This Christmas spare a minute or two to think of the people in Africa (Christian and Muslim), who do not know the meaning of this special season: The people in Somalia who are flooded out and have no government to help them. The Sudanese in Darfur who have a government but it is corrupt and it will not help them. The people of Cote De Ivoire, who know what a bullet is, but have no idea, or inclination, to celebrate anything. The citizens of Lesotho who were promised much but had little ...

The Great Holocaust Conference began today in Teheran. As an amateur historian and the son of a man who gave the best years of his youth (He was flying a bomber at age 20 in 1939), helping to overthrow a monster, I am personally disgusted that anyone should deny the Holocaust (and, my friends, that is what they will try to do), and the horrible crimes committed against Jews and Poles and millions of others. I am also shocked and angry (actually saddened), that amongst the guest speakers sp...

I'm not into US politics in a big way but I read some news today on Iraq and cooked up a small scenario: Overheard at a cocktail part in Rega: Condi: Mr President, we've got to get out of Eyrak soon. GW: Why do you say that Condi darlin'? Be brief because I'm workin' on Sudan and Somalia this week. Condi: Well, they're blaming us, not Al Kayda. GW: Don't you worry none Condi--I have a strategy. Condi: What's that Mr President? GW: We'll blame Maliki. He's not taming those ragheads....

I have neglected African news for a while so here are some headlines and comments: Zimbabwe: President Ahmadinejad vows to take "Bullying Countries" to task for their shameful treatment of Zimbabwe. I think you got the wrong end of the stick Mr President: Robert Mugabe is the biggest bully in the Southern African region! Comrade Robert is signing trade agreements with Iran as I write. Is it a case of :First the Chinese planes, now the Hillman Taxis, Mr M.? Are you perhaps employing a lot o...

This list was posted on www.iafrica.com. I found it interesting but don't totally agree: LEAST corrupt countries: Finland IceLand New Zealand Denmark Singapore Sweden Switzerland Norway Australia Netherlands Most Corrupt: Haiti (no surprise). Myanmar Iraq (terminal-don't think it should rate!) Guinea Sudan (Oh yes!) DRCongo Chad Bangladesh Uzbekistan Equatorial Guinea (Don't agree--should be above DR Congo). The least corrupt African State was Botswana (Yes, t...

Saddam, the tyrant ruler has been sentenced to death. I don't think there was any doubt that he would be. I'd be interested to know from JU stalwarts (and others), your opinions on the following thoughts: DO you think the insurgency will worsen after this verdict? Will Iraq explode or find peace? Do you think that the sentencing will have any effect on the mid-term election results? Don't you feel robbed of justice when trials in the Hague take so long? Milosevic deserved to hang too. ...

The Debate on Climate Change. Sir Nick Stern’s report ( UK today),on climate change and the subsequent dangers of global warning is a wake-up call to all of us to act before it is too late. I agree entirely and echo the Prime Minister in his call for a global response. Before I comment further, let me quote from the news release by Friends of the Earth:- “ Yes, we all know it is a global problem (emissions in the UK being only 2%). Nothing will happen to solve it until countrie...

"Please hand me the envelope... " And the winner of the Albert Shovelcrap War Prize is... " President Ahmedinejad of Iran" "The prize is 1000 packets of Dentyne Superbreath, to keep your mouth cleaner than clean. The citation reads: -For ambitions as a magician, as the President is about to make Israel disappear. -For undisputed hateship towards the US and Britain. -For fake membership of the Nuclear club. -For selling 20 000 used Hillman taxis to Kazakhstan. Thank you ladies and ...

I heard on Skynews today that an approach will be made to Syria, and Iran, to help in damping down the war in Iraq. Where did this come from? Was it the US or the UK? The mind boggles when I think of those two countries being called upon for "help". What help and how? Is there a note of defeat in the air or are some people trying to bring Iran and Syria into the "fold". Can any Joeusers enlighten me?

Here is my take on North Korea: Forgive the licence I have taken with an old Chinese proverb. "Do not back dog into corner. He will turn and snarl. He will show his teeth. If dog is hungry he may bite. If dog wants to bite, shoot dog." Kim Jong il is actually like a frightened dog in a corner. His repressed people are starving and, unfortunately will never protest--they would be shot. Someone needs to get rid of this man. I suggest a sneaky little Chinese assassin with a garotte.

The World is growing restless as the events in Sudan grow worse by the day. Darfur is a region in Africa's largest country and it is controlled mainly, some say, by the JanJaweed. The Sudanese government pretends to control the Janjaweed but many say they are in collusion--and that they are determined to rid Sudan of mainly black Sudanese. It appears to be a racial conflict leading up to genocidal tendencies. I would say that genocide is happening as I write, and that it may be too late to sa...

I had a paedophile on my staff once. He seemed like a nice guy, went to church--even preached in church. Great record this guy had--but I found out later that his record had been hushed up. This happens often with paedophiles. Their records are "put away" or "filed" in File 13. So, this guy who came to me was highly recommended, good with kids and a great father figure. When he was arrested I found out he had a record. Remember, not before-- after the arrest. So I asked questions: Why wasn...

Senator John McCain spoke at the annual Conservative Party congress in Bournemouth last night. His speech (very conservative--as to be expected from a Democrat), was well received. I can't comment on his politics but I did (as an orator of long-standing),do a critique on the speech, noting some important highs and lows. Note that these are my personal observations: * The Senator looks like an ageing politician with reduced energy (he is over 70). He does not appear to have the charisma or ...

I flew over Harare recently while on a trip from Egypt to South Africa. Even at 9000 m I could see the effects of President "Saviour of Africa" Mugabe's efforts to "clean up" his country. You cannot hide anything away from satellites but I realised that you cannot hide anything, period. It was obvious that there were areas outside Harare that seemed to contain roads but no housing. I looked down in wonder as I identified these roads then wondered where the houses were. It struck me then th...

Came across this article by Jim Mannion on iAfrica. com and it reports that the USA's troops are at their most un-prepared since the end of the Vietnam war. Comments welcome. Link to the general link below.