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?

Ross Perot is President Elect by Cloning?

OK i just have to point out this observation. Doesn't it look like Obama was a cloning experiment gone bad from Ross Perot?



You can decide.

There is the Village Idiot and Then There are Villages of Idiots

Just a comment about the Bali Bombers -

They are dead - deservedly so. Terrorism and senseless murder is all it was.

Some of the villages where these guys are from are calling them martyrs. Martyrs for what - killing people? Being murderers. There was no known motive other than hate and death.

Knowing the attitude of some of those villages - there will be more idiocy coming.

Some Liberia Photos

I just thought I would share some photos of Liberia. Just some of the scenery I have seen recently. I hope you enjoy them.

Blue Lake aka Bomi Lake

A Jungle Road

A "Loaded" Van (Looks like it is about to fall over)

Old Church

Y'all Stay Safe!

International Day of Peace Celebrations

Here in Liberia at the UN we had a big to-do with the International Day of Peace Celebration. The SRSG (Special Representative of the Secretary General), Vice President of Liberia were the main head honchos at the event. Many other dignitaries showed up as well. There were honor guards, speeches, songs, native dances, and a tree planting ceremony. I just thought I would post a few photos.

Indian Formed Police Unit Honor Guard

(yes they are all female)

SRSG Planting a tree

SRSG Planting a tree

Native Dancers

Stay Safe!!

Bailing Out Lenders With Borrowed Money

OK, call me dumb if you like. How come we (the US Government) is making plans to bail out failed lenders during this "financial crisis" who had really bad judgment in loaning money? We do not require them to pay for their own mistakes.


To top it off, we are bailing them out with borrowed money.


Talk about a recipe for disaster.

:)



Ok, one more line to this. Do you think a bank would loan you money to get you out of financial trouble because you foolishly loaned out your money to a bad risk?

Darfur - what is Really the Problem

Darfur seems to be the "politically correct" cause of actors and famous people and the like. Some even raising money for helicopters and such. The problem is that the helicopters needed are gunships - not some small 4 person helicopter. Gunships and armed transport helicopters are needed.

You doubt me? Check out what happened on the 15th:

Monday, 15 September 2008
A United Nations helicopter
in Darfur was able to land safely yesterday after being shot at in the third
incident of its kind in the war-wracked region of western Sudan.

The helicopter was on its way to Shangil Tobaya, where the
hybrid UN-African Union peacekeeping mission (UNAMID) has a base camp, from the North
Darfur town of Tawila when shots were fired about 37 kilometres before it could
reach the destination.

UNAMID reported that the helicopter, which was carrying 12
passengers and four crew members, was able to land safely following the
shooting. However, one of its fuel tanks was found to be
leaking.

The helicopter later left for El Fasher, the capital of
North Darfur state and the headquarters for UNAMID, after repairs were made. The
passengers were left behind for security reasons.

What the do-gooders usually do not understand is that the situation is long past all of the genocide and such. It is now mostly a dangerous situation for peacekeepers. Darfur does not want stability and peace in the region and many warlords do not either. If peace comes the warlords lose their power and they cannot control the areas they control.

Anyways - just my thoughts on the issue.

Stay Safe!

On Politics, Presidents and Palin

I just thought I would throw in my two cents worth on politics for a bit. I am not trying to be political - but just share some observations:

OK, this is right before the convention: What was Obama thinking in picking Joe Biden? I mean you want to be known as the guy for change - so you pick the most ingrained non-changing guy in Washington as your running mate. Not only that- the guy that probably gives the other side the most prolific amount of sound bytes to be used in the campaign against you. I guess Joe is now saying "I really didn't mean all of that." Obama wants to claim he has good judgement - so much for that call huh?

Another observation - as a former competetor in Speech and Debate Tournaments, and former Speech Teacher a point about nearly all the speakers: Your speeches are too long. Cut out all the tired stuff we have heard before (though I know they cannot resist Bush Bashing) and just focus on new stuff - if you have any.

McCain chooses Palin as a running mate. One thing for sure - the presidential candidate with the most colorful background of any presidential candidate ever - surprised everyone with this pick. I don't know much about Palin. Maybe it was because she is a relatively young woman, maybe because she is more blue collar. Some say it was to get the "Hillary" votes. I cannot believe that last one. I cannot see anyone voting for Hillary that would vote for Palin - unless it is the "I am going to vote for a woman because she is a woman" vote. All I know is - he made the smartest or dumbest decision in picking her.

I have not seen much from the Republicans Convention yet. ( We don't get a lot of live feed stuff here) I am sure their speeches will be too long also.

Be Safe!