commentopia What the World Is Saying A SERVICE BRINGING YOU THE BEST READERS' COMMENTS FROM TOP NEWS SOURCES ON THE WEB WORLD ARCHIVES — JULY 2010
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JULY 26, 2010 -- AUGUST 1, 2010 NORTH KOREA THREATENS "PHYSICAL RESPONSE" TO JOINT EXERCISES
I spent two very long tours over there in the eighties, and we had several joint exercises - Team Spirit, and so forth... the entire country gets involved, in one level or another. These are complex, multiforce exercises with several nations contributing; it is more than a readiness exercise; it IS sabre-rattling and a very intimidating 'diplomatic' tool. NK is upset that we would continue to train and prepare and would rather hgave the world see an unprepared, feeble force on the penninsula. Every time it is demonstrated that Korea and it's allies can in fact prepare for and actually repel an invasion, NK loses face.
Read the article CNN/North Korea threatens physcial response to U.S. military exercise
The North Korean strategy includes, but is not limited to, the fact that US military forces are involved in two other fronts. The North Koreans are not worried about 28,000 US troops in South Korea, as there were 150,000 US troops in South Korea before the South Koreans took responsibility for their own defense. You have a country of about 12 million people shaking their fist at a country of 312 million people & getting away with it because we are otherwise occupied. They sank the ship, everyone knows they sank the ship, they wanted to sink the ship, & they don't want to be held accountable for sinking the ship. They have never admitted to anything. ever. It's the 98 pound weakling trying to be the schoolyard bully because he has a big friend at his back. Even big friends get tired of it all. China has its own problems & doesn't need North Korea as much as North Korea needs China. Read the article YAHOO NEWS/N Korea tensions spike at Asian forum <> Never underestimate a dictator, he might be crazy by our way of looking at it but he knows we are fighting on two fronts now and that the American people are getting tired of wars with no end in sight and no real results. He may be gambling that we would not be willing to enter into another conflict that would put a further drain on our resources. Read the article YAHOO NEWS/N Korea tensions spike at Asian forum PANDORA'S BOX? -- KOSOVO INDEPENDENCE 'NOT ILLEGAL,' U.N. COURT RULES
This decision is unsurprising, since I don't think anyone in their right mind thought Kosovo could ever be reintegrated into Serbia.
Read the article GUARDIAN/The end of the battle for Kosovo <> The right to self determination is not limitless. There is a certain size limit (either population or geographically) that means that certain areas that might want independence could not become viable states. Granted there are sum exceptions (The Vatican, Liechtenstein, etc...) but what is the end game? Every town and village becomes its own sovereign nation? Every time a group of people find a majority they can all of a sudden decide that their decision somehow is in a vacuum. What if you redraw the line of what is to be Kosovo and now include a bunch of ethnic Serbs. Then you would have a majority in favor of rejoining Serbia. The US fought a war prevent secession, Yemen is doing the same, they are arguing about a referendum in Sudan. I understand your point but the world is very complicated and you have to take a more nuanced view of events and decisions which is why the article on self determination is not rigidly enforced for all people (if it were I guess we'd all have to invade Saudi Arabia, China, North Korea, England (they do still have a King), Canada (Still has a Queen who happens to be the Queen of England and 15 other nations) and Iran. Read the article ALJAZEERA/An important week for Kosovo <> International law ha, ha. It does not exist. There is only international politics, which to give itself an aura of legitimacy uses the "l" word.
