response to the referendum (Peoples Jury) by creating 500 billion Euros of Q.E.2 (new money from thin air). This is on top of another 500 billion printed last December. Will it work. We don't know. What we do know is if people don't work there is no real money.

Austerity is on trial. The debates commence to assess European leadership and their medicine. Austerity needs a check-up just as European institutions need to shed some flab (greed) which has brought Western society to a standstill.

Israel Attack on Iran: Remembering the Horns of Hattin.

Did you know it is much much easier to enrich uranium from 20% to 90%, than to enrich uranium up from 3.5% to 20%. Time needed is shorter while complexity greatly reduced. European countries such as Germany, Italy and Netherlands are about six months from acquiring a nuclear bomb.

But most don't go that far because it is not necessary. The knowledge a country is on the verge of the nuclear club is enough of a deterrent. Revenge is best served cold even if you need to wait a year to retaliate against an aggressor. Now in the case of Israel rattling its sabres over Iran, who is aggressor and who the unprovoked victim. Does it ever matter.

An attack by Israel against Iran will unleash a torrent of catastrophic backlashes across the middle east, ultimately leading the collapse of the Jewish State. The big player in this scenario is the by product of 20% U-235 enrichment. Depleted Uranium. A high explosive used by US and UK forces in the Gulf War One , Bosnia War, the Bombing of Serbia and the Iraq War.

Back on main street: Russia's Vladimir Putin describes an attack on Iran as
"If it happens the consequences will be truly catastrophic, The real scale is impossible to
imagine. Picture Krakow 2009 

It is interesting that Hezbollah fired off some 3970 rockets into Israel during the 2006 conflict. Essentially they were pretty weak but still terrorised the population. Hezbollah now claims to have over 50,000 rockets. Should these weapons be armed with depleted uranium then Israel has a genuine military problem. Use of Nuclear weapons against a conventionally armed opponent would not be acceptable as well as unwise in such a confined space. Indeed this tiny strip of land had always been difficult to defend for long periods. Most of Israel’s population and infrastructure facilities are within reach of Hezbollah's rockets.

It is only time before the armies of the Islamic states match themselves against the West. Should Israel decide to renounce diplomacy and attack Iran and then the result will be something like the following scenario..

On July 2^nd 1187, Saladin, plotted to lure Guy de Lusignan king of Jerusalem into leading his Crusader army from the safety of his defences. So, he lay siege to King Raymond's fortress at Tiberias while the main Muslim army of 30, 000 men remained at Kafr Sabt.

He had calculated he could defeat the crusaders only in an open battlefield rather than besieging their heavy fortifications. Guy de Lusignan, was goaded into this action by the warmonger Raynald of Châtillon during a council of war that evening. The following day Guy marched the Crusader army north towards Tiberias. From the outset they were constantly harassed Muslim archers on horseback.

By noon on that day, the 20,000 strong Frankish army had advanced six miles towards a spring at the village of Turan. There was still some nine miles to Tiberias. With only a half day of marching time remaining, attempts to leave this sure water source while under the constant attack of Saladin's army, would be considered foolhardy. For unknown reasons, Guy set out that very afternoon, marching his army forward.

After the Frankish army left Turan, the Muslims began their attack in earnest. Saladin sent a pincher around the Frankish force seizing the spring at Turan, blocking any Frankish line of retreat. This manoeuvre would provide Saladin with his victory. In the ensuing struggle, the Frankish rearguard was forced to a standstill by continuous attacks, halting the whole army on the plateau at the Horns of Hattin The crusaders were forced to make camp while being surrounded by the Muslims. They now had no water nor any hope of receiving supplies or reinforcements.

Behe ad-Din from that time describes the situation of the Frankish army:............ "They were closely beset as in a noose, while still marching on as though being driven to death that they could see before them, convinced of their doom and destruction and themselves aware that the following day they would be visiting their graves."

On the morning of Saturday July 4^th 1187, the Crusader army was totally decimated by the Saladin's Saracens thus ending the Kingdom of Jerusalem and further effective Christian power in the Levant. It had lasted ninety years.

E.U. Crisis: Superstate in Peril: Democratic Media Turns on Troika. Backlash #3

Analytic minds from London to Tokyo to New York point towards a Greek exit from the Euro. They suggest a tailored Marshal plan to help re-structure the country over a long time frame. It happened before in Europe. But this advice is ignored by the EU leadership. Pride and Prejudice blur the vision and chilled the heart. They never accept an error of judgement and now they are caught between a rock and a hard place.

