Going Backwards in Somalia

I just received a notification in my email concerning Somalia:

"Somali President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed met with religious leaders and elders and accepted their demand for ceasefire and reconciliation with the opposition members. He gave in on Saturday to demands from Islamist insurgents agreeing to a truce and the introduction of sharia law.

When in power in 2006, the Islamists introduced a strict form of sharia and carried out executions, shut cinemas and photo shops, banned live music, flogged drug offenders and harassed civilians, mainly women, for failing to wear appropriate dress in public. They also banned foreign music, romances between unmarried teens, all commerce and public transport during prayer times and decreed that Muslims who do not pray daily can be punished by death.

The proposal to introduce sharia law must still be ratified by Somalia's parliament."

Nothing like a government that wants to go backwards concerning human rights. I am glad I am not there.

Obama and the Superbowl - Both amazing "Spin" or Lack of Reporting

Is the press asleep in America or what? Maybe things just look different because I am in Africa.

OK, first I want to kow where is CNN and everyone else who claims to report the new acurately - IGNORING the fact that FEMA has screwed up more - in the ice storm - especially for Kentucky, than they ever came close to in Katrina. Ok it is no Katrina with 1700 deaths - but FEMA moved slow.

They (FEMA) are there now, but 42 people did die. There is no "conspiracy theory" about allowing poor mountain folk to perish. Of course this goes on while Obama and his cronies enjoy $100 steak dinners.

On the Super Bowl: Why were we the fans robbed of the game? I am not saying the Cardinals were robbed - that is unknown. What I am saying is - as a fan - you end the game on a very questionable call and do ot review it? It is the SUPERBOWL!! How can you deny us the last 17 seconds or whatever it would be of the game?

The game was excellent yet messy mistakes by both teams and generally poorly officiated. Yet great performances on both sides of the ball. The Cardinals proved they belonged in the Superbowl and the Steelers proved themselves a Superbowl Team.

Like I said - I saw this from Africa - so maybe it looks different from here?

Y'all Stay Safe!

The UN - Israel - and the USA

Last night I had a conversation with a fellow from Israel.  I was off duty, so it was not obvious who I worked for at the time (no uniform).  This guy went on and on about how horrible the UN was.  I believe he had problems because of the "war crimes" accusaion by some in the UN against Israel for defending themselves.

I do not think the UN is so evil, and explained to him about his own history (this was a young guy).  I explained to him how the UN was responsible in a way for the formation of the modern Israel.  He thought Israel became a modern nation befor the United Nations was formed. Also the division into a Jewish area and Arab area of Palestine was one of the earliest acts of the UN. In 1947, the United Nations approved the partition of Palestine into two states, one Jewish and one Arab.(UN resolution 181). Israel declared independence in 1948 and won additional territory in subsiquent wars (which some still want to refer to it as "occupied territory"

Now I told him the the UN was often ineffective in how it conducts business and peacekeeping, but rarrely is there an alternative to finding a peaceable solution in many parts of the world.

"The UN officially came into existence on 24 October 1945 upon ratification of the Charter by the five permanent members of the Security Council — France, the Republic of China, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom and the United States — and by a majority of the other 46 signatories. The first meetings of the General Assembly, with 51 nations represented, and the Security Council, took place in Westminster Central Hall in London in January 1946. "  - Wikipedia


He said something about "Ask your Marines what they think of the UN"  I told him I just had earlier when they were visiting UN Headquarters earlier that day.  He seemed a bit peeved that I had interaction in a good way with the Marines.

Sometimes in our own zealouness we lose sight of the facts.


Anyways - Stay safe!

Now He is Prez - Will He Do What He Said He Would?

OK, we now have a new President. Will he do what he said he would? We will see. This is an event that has absorbed all other news stories even here in Liberia. The world awaits as the new President hopes he had a "save the economy" task bar on his computer. Who knows, maybe he does. It is not like there are "cheat codes" for the economy.