Feel sorry for the Serbs, first because of bad leadership which dragged them into new wars and then the international community which shafted them. Read the article GLOBE & MAIL/World court says Kosovo independence lawful
JULY 19, 2010 -- JULY 25, 2010 LOOKING FOR RECONCILIATION IN A VIOLENT SUMMER
"If they are willing to accept the red lines and come in from the cold, there has to be a place for them." -- Ambassador Richard Holbrook Our entire system of government functions (albeit handicapped at times) because we have had over 200 years to put layers of trustworthy structure in place just below the corrupted political layers. There are no such layers in place in Afghanistan. The rebuild had to start with the people and slowly work its way in so that stability could have begun to work the center, most influential corners of government. "It" always has to start with the people first. Always. A strong, effective government that believes in liberty consists of concentric circles working its way into the center, not working its way out. Read the article NEW YORK TIMES/Poll shows Afghans' frustration with corruption <> This is the most sensible discourse on the state of play in Afghanistan that I have read in recent times. As an ex-military man of 35 years service, I mourn the expenditure of 317 British lives thus far, and despair at the continuing refusal of the British Government to recognise that coercing the Afghan to conform to Western ideals of thought and behaviour is as unlikely to succeed as trying to domesticate a salt-water crocodile. Just like the croc, they will attack us and they will kill us without compunction at each and every opportunity - we are infidel invaders of their country, we should expect no mercy and we will receive none. It has been thus for centuries in Afghanistan. Read the article DAILY TELEGRAPH/Time to face facts: We have no Afghan 'allies'
We are trying to do too much with too little. In Persian Gulf I we had nearly 500k troops in iraq. Persian Gulf II saw us try a more invasive and extended campaign with less than half that amount. And we wondered how such a vacuum formed behind us when we left. In WWII there was no vacuum, because your supply lines, replacement depots, HQ's logistic bases, etc. were set up in captured territory. Nowadays we form a hulked up skirmish line and pass through areas, with no one coming in behind. We wonder why this doesn't work. How can it? Either occupy the country completely, or don't do it at all. We de-mine a road and leave no one on it afterwards, so within hours it's re-mined. We have spread our resources too thin, and expect technology to make up the difference. It can't. Technology doesn't talk to the citizens, earn their trust, convince them of our intentions. Sure it monitors your flank or finds terrorists hiding out, but it shouldn't be used as a substitute for boots. We have become an excellent fighting force and a horrible rebuilding one. It takes us seconds to wipe out a compound and years to build a school. Why would anyone ever trust us? Read the article CNN/In two days, twelve coalition soldiers killed in Afghanistan <> To those of you that sit at your computer and armchair quarterback this war, shame on you. Until you have been over there and have sacrificed, you have no right to make ridiculous comments about a situation you know little of. Do you think that what you see on the TV or internet is the ground truth? Believe me, it's not. We are there as ordered... and while many Americans go to the mall or stare at facebook, we die in far away lands carrying out the mission we have been handed. If you want to end this war, get off your 4th point of contact and get involved on the political front. That is where policy is made. If that isn't your cup of tea, go down to the recruiter's office and enlist. Read the article CNN/Eight U.S. troops killed in Afghanistan; blasts kill civilians FRENCH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY VOTES TO BAN BURQA-STYLE VEILS
I thought I was a pretty liberal thinker until this issue became a worldwide one. Two thoughts occur to me...first, if the religious beliefs and protocols are so important to these people, perhaps they might think of moving to the countries that protect and promote this form of dress for women rather than confront societies that traditionally do not. I note that Western women honor the covering of their heads when in some of these countries...note Rachel Maddow & others in places like Afghanistan. If we must dress as they do when in their countries, perhaps they must dress as we do when they are in our countries. Read the article HUFFINGTON POST/French parliament approves ban on face veils <> As an Iranian-American and born Muslim I applaud what French are doing. If laws like this keep the religious extremists away then so be it. Vast majority of Muslims are very good citizens of their adopted countries. However, the 5% or so that are extremists and are dangerous to the societies. Countries like France must prevent extremist Muslims from immigrating there. These extremists, if have the opportunity, will destroy the way of life in the liberal democratic societies. Canada is in greater need for this because many similar people are moving there. If Canada does not prevent them immigrating there, considering that Canada has about 30 million population, in 20 years the fundamentalist muslims can be a major force to deal with. Use the experience of a country like Iran with a long and proud civilization that has been in grip of oppressive Islam to your advantage. Read the article HUFFINGTON POST/French parliament approves ban on face veils <> I say when you are in a Muslim country you should respect their culture and women from western culture should cover up...not full hijab but respectful modest clothing. I say to Muslims in a western country you should respect our security and take the veil off of your face...I see nothing wrong with France's actions on this. Read the article HUFFINGTON POST/French parliament approves ban on face veils <> For those of you saying a Muslims dress code is oppression for women - have you ever spoken to a Muslim women? I am not saying that some do not get forced but the vast majority find wearing the scarf or veil liberating. I am Muslim