And insofar as it is their job to comment on such matters, the democratic media turns on the E.U. The signs are glaring. The EU project “Dimension” Art of Superstate” crossed the line they say, and is in real danger of being declared “Enemy of the People.”

Fortunes of War: Poverty returns to A Balkan Trilogy. Picture 1993 Post Communism

Greece now looks to the rest of the world like a defeated and occupied country. It signs Declarations of Austerity to the Financial Warlords of Banking. The conditions imposed to remain locked inside the Euro prison camp resemble War reparations towards a victorious conquering leadership.

The Guardian called this weeks Athens summit: “An E fuelled hallucination”.( E= Euro not E= Ecstasy) http://tinyurl.com/7xa37hg. The Daily Telegraph declared: “This is a recipe, not for stability, but for revolution.” http://tinyurl.com/78734r4

Social Europe headlined: “There Will be Blood” http://tinyurl.com/88dursa

And Germany's Der Spiegel suggested : "EU leaders should channel the aid into rebuilding the economy rather than rewarding financial speculators for their high-risk deals."http://tinyurl.com/7rlz7hr

Greece made mistakes. Who hasn't in Europe. It spent “spondulicks” like there was no tomorrow. That tomorrow is now today. How it is played out will shape the next tomorrow and that tomorrow may very well belong to nationalists and patriots. Money is just money...You print the stuff...like Banks do always.........or make it up out of thin air.....like Banks did recently......You punish common citizens for the mistakes of Banks...Never... Unless you wish to be declared “Enemy of the People.”

Euroskeptics Now An Organised Force: Brussels Fiddles with Apathy. Backlash #2

Dr Simon Usherwood, Senior Lecturer in Politics, Department of Politics, University of Surrey U.K. heads up the Collaborative Research Network on Euroskepticism. The findings are interesting reading for both the embattled Euro Federalists and the rising Euroskeptics.

One of the things Simon Usherwood notices when talking to an EU “Fonctionnaire,” or to most people in the ‘Brussels bubble’ for that matter, is the language: Suddenly, we are in a world of jargon, acronyms and values. “European integration is good,” the officials say “a goal to which we can work.”

While the European Union has striven to democratise itself, it still finds it difficult to open up to other voices, especially when those voices do not agree with their policy or doctrine.

One of the consequences of this elitist control has been the emergence and rise of Euroskepticism.

Under siege, 49 organisation have TEAM across Europe to challenge

 EU legitimacy. It is now suggested Brussels dismantles the

 wall of silence towards the Euroskeptics.Picture: Leopold park, Brussels. 2012

Over past years these skeptics were either marginalised or ignored, often despised by a number of EU officials who palmed them off as misinformed or populist.

But not anymore. Embedded skepticism is now a persistent part of the European Union. Over a third of respondents in a recent Euro-barometer survey felt no benefit from membership of the EU over the past ten years and more importantly, levels of trust in all EU institutions have plummeted.

New anti EU pressure groups are getting organised across the continent supported by ever more substantial resources. Look at the mission statement of The European Alliance of EU-Critical Movements and their criticisms of the Union.

“What unites Europe's citizens is a common belief in the principles of democracy - as requiring representative government, citizen participation, transparency, accountability and free and fair public debate. We regard the current development of the EU as a manifest threat to these principles.”

In National parliaments soft skepticism challenging individual policy, fiscal integration and enlargement can now be found in many mainstream parties throughout the Union.

The response to date from the Brussels Bubble has been largely, one of indifference, a passive reliance on the fog shrouded machinations of the huge EU complex to get their way. This apathy pushes the project's leaders further into a blanket of mist and beyond the view of most citizens. “Instead of the old parlour game of naming ten famous Belgians, try naming ten famous pro-Europeans” asks Usherwood.

Euroskeptic success in pointing out the shortcomings of the EU has eclipsed the overall Union package deal and the benefits of integration. At times, it is hard not to feel that the EU has brought much of this situation on itself.

In the face of this challenge, there is a need to act. For too long, the existing structures and systems have been attacked, leaving them like hollow shells of their former selves. Can anyone still argue that the solution is simply to give more powers to the European Parliament, or to launch another information campaign? Part of the answer, Usherwood argues, lies with the skeptics themselves. This is not because they have all the answers, but because they ask important questions.

