A few headlines and stories made me sit up this week. some made headline news and some not. But they triggered my interest. Just a few short notes on some of these.
1. Outside Magazine: The Green Issue
It’s apparently a good one. Treehugger told me so. And Treehugger can never be wrong when it comes to green stuff. But it made me think a bit. Outside magazine? I get it when Vanity Fair or Vogue go green. They never do green stuff other than an odd article here or there. And then they bring out a green issue to educate their readers a bit. You know, bring them up to speed with the latest in green fashion and celebs. But Outside magazine? I know I am new here so I don’t know the magazine that well. Just a bit from the Jon Krakauer books I have read. But shouldn’t they be green in each issue? Tell people how to enjoy the outside world and respect the outside world? Maybe not. I know - they are just trying their best to focus one issue on green only stuff. Good for them. But maybe they should bring green to the heart of what they do and integrate it into all the work they do and write about. Just an idea. But I guess a green issue is better than no issue. Or maybe not. No issue - no impact. The Green Issue - online only.
2. Africom to focus on military role
That was how the UN IRIN (Integrated Regional Information Network) reported on the briefing to Congress by General William “Kip” Ward, head of the US Command for Africa, Africom. Or more specifically, how he only talked about the humanitarian work of Africom for 15 seconds out of his almost 5 minute briefing. Now I have to be honest - I like the UN and especially IRIN. They bring me news from Africa. And the UN is full of flaws. But imagine a world without them. More wars and more injustice. But really, this is a bit much. What did they think Africom was going to do? They are a military command centre for Africa (based in Europe). A military command centre people… Doing military stuff. You know - guns and stuff. The killing bits. And handing out food and doing humanitarian work has never been a great strength of any military force. Sorry to disappoint you. Africom was always going to focus a tad more on the military stuff than the humanitarian stuff. Shocking I know. But true.
3. Obama invents a new religion
The week started off with more rumours about Obama being a Muslim. Nothing new there. It’s just McCain setting some attack dogs on Obama. Of course he didn’t tell them to say that - I hope. He wouldn’t do something like that after it was done to him by George W would he? But he didn’t do anything to stop people from spreading rumours either. No. Rove must be closer than what we thought. But then they got their next angle on Obama. He is from a radical Christian group. Yes. The Wright story. And of course Fox was quick to show the interview they had with Wright a few years ago. After mutterings of him being a Muslim didn’t get that out of them earlier. But that is Fox. So is Obama a Muslim influenced by a radical Christian? WTF? How does that work? Haven’t seen that since. No. Have never seen that. Maybe Obama has done something no one has ever been able to do. Become a Mustian or Christlim. You know. A guy who believes strongly that the best way to become a Muslim is through accepting Jesus as your saviour. Man, he is even better than what I thought. He really is the change he talks about. That’s one hell of a change - no pun intended. If not - then please Fox & Fiends and Mac & Cheats - make up your bloody mind. Don’t just throw everything and hope something will stick. At least make it somehow seem a little bit more plausible. Obama can’t be both. Even you can’t spin that one can you? Oh sorry - you can. I forgot. You called Florida for Bush. Making a loser a winner. But the snag - it came to bite us in the… hum… backside. We ended up with a loser in any case.
4. Bush says the economy is basically strong
From the man who brought you Mission (Un)Accomplished and years later are still in sh*t street in Baghdad and who told us about the (missing) link between Sadam and Al-Qaeda and who are still looking for the WMDs (Weapons of Missing Deconstruction) comes the latest insight of wisdom. Don’t worry about the economy - everything will be just fine. What problem? Gas a problem - cut down on the beans and drive that pickup. What problem? We’re just handing out the $600 so you can have a nice little break in summer. You deserve it. Take your mind off the elections and war. It is so tiring - I know. No strings attached. What recession? This economy is fundamentally sound. Sorry George W - you are fundamentally wrong. Again. Snake oil.