Revert and I wear the scarf and I wear long dresses - oppression to me is women feeling the need to spend hours on there make up and hair, feeling like without showing half of there body they will not be recognised. You want to see women's faces - ban make up too....that's how ridiculous it is. Let women have choices - that is freedom. Read the article BBC/Should France ban the full veil? <> As a liberal in the U.S. who has read a fair share on this issue, I'm not the least bit surprised at the result of this vote. I completely agree with the decision as it goes along with the common culture of society in France. This legislation isn't anti-Muslim as much as it is following the common guidelines that religion is a "private" matter. France prides itself as a society where cultures have mixed to create a affluent society of many different backgrounds. To have a growing sect that completely covers itself not only raises the questions of the general security of others, but it also places a boundary between the citizens who are covered and those who aren't. France refuses to allow its citizens to segregate themselves from their society, especially when the boundary is confined to one sex. Altogether, the ban is expected to affect less than 2000 women across the country. So for those of you complaining that this is the "death of religious freedom" or freedom in general, get off your high horse and realize that all cultures aren't going to sympathize or see things the way you do. In fact, this is more or less France bucking the American "politically correct" solution, while implementing the correct one for its own country on its own terms. Read the article WASHINGTON POST/France's lower house approves sweeping ban on Islamic face veils
JULY 5, 2010 -- JULY 18, 2010 FROM BARCELONA TO BENONI, THE WINNINGEST WORLD CUP OF ALL
It's taken me a bit to collect my thoughts on this, one of the most amazing experiences of my life. Here they are: Read the article HUFFINGTON POST/Spain beats Netherlands to win world cup <> South Africa is a country full of contrast and division. We have extremely rich people, a growing middle class, yet the majority lives in abject poverty. This causes a social divide that is aggravated by racial tension and prejudice. The mistrust that exists between the various population groups prevents them from seeing who they really are and what they are capable of. The doom and gloom projections, not only by foreigners, that accompanied the build up to the soccer world cup, are an indication of that. Read the article MAIL AND GUARDIAN/Sceptics drowned out by rainbow nation miracle
Well done SA - the technicalities of hosting a WC SA could always handle (Rugby & cricket were proof and training grounds of a sort), security was the question mark & that was adequately handled & one can understand why folk want the measures in place to continue. The Kudos due are certainly deserved, whatever the strange side-shows may be, take a bow SA! Read the article MAIL AND GUARDIAN/Sceptics drowned out by rainbow nation miracle <> Ruud Gullit really impressed me tonight in his final comments following the game. He was very honest in his assessment of his former national team and the poor quality of their play in the final match against Spain today. It was clear that their tactics were to block the flow of the game from the start with rough play. Cleats to the chest, vicious fouls, whining, flopping, and unsportsmanlike conduct marred the rhythm of play. I did not begin the day with a particular favorite but after De Jong´s cleat went into the chest of Xabi Alonso, Spain had me on their side. The Spanish players maintained their composure, played clean and fair soccer and deserved the win in the end! Congratulations Spain!! You deserve it!! Read the article NPR/Rough and tense, Spain wins world cup To every one commenting here from places other than South Africa: Thank you SO MUCH for your concern and your barely disguised schadenfreude that a month or so of joy is about to be swept away on a wave of bad things to do with social and economic disparities and whatnot. NEW YORK TIMES/Games give South Africa hope in fighting woes <> For the world at large not much just another sporting event that comes and goes in the strict sense. But for South Africa a chance to have proven that it can engage globally and has the infrastructure necessary to advance when given the opportunities. There is no reason why South Africa cannot become the Switzerland of Africa with a high standard of living if any country can do it is this one but it will require tackling thorny internal economic and social issues yet that is what is required if the future is to be brighter. The World Cup will have had the effect of raising the expectations of South Africans that things can no longer remain along the lethargic status quo and the government has to deliver something to all the people. The process is not instant but as long as it is incremental and positive it will the best legacy of the South African World Cup. The Cup was a showcase of what Africans can do on their own. Already so many foreigners worldwide have had their preconceived notions about Africa as a place of nothing but civil wars and hunger changed as a result of the Cup and that too is positive. Read the article BBC/What will be the legacy of World Cup 2010?
YOUR SPY, MY SPY, TEN SLEEPER AGENTS SWAPPED FOR FOUR U.S. SPIES
So it seems this whole thing is to be filed under “entertainment,” or, more specifically, comic relief. We are assured that the suburban spies obtained no information they couldn’t have gotten reading a newspaper, that the biggest embarrassment of the whole episode is that suffered by the hosts, political beneficiaries and assorted scene-makers at parties which the “spies” attended or were about to attend, and, finally, that the respective governments of the United States and the Russian Republic have mutually agreed to treat the whole matter as a tempest in a samovar. But no, the Cold War is not over. Read the article NEW YORK TIMES/Guilty pleas and prisoner swap expected soon