Usherwood says there is a strong case to be made for listening to the Euroskeptics to address their fears and concerns and that engagement might result in a more stable and legitimate Union.

All political systems have to balance three fundamental features: legitimacy, effectiveness and efficiency. Skeptics strongly favour the first of these, while Federalists push for the last two. However, what makes for a stable system is a balance between all three and currently the Union does not look to be serving any of them particularly well. The view is that things will get worse before they get any better.

The central argument is simple. By engaging with Euroskeptics in all their diversity and contradiction, the Union will be better placed to improve its legitimacy in the short-term and its effectiveness in the longer-term.

Euroskeptics might not have the solutions, but their their growing presence demands Federalists attention and eventually, their involvement in resolving the present Impasse. 

 …...adapted, edited and abridged with permissions from the original article http://alturl.com/whujj What can the EU learn from the Euroskeptics? By Simon Usherwood

E.U. Crisis: Financial Markets V Democracy: The Return and Rise of the Populist Backlash.

Members of the now disbanded Magyar Gárda explain their reasons for joining the movement in 2009. But have they really gone away. 

So I became a Public Enemy: “Without laughter, life is not worth much”

Public Enemy Monika is a 20 yr old university student. She decided to join the Magyar Gárda for the reason she simply had had enough. At first her father refused to support her joining the ranks of the Public Enemies but as things got worse he changed his mind.

“Democracy itself is a good thing,” she says. “But unfortunately this is not the case in the present House of Hungary. People are being led by the nose. Today only traces of equality, democracy, freedom of speech can be found in our society. The most important values of a public enemy are those of honesty, trust, mutual interests. And, of course the humour. Without laughter, life is not worth much.

So I became a Public Enemy: “the most effective way is personal example”

Public Enemy Imre, is a married 43 yr old retired warrant officer and father of three girls. I came a public enemy because it became possible to express in deeds my commitment to my country, and to my nation. His wife and daughters are proud of their father.

“It is enough to think that over the past years official financial terror has run amok causing stress to the people in the name of democracy. According to my democracy this is not compatible with human relationships and human values. We will not voluntarily walk to the slaughterhouse but will resist with a fight.”

Corporate Populism takes root across Europe 2012. As always the question is Quo Bono.
Source: Magyar Garda  website

Europe's far right is embedded in opposition to multiculturalism, freedom of movement for weaker citizens and a range of phobias from feeling threatened by what people wear to how they chose to speak and pray. This is an emotional acrimony to worsening social conditions and political failures. A rallying call for action, or in revolutionary parlance, “Resistance”

The question is asked, who will join Right-wing Populists into a war with multiculturalism, citizen mobility and archaic phobias. The answer is simple. It matters not. For this is not a true fight, it is merely, “A backlash without a cause.”

Today, western society's perceived tyranny fuelling popular “Resistance” is towards the financially motivated class of people who have over the past decades mixed economics with politics. They (Financiers) are convinced that control of society by economic force will maintain their privileged positions to create money without actually producing anything other than a virtual service. They work to make this situation a dominant and unchallenged system of order to enable their role as lord and master over citizens. Fine if they give any compassion to people and their lives who are making them the new Pharaohs, but they don't. They harbour only contempt for the common people and their love for democracy.

Does anyone in these upper echelons, after all history has shown us, truly believe they can win.

It starts with concern, moving to anxiety. This is followed by outbursts of rioting, violence and emotion. When this fails it is all about the Who. Who follows. Always the Who. Who plans and executes the final move to “Cold Resistance.”   

E.U. Greek Crises: A Very European Character, To Hell or Connaught with Democracy.

While discussing poverty over a fine dinner in Belfast 2004, my Greek friend said to me, “When you have nothing to sell you end up selling yourself to survive.”

It instantly triggered a comment during a conversation some 16 years earlier with the former director of publicity for Sinn Fein at a catalytic event which changed attitudes and shepherded peace talks.

“Rather be poor and free.” The comment came moments before a car carrying two off duty British army soldiers crashed into an IRA combatants funeral in West Belfast. The subsequent minutes were ones of chaos, confusion and murder.

Eurozone Freakout # 9

The European Union is dying on its feet. 

It is being force led by bankers and financiers who put …..

Money,  Über alles , Merci Beaucoup 

while the Greek people are made to suffer indignity. 

There is a deep conflict of character behind the two statements. Both represent the chilling degree of actions people go to maintain existence and under what sky that existence is acceptable.

