Tag: Libya

War again


Julia Gillard must be looking over her shoulders now. Kevin Rudd is looking strong, in command and every bit like the leader Julia isn’t appearing to be. He advocated the no-fly zone for Libya early on, when she was pontificating and taking the safe route of saying it was only one of many options. No the UN has approved it, Kevin looks good and perhaps on course for his personal ambitions for a UN role after leaving government.

I was watching the news on the little TV screen on the cross trainer this morning and the Arab League chief Amr Moussa looked a bit upset at what appears to be an unanticipated level of destruction the no fly zone enforcement has wrought so far.

It is also a bit worrying that what is coming across is the typical image of the west attacking an Arab nation. One minute images of fighter jets taking off are anchored by big bold words to the effect that US, UK and French air forces have launched attacks against Libya and in the next minute we have footage of Moussa saying they did not authorise this action.

No doubt anyone thinking about this would ask what exactly did the Arab League think a no-fly zone entailed, if it did not involve application of firepower of some sort? How do you create and enforce a no-fly zone in the midst of armed aggression between two internal rival groups? But that appears to be beside the point for now – there must be serious and concerted efforts to expunge images of west versus Islamic Arab nations. This is a UN thing, supported by Arab and other Islamic nations, to avert further loss and destruction in Libya.

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Ides of March


The Ides of March was a few days ago I think. But I wake up today feeling perhaps today is closer to that traditionally ominous day. Maybe it is the UN led attack on Libya – the French warplanes have bombed Libyan air defence sites overnight – but despite a beautiful sunny morning here in Melbourne and a 1-0 win by Manchester United over Bolton and Arsenal’s 2-2 draw against West Brom, it feels sombre this morning.

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China v Middle East


Alan Kohler made the interesting comparison yesterday between China and the Middle East. Both are (were) governed by   long term entrenched leadership with little or no semblance of democracy.  Other than internet restrictions and stiff crackdowns against demonstration, they have little else in common.

China’s communist leaders have been in power since 1949. That is longer than either Mubarak or Gaddafi. The difference however is that the leaders of Communist China change. Xi Jinping and Li Keqiang, were chosen in 2007 and will next year – after a 5 year probation of sorts – become the President and Premier respectively.

Such planning and the resulting stability (politically at least) ensures proper focus on economy, especially on stimulus necessary to retain jobs.

An orderly and prosperous China is what the world needs, and that is especially so for Australia. So to my ancestral nation – xie xie

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