Makes you wonder how many more spy rings are operating here in our country, not to mention terrorist sleeper cells. Hopefully, the FBI, CIA, and NSA have these groups under severe scrutiny. It’s no surprise that enemy and recently former enemy countries have spies here but what I find most interesting is that allied countries like England and Israel have spies here working against us as well. I guess in the world of espionage nothing is sacred and there are no such things as friends. All I can say is this, I will be watching my neighbors much more closely from now on! Read the article REUTERS/Ten plead guilty to being Russian agents in U.S. <> The defendants each announced their pleas to conspiracy to act as an unregistered agent of a foreign country Read the article GLOBE AND MAIL/Ten defendants plead guilty in Russian spy case THE PRESIDENT AND THE PRIME MINISTER SEEKING TO MEND DIPLOMATIC FENCE
There will never be a real peace in the Middle East as long as the two-state solution isn't realised. There won't be any progress towards a solution either unless the USA stops vetoing any UN resolution remotely critical of Israel. Read the article BBC-HAVE YOUR SAY/Will talks improve relations between US and Israel? <> In an era of diplomatic engagement rather than confrontation,such meetings should help in sharing each country's primary concerns to build the basis for a workable solution to the historically vexed issue. Obviously,the long term primary concern for Israel is security.All US administrations have fully addressed this issue to the satisfaction of Israel. However, in the emerging global and regional security environment, Israel needs to be more sensitive to US security plan for the region. President Obama probably would convey to the Prime Minister clearly that it is time for Israel to take some hard decisions in its own long term interest. Secretary of State Hilary Clinton also has been working on the same lines for some time. US is the only country that can steer dialogue between Israel and Arabs to an acceptable,enduring solution. Sooner the better,Israel recognises the new parameters for action in the emerging environment. Read the article BBC-HAVE YOUR SAY/Will talks improve relations between US and Israel? <> I don't understand what Israel expects from our president. Does it want a one state solution? Does it want him to be Netanyahu's poodle? How can he start a meaningful dialogue with the 1 billion Muslims living on this planet? I get it: It wants permission to bomb, bomb Iran, and to continue building settlements in the West Bank and moving the Palestinians to Jordan. Read the article NPR/Awaiting Netanyahu, U.S. Jews weigh Obama's efforts GENERAL PETRAEUS SEES A TOUGH FIGHT AHEAD IN AFGHANISTAN
Obama locked himself in--or the whole situation itself locked him in. He ran in 2008 promising to escalate this war in Afghanistan, perhaps even to "win" it, and once he was in office that's what he did. The decisions were always his, and the military just presented him with the classic three options plan, knowing that most politicians will pick option B. Read the article DAILY BEAST/General Petraeus locked Obama into Afghanistan <> I thought the real story in Michael Hastings' Rolling Stone article was that American troops were being called upon to do a counter-intuitive task: Not respond to their training as killing machines, not react as soldiers in a war zone. They are being required to be restrain their training and instincts as warriors, and be instead a police officer-slash-community organizer. That's not what the US military is trained for. Read the article HUFFINGTON POST/Petraeus faces questions from war-weary lawmakers
Problem is, Afghans are not quite as sophisticated in interpreting American intraparty maneuvering. This kind of Washington nuance does not translate into Pashto. They hear about an American departure date and they think about what will happen to them when the Americans leave. The Taliban will remain, and what it lacks in popular support, it polls only 6%, it makes up in terror: When Taliban fighters return to a village, they kill "collaborators" mercilessly, and publicly Read the article THE HILL/Petraeus supports 2011 deadline; urges Congress to pass war funding bill
JUNE 28, 2010 -- JULY 4 ,2010 THE SUMMIT AND THE SPECTACLE IN TORONTO
Canadian society is just not used to this type of protesting. Read the article GLOBE AND MAIL/The morning after:Toronto begins recovery from G20 chaos <> No businessman or right-thinking citizen wanted to see this city turned into an armed camp, with a fence separating the royalty and the peons. This is what they used to do in communist countries, because they feared their citizens so much. When I came to Canada, the leader would walk among the people, I even remember Trudeau getting punched by someone, and responding by punching back. I don't advocate that, but I like the democracy of it. I don't like what we've become, and who now rules us. Read the article TORONTO STAR/Brutal spectacle failed a city and its people <> What a waste of time and Canadian taxpayers' money: on deficit reduction/stimulus spending, and on bank solvency, all 20 nations have agreed that each will do what it wants. In other words, the nations aren't doing anything different from what they were doing before this ultra-expensive photo-op to polish Stephen Harper's image. If you're going to risk this much political and national capital, you had better come up with something to justify it. I haven't seen one thing out of the G8 or the G20 that comes close. We've been had. Read the article TORONTO STAR/G20 adopts Canadian compromise on deficit, bank taxes <> The right of free speech and freedom of assembly is not hurt or even disturbed by declaring Toronto a parade/demonstration free zone for two or three days once a decade or so, or even once a year. Our foreign guests should not be exposed to such pointless protest. What has this debacle served freedom? Nothing. Freedom has been used as a ruse to shield anarchy. We have made ourselves simpletons to be manipulated. Canadians know what freedom is and will tell you that burning police cars, taunting the police, parading half naked down the middle of the street with a trumpet and throwing bricks through shop windows is not the way to freedom, it's supposed to be the way to jail. Read the article NATIONAL POST/Violence on Toronto's streets: why did it happen?
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