You see, self inflicted injury is not the same as assault, even if the damage is the same.

The Greek finance minister said this week, “What has particularly bothered me is the humiliation of the country....clearly Greece can’t and shouldn’t do without the European Union but it could do without the German boot.”

Are these the words of a person who suspects he is not wanted. A citizen just humiliated by his bank manager. A desperate householder denied an extension to the overdraft but still clinging to the hope the banker sitting opposite will listen to a rant about his circumstances.

The banker, in all cases, has studied the figures and concluded this client is not a safe bet. Human emotions and compassion are irrelevant in the world of international lending. Ask those who have dealt with the IMF. A country's loss is the moneylender's gain.

Greece, Portugal, Romania, Bulgaria, Cyprus and others are being asked to join the spirit and glory of an evolving SuperState Europe.....A Europe United in Diversity......but not united in sickness and in health or for better or for worse..........They are being told expect no mercy if they don't or can't keep up with the premier division.

Europe will fail, not on a Greek exit from the Euro or possible E.U. exit. It will fail over the fear and threat to weaker member's of degrading international humiliation and destruction of their democracy.

Luxembourg's long time and well honoured leader has set the tone for the Europeanisation of national political life......”Greece must turn its budget cuts into law,... and have its major party leaders sign up to the program so they don’t retreat after upcoming elections.”

In short, Protect the lenders over the living standards and well being of Greek citizens. And to Hell or Connaught with democracy in that country.

My mind drifts to the two statement above: “When you have nothing to sell you end up selling yourself to survive!” …........“Rather be poor and free!”

Angela Merkel, De Facto Queen Of E.U. Courts a Tactical Error.

Is Chancellor Merkel making a tactical error in offering support on all fronts to get the French president re-elected. An endorsement by the de facto Queen of the European Union is a great asset for any politician embarking on a campaign trail. Appearing alongside the possible  defeated of that race will damage her judgement and the doubts will set in. The chancellor is riding high. She is needed to assist Europe pass through the crisis and to secure her own re-election in 2013.

"It's about the big responsibility we have, the construction of Europe. We are surrounded by competitors, we have to show them that we are capable, that France and Germany together within Europe can make all of Europe successful," Merkel said in a joint interview Monday with Sarkozy on public broadcasters France-2 and ZDF television. (AP)

This is true about the challenge to forge a competitive Europe. But it is not true that the people are fully behind “Dimension; the Art of SuperState.” At least not for now.

Should Angela Merkel fail over this move, she can expect no support or assistance from the next French President for her own re-election....... Endorse yes, marry no.......

Well I realise we've all been hypnotised I love your Angel eyes. Chancellor

Angela Merkel, De Facto Queen of the European Union, risks her position over 

one man. Picture 2011 

The president of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy has defended her decision. "We have gone through such a huge crisis," he argues, that "we are looking to each other in a different way than before". "What we are currently going through is... the Europeanisation of national political life." (BBC)

In his dreams say the Euorskeptiks. But there is a point for both sides. If Europe's leaders forge unity and they may be just able to do so, then there is an argument that citizens may again listen to what Art of SuperState has to offer. Working in unity would be interpreted as a success. And success breeds more success.

Rome was not built in a day and neither will “Dimension; the Art of SuperState.” Chancellor Merkel can help the “Europeanisation of national political life,” not by accompanying the probable vanquished in presidential elections but by preparing permanent working relationship between France, Germany, the UK et all to pursue the European Dimension regardless of personalities. Europe will not flounder through the vanity of one politician seeking to retain power. But it will be build on the Europeanisation of national political will to succeed, subject to the support of the democratic wishes of its citizens.  

Syria Uprising: Russia and China Strengthen Authoritarian Military Bloc

For whom power doth crush #2. Asma al Assad seals her fate as a pawn
in a wider power struggle. 2011

By vetoing the U.N. motion condemning savage bombardment of Homs city by Syrian dictator Bashar Assad, Russia and China opened a second front line against the advance of the Democracy movement towards the vast Asian Authoritarian Military Bloc. 

Moscow, Beijing, Tehran, Pyongyang and others fear democracy and citizen's freedom to criticise and protest. They are simply not ready to concede to their citizens what we take for granted in the free world.

In unbelievable candour over such authoritarian privilege the London Times reported on an email sent to the paper by Asma al Assad, wife of the man who thinks its normal to send rockets, tanks and murder teams to massacre Syrian citizens. 

