Qaddafi at the United Nations

In case you missed it, Muammar Qaddafi really outdid himself at the United Nations on Wednesday. His rambling rant lasted 75 minutes longer than his allotted 15 minutes. After being introduced by one of his aides as the "king of kings of Africa", he proceeded to ramble on about the causes of the Korean War, a conspiracy theory involving the the Kennedy assassination, he questioned whether the swine flu had been designed in a laboratory and tore up a copy of the United Nations Charter. His speech had at least one casualty. After struggling with this incoherent rambling for 75 minutes, Qaddafi's personal translator shouted into the microphone, "I can't take it anymore." - in Arabic. One of the UN's official translators relieved him and finished translating the speech. He was given the next day off for his efforts. Another one of the UN's official Arabic translators wrapped it up in an understatement, ""He’s not exactly the most lucid speaker."

On Thursday, Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's speech led to a major walk out by delegates from the US, Argentina, Australia, Britain, Costa Rica, Denmark, France Germany, Hungary, Italy, New Zealand, and others (mainly EU countries). Canada and Israel had boycotted the speech from the beginning. Ahamdinejad ended up speaking to a half empty hall.

Quite a 24 hour period at the United Nations!

Hugo Chavez and Me

Who knew Hugo Chavez and I had something in common? Here is the YouTube video in which Chavez explains what he thinks of Fox News.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_V3luj9gs1c

Mugabe: A Hero?

You have got to check this out. This link comes from Michele Haimowitz. It is Mugabe's interview with Christine Amanpour of CNN. Mugabe sees himself as an African hero, defending his homeland against outsiders, both African and non-African. He describes Archbishop Desmond Tutu as the "little man." Make sure you look at the video.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/africa/09/24/zimbabwe.mugabe.amanpour/index.html

Do you think Mugabe really believes everything he says?

Coed University in Saudi Arabia ?!

Saudi Arabia is about to open a new university unlike any in the conservative kingdom. It is The King Abdullah Science and Technology University (KAUST). It is a state-of-the-art university with the latest equipment including the world's 14th fastest supercomputer. The university is planned as an oasis of scientific freedom in a land dominated by religious conservatives. Tuition is $70,000 a year, but is paid by the government. Saudi Arabia hopes to attract students from around the world plus develop a native scientific community in areas not related to the oil industry. Most surprising is the freedom women will have on campus. Women will not have to wear veils or cover their faces, and they will be able to mingle freely with male students. Women will even be able to drive on campus.

Is this a sign of the first crack in the conservatism of Saudi Arabia or will the conservatives see it as a threat and use it as a target in their "defense" of fundamental Islam?

Power of Words: Obama on the Middle East

I was struck by President Obama's choice of words when he talked about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He called for

"Two states living side by side in peace and security — a Jewish state of Israel, with true security for all Israelis; and a viable, independent Palestinian state with contiguous territory that ends the occupation that began in 1967..."

Obama made it quite clear that he feels Israel must keep its Jewish identity. At the same time, he described the West Bank as occupied territory. This vocuablulary seemed surprisingly blunt coming from an American president at an open forum. Was this language surprising to you? Do you think it can further the cause of peace or be a detriment to Obama's role as mediator?

I loved the way Obama reminded the UN Assembly what this (and all) conflicts are about:

"We must remember that the greatest price of this conflict is not paid by us. It's not paid by politicians. It's paid by the Israeli girl in Sderot who closes her eyes in fear that a rocket will take her life in the middle of the night. It's paid for by the Palestinian boy in Gaza who has no clean water and no country to call his own. These are all God's children. And after all the politics and all the posturing, this is about the right of every human being to live with dignity and security."

Amen.

New Freedom for Women in Swat Valley

This recommendation comes from Zach Mag. After over six months of Taliban rule in Swat Valley in Pakistan, the area is free again. This journal article from the NYT describes how the burqa was used to control the female population. If you have not yet read Nadia Elkadi's comments about the the trousers controversy in Sudan, this article makes a very good companion piece. What do you think of the use of clothing as a way to keep women oppressed? Is the requirement of wearing the burqa more substance or more symbolic?


http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/23/world/asia/23burqa.html?_r=1&ref=world

Hope for a Mideast Peace?

Sometimes peace between the Israelis and Palestinians seems impossible. It is wonderful to read of people working for a peace which will bring about a two state solution. There was a new 424 page blueprint for peace presented yesterday. It includes a sunken four lane highway built through Israel, connecting Gaza and the West Bank. It also allows some of East Jerusalem to be part of the Palestinian state while allowing the neighborhoods of the 200,000 Israelis who have moved into Jerusalem since the 1967 war to remain in Israel. Both groups would have access to the Old City and its religious shrines, but from separate gates. It is complex, complicated and creative. What is best is that there are people who have not given up hope that peace can be established.

Do you think peace is possible?

To read more on the plan, go to the following site from The Philadelphia Inquirer.

http://www.philly.com/inquirer/world_us/59430457.html