Mahnmut

A senior MEP from Hungary’s ruling Fidesz party admitted Tuesday that he took part in a “lockdown party” — described by local media as “an orgy” — that was broken up by Brussels police. Source.

The Telegraph: Haribo stops selling 'racist' sweets
Deutche Welle: Haribo takes 'racist' sweets off the market
Daily News: German racist candy pulled from shelves

Displaying ethnic faces is now considered racist!?

A lot of analysts have observed that NATO has entered a severe identity crisis in the recent years. It became evident in its summit last year in Strasbourg & Kehl. In the meantime, the anti-NATO sentiments increase, including in some of the original founder countries. There were tens of thousands of protesters in Germany and France during the summit.

( And what's the reason for this crisis? )

My conclusion is that the current identity crisis is caused by two things. One, NATO's inadequate structure which has become irrelevant to the changing global realities. And two, the deepening differences in the vision of NATO's functions, stemming from the different priorities and strategies of the US and the European 'core' (Old Europe). The most immediate example that comes to mind is Afghanistan. There's a striking lack of consensus about the goals of the Afghanistan mission; there are differences even in the assessment of the situation...

Obviously the new concept of the Alliance which will be adopted on its next summit in Lisbon at the end of this year, will define NATO's identity for many years ahead. As we know, every strategy includes setting a number of priorities and ranking them. And that could later tie the hands of those who adopt said strategy. The direction which NATO chooses in Lisbon will define how effectively the organization could address the 21st century challenges, how the situation in Afghanistan will develop and how exactly the Alliance will start to transform and reform.

I'm thinking that it's very important that NATO realizes that the US-centric concept of turning it into a 'global military league of democracies' and thus confronting it to Russia, China (and not only them) would be extremely counter-productive. I hope NATO will adopt the other concept, that of deepening the partnership and cooperation with Russia (which however includes stopping NATO's expansion further toward the Russian borders). Otherwise we're in for another Cold War, given the fact that the US is experiencing increasing geopolitical challenges from several sides, Russia is re-gaining its status, China is lurking around, etc. Those are the realities, and they're very dynamic. Our leaders will soon be standing at a choice - do we want another Cold War? This time maybe with more than 2 players, but still a Cold War. And this should answer the awesome underlankers  post about the monopolar / bipolar / multipolar world. Ultimately the question might well be: Do we want another bi/tri-polar confrontation or not?

x-posted.

Zhvania: results of expertises on case of Yushchenko’s poisoning were falsified

David Zhvania, member of parliament and witness on the criminal case brought on the fact of poisoning Ukrainian President Victor Yushchenko, has claimed again that presidential candidate Yushchenko was not poisoned in 2004, and the results of expertises on the case were falsified.

D.Zhavia claimed this in an interview with BBC.

“It was a mere food poisoning. The diagnose was determined yet on the first day, and every third person in the world often suffers from such poisonings. It is pancreatitis. On the day when he turned to doctors, all of them made this conclusion. I was present there. Later they decided that he must fly to Austria. I was opposed to that, as I was responsible for decisions, and I was one of the closest [to Yushchenko]. Because the proposed clinic had nothing in common with pancreatitis or anything similar. It was a cardiology center”, the lawmaker stressed.

He asserts that the version of Yushchenko’s poisoning was though out in his electoral headquarters.

 

( ... )

Oh, the delusion...


Santa Cruz, the wealthiest province in Bolivia, dominated by European settlers, post-colonial clans and gas monopolies, is staging a referendum for broad autonomy from the central government. The results expectedly brought victory to the pro-autonomy camp as Morales' urge to his supporters and the indigenous peoples to boycott the vote and thus sabotage it, had failed; and the result will now prompt further secession aspirations in 5 other provinces (out of 9) which have also scheduled referendums. This has been in direct defiance of Evo Morales' policies of centralised governance, and means that the poorest country in South America (which has been compared to a "donkey sitting on a treasure") will become even more fragmented (now not only socially, but also territorially, after so many failed wars which have cut its territory in half). And the silent revolution of the indigenous majority which peaked with Morales' election for president, is now threatened to be crushed by the counter-revolution of the big old business. The irony is that the people of Santa Cruz are those who'll suffer ultimately. Because their votes might be courted now, but later, when they demand to pick up the benefits from their autonomy, they'll awaken to the ugly reality that they've been tricked once again, and the corporatocracy is the sole beneficient from the changing political landscape of Bolivia.

Did anyone really believe that the silent social revolution which swept across all Latin America would remain unchallenged too long?

Chavez, you're next.

US urges Russia to backtrack over separatist Georgia regions
Top US diplomat Condoleezza Rice said Friday she was "very concerned" about a Russian decree to boost cooperation with two separatist Georgian regions, as her office urged Moscow to scrap it.


U.S. and EU urge Russia to back off Georgia
The United States and European Union urged Russia on Friday to reverse a strengthening of ties with separatist regions of Georgia that has alarmed the government of the former Soviet republic.


...But Kosovo was immediately recognized by the US & EU, why not Ajaria and South Ossetia? Where's the difference?

Oh yes, I got it! Russia hasn't bombed Georgia yet.


And interestingly,
Sanctions eased in row with Georgia
President Putin has ordered a “normalising” of relations with Georgia and the lifting of economic sanctions two days after Russia angered the country by announcing closer ties with two breakaway Georgian regions —- Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

Australia apologizes for Aborigines' pain


The Australian government apologized Wednesday for years of "mistreatment" that inflicted "profound grief, suffering and loss" on the country's Aboriginal people.

New Prime Minister Kevin Rudd read the apology Wednesday to Aborigines and the "Stolen Generations" of children who were taken from their families... (link)


I'm trying to imagine a similar thing happening one day in America, the blessed Land of the Free... Still trying... almost got it... Uh! No, sorry... I sortof can't shape it out.

SA did it, the Aussies did it, so can the presumably most advanced chunk of civilization on Earth do it? Blah. I've always known I'm too utopian, but now this is too much.