5. Mugabe set to lose the election
That’s a good one. Mugabe set to lose the election. And the English can really win the World Cup (you make your pick of soccer, rugby or cricket). Ain’t gonna happen. George W will kiss Hillary with an open mouth before Mugabe loses an election. No. Let me rephrase that. Mugabe will be President after the elections. No matter what the results. The “projection” is based on a poll done by a Zimbabwean academic. And he admitted that people are too afraid to say who they will vote for. And it helps that the chief of the army and the chief of the police both said that they will not allow any “puppets” to take control in Zimbabwe. And the head of prison services chipped in some support as well. Read… no one but Mugabe will lead. And they know what is waiting for them if Mugabe stays in power. He just passed a law to allow him to nationalise any company in Zimbabwe. And give it to anyone he wishes to give it to. White owned companies only. Yes. Racism goes both ways in Zimbabwe. Oh, I almost forgot to add. Mugabe also gave public servants a big fat raise. That might help. Especially because the price of everything just doubled overnight. I am not joking. Just follow this link here. Sorry buddy. Old crazy uncle Bob will be there after the election. Come hell or high water. In this case. Hell is there already.
That’s my views on some of the weekly news. Not much. But then news never really is when you’re watching, but not seeing.
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5 responses so far ↓
ilovemylife // March 14, 2008 at 11:22 pm
“…A guy who believes strongly that the best way to become a Muslim is through accepting Jesus as your saviour. Man, he is even better than what I thought. He really is the change he talks about. That’s one hell of a change…”
This whole section I could put in a section you have so named “I Wish I Wrote This” ~ I don’t know if you meant it this way, but I laughed so hard when I read this section.
John // March 15, 2008 at 3:32 pm
Who call off your attach dogs on McCain. I don’t like the fellow, BUT, Hillary is the one with the dirty politicians hands. He didn’t do that one. Hillary has been tearing Obama apart and in the same way the conservatives get torn apart. By a tag line and not much evidence to back the line up. I think, I have been able to convince everyone but my Grandpa with evidence that Obama has attended a church that is Christian.
His religion shouldn’t matter. The Anti white Americanism does. Is the preacher a hold over from the 60’s ? Heck drop white. His Anti Americanism sucks and whether it is sucks or not the Real Point is that it is not TRUE. None of it.
I am waiting for Obama to explain that the preacher deserves to be thrown under a bus. Figuritively, no verbally, no figurtively about it. Bury that preacher under a mountain of words in editorials defending this country. I can easely document good things that have come about through the USA. A veritable verbal train with said ex preacher tied to the tracks. Maybe he will repent? So Obama are you on the train to hit a old freind. Justice on freinds is hard to carry out. His Preliminary response is good.
Oh Bush, Your guilty of trying to lift moral again with those mission accomplished banners and ecconomic news. So be fair Angry African. He is not a bad guy. Bush is wrong. He has his reasons for being wrong. One of which is that the republicans or the democrats won’t stop pork projects, won’t stop lots of spending, won’t stop interfering with our lives. Progressive thinking really is painful. Sorry everyone that is my opinion. What Bush is doing wrong is more a slam on democrates. They would do the same speachs you know. Bush wants to fight terror and the biggots that terror is. They are the middle eastern mob. I can respect that at least.
Humanitary aid.
Why does the US support the UN? I don’t see the good it does. We arn’t acknowledged for any aid or money we give to them. We give anyway and yet the world hates us. The only way anyone gets aid is because the military kicks open the door and acts as MP’s Military units from the USA or other powers are at least disciplined. You can’t tell me that somilla is better off since the US has left. Then Again if we can’t be in Iraq helping Kurds, and the Muslims then why should we be in Africa.
Educate me if I am wrong but my preconception of Africa is other then some of the more developed area’s then the tribes are the power behind the nations. And those tribes don’t stand a chance against Sharia law and Islam spreading. they don’t have the birthrates, the money, to stand up to the middle east boys. not divided. And I don’t see them uniting like the Greeks.
a broad // March 15, 2008 at 3:46 pm
This news is still better and more balanced than what I see on TV sometimes!
poetik // March 16, 2008 at 3:49 am
great to be here everyone. i am the new reader of this blog. angryafrican, keep it going
Congogirl // March 18, 2008 at 1:07 pm
I just posted about the AFRICOM thing too (btw, found you through TofuNotes), and I think the important point is that AFRICOM actually did have humanitarian aid as part of their mission before. They have de-emphasized it, which has partially relieved the concern that humanitarian agencies had regarding neutrality of their interventions, but I think there is certainly a political and ideological conflict between US govt intervention and those provided by INGOs and other non-aligned entities.
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