The letter describes her support for her husbands regime. She endorses his actions to suppress the uprising which began as a peaceful protest demanding democracy. She approves indiscriminate killing of men women and children without accusation or trial. Asma al Assad is British born and knows very well the values of human rights over wrong.

Cleopatra fled to Syria where she raised
an army triggering a civil war.

Authoritarians who gain power are always afraid to lose it. By breaking her silence over the 11months unrest she places her allegiance with the Assad inner circle and the delusion of grandeur which accompanies dictators who defend themselves against the country's own citizens.

There will be no trial for Asma and her family, no court of justice. Just the same fate as other dictators wives. Overwhelmed and disposed off by popular evolutionary revolution.

Asma al Assad must realise Syria is now a pawn caught up in a wider struggle pitching democratic West against authoritarian East       

Should Syria's first lady have a change of heart as pleaded by the Times in its response to her letter she may have only one option, to take her own life as a protest against her husband's own suicidal pact with catastrophe. An end fitting to a tale from Roman antiquity. 

WikiLeaks: Assange & Manning Trials: Apache Apache #2

America is a heavy hitter in all respects. Concerning all disciplines practised in the free world we get an abundance of input form Uncle Sam. This is especially true for the Art of War. Does America care anymore if it wins or loses the small wars it engages. Win or lose the odd regional conflict or mission, it matters little. It will not change American lives. The vast military complex which supports US dominance of the world spends enormous amounts of funds each year. More than ten times the rest of the world combined.

Of course the US army can beat anyone it wishes, if it so wished at any cost. But it doesn't. Iraq and Afghanistan have been exercise yards for the military to spend the budget and maintain an opposition fit enough to justify continuing with the defence budget Never clear the desk completely. Always leave a little bit to do for the next day.

Professional military standards for this policy need to be highly maintained. American and European peoples would revolt against this wanton use of monies for useless and often non productive campaigns if the army was to get out of control and defame and corrupt values of decency we all share or aspire to share.

WikiLeaks Trials: The video which shocked the world. Innocent civilians including children were gunned down from an attack helicopter. The video, reminiscent of a computer game, brought US military standards into disrepute. The whistle blower Bradely Manning and WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange are put through due process. Picture 2012. 
Click on picture to enlarge

Keeping the pressure on a huge operation such as the US army to capture and hold the moral high ground is essential and can come easier form within. Whistle blowing is good for democracy and good for army public relations even if it exposes the vilest and worst behaviour of human nature in warfare. That's what war is really about. Controlling worst of human nature. Better trained armies leave better legacies after the fight is over. Especially when money, trade and influence is involved. War is a business just like everything else. Always has been. America has a global war company employing hundreds of thousands. America should view its whistle blowers as valuable contributors to policing the standards of professional and honourable conduct rather than Court Marshall them as traitors.

Davos Hosts A Council to Control Nuclear Economics. War Clouds Move Over Iran.

The World Economic Forum 2012 hosted a Forum for Economic War. The target is Iran. The race to control the global nuclear power industry uses the old formula, war and money backed with feeble excuses to attack the opposition. 

North Korea and Pakistan are undeclared and unstable nuclear powers. Israel is unpredictable. The world is still here. But there is an obsession with Iran. Can that obsession be oil like it was for Iraq? Or is there a desire to curb the spread of new attained nuclear technology know-how. Economic elites and political leaders at Davos, discuss and perhaps consider a war with Iran? Europe’s leaders recently voted to embargo all Iranian oil imports and block business with its central bank. In response Iran has told Europe it may shut off all its oil supplies to the EU sooner, rather than wait for the embargo to come into effect.

It is the same age old combination of money, politics and conflict which sends many people to an unnecessary death, in order to make financial gain for the Bankers of War.

In Europe, only Greece, Spain and Italy rely heavily on Iranian oil, at present about 20% of its production. China and India will take up that slack for Iran. Saudi Arabia has agreed to supply the short fall to Europe. Is this about sanctions or positioning for conflict?

The Oil Wars, Russia, China, Pakistan have drawn the line
to western advance at Iran. Rotterdam 2011

Iran is not perturbed says its leader Ahmadinejad.