I am sure all the Hollywood types like Paris Hilton, Jennifer Gardner, and Jennifer Aniston were tickled pink today as he was sworn in.

Well God Bless America - and God Bless our new president.

Y'all Stay Safe!

Obama Will Soon Be Inagurated

OK, we all know it is coming soon.  The big historic event which may not seem like much years from now, but at this time it is a big deal.

I hope this guy does OK 

He has made some poor leadership decisions - Like Leon Panetta for CIA Director?  I mean - who is less qualified (not including the mentally handicapped and children)?  This guy has NO background in intelligence.

Let's see he was white house CHief of Staff (nothing to do with intelligence) has the Panetta institute for Public Policy... um  maybe he spied on someone as a kid...

When there has been so much critisim of the intelligence community, we now will have a clueless leader of such stuff...

A Return of the Old Ways?

I found this story interesting. It is about how the German police broke into an apartment and took down an Israli Flag to "calm a Muslim Crowd." You can find the story and video. It appears that Germany has joined Liberia in deciding that Mob Justice rules.

It seems that some of the old ways are creeping back into the German Goverment. However, in all fairness, the German Police later apologized for the act.

To quote a bit of the story:"Muslims in Denmark chanted, "Down, down Israel, down, down USA, down, down democracy, down, down Denmark." One Muslim executed the Nazi salute and shouted, "We want to kill all the Jews, all the Jews should be slain, they have no right to exist!"

Interesting stuff huh? Especially the down, down democracy.

You can see Israel's perspective of the ongoing war here. It is quite interesting.

Stay Safe!

Liberia Travels

Sometimes Travel in Liberia is just a bit Different..

OOPS!!

Crossing high quality bridges are fun too

Just a couple of photos I thought I'd share with you.

Stay Safe!!

A Leisurly Week-end Trip?

One week-end me and one of my American friends here (We will just call him "Joe" - mostly because that is his name) took a week-end break in Ghana. Now we both have been working for a long stretch and thought that the week-end away would do us both some good.

So here is what happened: As I was planning this trip, several things started piling up to cause stress for me. First of all my unit was having a "Board of Selection" a process by which UN Police are chosen for leadership positions. Now I have empowered many people on my team to be able to handle this "Board", but I still like to make sure all is lined up and propared to go. So I over-prepared I think for this Board.

Then something else happened. Instead of the usual 757 that the UN flies to Ghana, they sent out a message that only the Dash-7 would be available. OK so we go from hundreds of seats to 48. Add this to people leaving the mission for holiday travel, and I figured we would get scratched from the flight - it is a first come (first to apply for the flight) first serve basis.

After stressing over are we going to get to go - I called our "MOVCON" and confirmed that "Joe" and I were on the flight manifest. (What they didn't tell me was that we were the last two names on the list).

So we arrive at the airport that the fight takes off from and the airport isnt even open yet. When the doors opened some UN folks from what I will call uncivilized* nations all rushed to the door cutting in front of us. *An uncivilized nation is one that has not developed enough that the people stand in lines (ques for you British types) while waiting for service. Being that we were on the manifest, we decided that we did not need to worry and saw no need to jerk people out of line by their necks politely tell them to move to the back of the line.

Now let me tell you about the Dash-7. This aircraft was designed to be a Short Take Off and Landing (STOL) aircraft from the ground up. It only needs 500 meters of runway to take off. That is around 1625 feet. There were only 113 of these made. Ours was serial number 31. That means it cannot quite take off from an aircraft carrier without catapult assistance. It does not have a large payload though, and despite "MOVCON" putting out rules about weight of luggage it seems many people decided "they don't apply to me."

Here is what started to piss me off annoy me. "MOVCON" was letting people check their ginormous check bags/crates/boxes - many weighing ove 50 kilos (110 pounds). This is after the message was sent to everyone taking the flight that: As usual, baggage allowance will be strictly limited to a total of 15kgs per passenger and cargo uplift to/from Accra will not be possible.