“The West must be aware that the Iranian nation does not need them. You impose embargo on Iran’s oil but do not see that the United States has not bought oil from us for 30 years and nothing has happened. You impose sanctions on our central bank. The value of our annual foreign exchange transactions is 200 billion dollars of which only 24 billion is with Europe. Sanctions cannot affect Iran’s economy,”

Post oil, the world is preparing to go nuclear. Who owns the technology wins. Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, Kuwait, Yemen, Israel, Syria, Jordan, Egypt, Tunisia, Libya, Algeria, Morocco, Sudan, Saudi Arabia and at least 40 other developing nations are said to have approached the UN with an eye to joining the nuclear club. But will they buy Western capitalist or Islamic brotherhood knowledge to attain nuclear power.

In the case of Italy, 10 new reactors would provide 25% of their electricity requirements. A new reactor currently costs about 2billion euro. Life span depends on new discoveries. Then there is radioactive waste management costs, decommissioning of old and obsolete reactors. Present costs are tens of billions per country. Is this a business worth going to war over?

Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak speaking to business and political leaders in Davos said, “Iran may be close to reaching a point where its nuclear technology slips into a zone of immunity."

Minister Barak called for an urgent culmination of sanctions. “Those who believe that better a bomb than bombing' are totally wrong," he said. "We are determined to prevent Iran from turning nuclear."

A Surreal Proposal Comes From the EU Commission.

The E.U. Commission has a real job to win hearts and minds of European citizens for this weeks launch of the European Citizen's Initiative programme.

This brand new tool for participatory democracy....... will strengthen the democratic foundations of the Union and bring Europe closer to its citizens.......I hope that EU citizens and especially young people will seize the opportunity and embrace this new right.....Maroš Šefčovič Vice-President of the European Commission

Yippee! we're all getting a say in the running of the European Union....but what about the elected parliament and the council of Europe, is policy not their job. Well actually the commission tables the policies and the parliament discuss their proposals.

OK game back on, so what do we do to.....easy, you propose an initiative. It gets approved by the commission. No time wasters, frauds, meanies or Euroskeptiks need apply.

Oops, didn't the entire Jacques Santer commission resign in March 1999 over fraud allegations or was that just an old fashioned power struggle with the Parliament which gave rise to the Euroskeptik movement.

Never mind we soon got a new commission with some of Santer's boys reinstated including Mario Monti who is now running Italy. But it was all because of that nasty French woman Edith Cresson

Great stuff. So what's the time frame for a citizen's initiative? It can take up to about 2 years of your life from start to finish. Ah but the opportunity to make a difference is worth it.......right......Well its not exactly that straight forward. You see even though the commission reserves the right to approve or not approve the initiative at the outset depending on your moral credibility, there is some small print...There always is.

Once you have done all the work and been transparent about your sources of support and funding ..hmmm...... the commission reserves the right under Article 10 to

(c) within three months, set out in a communication its legal and political conclusions on the citizens’ initiative, the action it intends to take, if any, and its reasons for taking or not taking that action.

It can seem surreal for the commission to promote a citizen's  initiative
 which includes possible penalties for those who participate.  2012 

In other words ignore the initiative.....Oh dear and while we are at it the commission can wash its hands of any fallout from the initiative it gives approval to.

Article 13 Liability

Organisers shall be liable for any damage they cause in the organisation of a citizens’ initiative in accordance with applicable national law.

And the never ending punishments that go with all EU legislation.

Article 14 Penalties

1. Member States shall ensure that organisers are subject to appropriate penalties for infringements of this Regulation and in particular for: (a) false declarations made by organisers; (b) the fraudulent use of data.

2. The penalties referred to in paragraph 1 shall be effective, proportionate and dissuasive (discouraging)

Now that commissioner Cresson was punished over the fraud when vast sums of money went mission under her watch. No of course not she go off with it. Ah but don't they all these days.

At least the information about the citizens is safe as the initiative rules under Article 12/ No 3

The organisers shall ensure that personal data collected for a given citizen’s initiative are not used for any purpose other than their indicated support for that initiative, and shall destroy all statements of support received for that initiative and any copies thereof at the latest one month after submitting that initiative to the Commission.

But that clever old commission just further down the page in Article 12/ No 5 reserves the right to keep

Statements of support for a given citizens’ initiative and copies thereof may be retained beyond the time limits laid down in paragraphs 3 and 4 if necessary for the purpose of legal or administrative proceedings relating to a proposed citizen’s initiative.

Hmm.... why take a chance participating in democracy......just so much punishment about these days.