So, they were taking luggage - and because of the weight - kicking off passengers. They only took 24 passengers (which left me and "Joe" out, not because we were at the end of the list, but because we were civilized and did not act like idiots by cutting the line. I find this almost typical "UN-thinking" - there are rules, but not for everyone, and luggage is more important than people - At least that is what the message seems to be.

So we get cut from the flight, but they tell us we can get another flight in the afternoon. We deceided to go ahead and go, even though now the two days will more be like one. Also instead of under two hours, the flight ended up being 4 hours , oh did I forget to tell you that "Joe" hates to fly?

We ended up making the trip, even got a little shopping done, and ended up relaxing by the pool at night with the live band of Africans that were playing traditional Mexican Folk songs. It would have been ok, but they did that rather poorly, yet somehow it was almost more entertaining because they were bad.

We flew back on the Dash-7 and made it back safe and sound. I needed the day off to relax from the preparation for the day off!!

Y'all stay safe!!

Are We Doomed? or Are we Saved?

I admit that I am not a big Obama fan. However, after he won the election I will give him the benefit of the doubt.  I keep hearing how he is intelligent and makes good decisions (this despite his atrocious choice of Vice-president).  Now he is forming his cabinet - most of his choices seem pretty good - yet one of the most important is another total blunder - at least historically speaking.

NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCED:

TREASURY SECRETARY: Timothy Geithner, president of Federal Reserve Bank of New York.  Apparently a wise choice.   Someone who understands the financial system and is not a total outsider.

SECRETARY OF STATE: Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y. - Undoubtedly the one most divisive politician in recent U.S. History.  First, I will quote Obama himself about this choice: "What exactly is this foreign policy experience?" He said in March. "Was she negotiating treaties? Was she handling crises? The answer is no." - Apparently he has now made a quantum leap in changing his opinion.

A new President-elect that claims he wants to reach the international community - he chooses a divider verses someone who is known to be able to bring people together.  This appears more of a pandering decision and possibly a "keep your enemies closer" move.  I will admit that the rest of the world loved her husband as president, but that does not discount the fact that she is very divisive.  Obama is also making the mistake of predecessors in choosing a female for thi particular post when many nations of the world have no respect for women. This when he wants to "reboot" our image.

ATTORNEY GENERAL: Eric Holder, former deputy attorney general. - Not a real surprise.  He was a large figure in the Obama campaign.  From the Clinton administration he was a former Deputy Attorney General.  Quite qualified as an individual, but hardly a sign of "change"

DEFENSE SECRETARY: Robert Gates, a holdover from Bush administration. During a time a war - keeping the current Defense Secretary, at least for a while is an excellent decision.

HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY: Gov. Janet Napolitano, D-Ariz. This is really an odd choice as there has been nothing available showing she knows anything about homeland security - other than she used National Guard Troops on the Mexican Border in her state. (At least we can give her that) Interesting that she will now head US Customs and Border Patrol.

NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: Retired Marine Gen. James Jones. This seems to be a good choice as long as Jones has not been "out of the loop" too long in security matters. 

COMMERCE SECRETARY: Gov. Bill Richardson, D-N.M. -  OK once again political pandering here - What can Richardson's commerce expertise be?  He should have chosen a businessman/woman for this post.

NATIONAL ECONOMIC COUNCIL DIRECTOR: Lawrence Summers, former treasury secretary.  This seems to make sense - though Treasury Department and the Economy are two totally different things.

OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET DIRECTOR: Peter Orszag, director of Congressional Budget Office. The title is probably the biggest misnomer, but the choice of the appointee appears to be a good one.

President-elect Barack Obama will tap Nobel Prize-winning physicist Steven Chu as his Energy secretary and former New Jersey environmental protection commissioner Lisa Jackson as head of the Environmental Protection Agency.  Both of these choices seem to make sense also.

World AIDS Day

Well, I work for the UN

The UN's answer to AIDS is condoms

Lots of condoms

A guy came into my office today - called himself "Mr Condom" - had an inflated one on his hat and many taped to his clothes.

So, this is the answer?