Sunday, June 2, 2013

Sarin used in Syria? Who to belive in this 'quagmire.'

I watched an item on RT (Russian TV) which clamed that the UN is in possession of evidence that the 'rebels' have been apprehended in Turkey with about 2KGs of the deadly material, Sarin. There have been accusations that the Syrian Government is also using this terrible weapon. Now add to this deadly cocktail the fact that the West is supplying weapons to the rebels and the Russians are sending missiles to the Syrian Government and we are left with the same old story that has been repeated in so many countries in the past. Neither the USA (and its allies) or the Russians, Chinese and any exporter of weapons is innocent of pouring fuel on to the 'fires' raging in numerous undeclared wars, world-wide. Nothing has changed.
What we are witnessing in Syria is the destruction of a nation, where no side will be the winner and the people suffer terribly. We will see millions of refugees, seeking safety---almost anywhere, complicating an already terrible world wide problem. There will be more 'boat-people' seeking to land in far off places, like Australia and the world will watch silently as recipient countries close their borders.
Syria represents the total failure of the UN and the nations on the Security Council to bring an end to this conflagration. Instead the likes of the USA, the EU, China and Russia play politics; trying to score points or win favour with various groups within Syria, for no other purpose than their own geo-political aspirations in this volatile region.
What makes me sad is that the disparate groups within Syria, fed by their outside supporters are destroying a nation. It has descended to a war of 'revenge' rather than any nation-forming process. Does history teach us nothing?

Maurice Williamson--let's end this media enhanced talk of him being a 'gay icon.'

So Maurice is the darling of the gay community because he made a funny, quite shallow speech in the New Zealand Parliament a few weeks ago. What a load of crap! That he said a few words that resonated with social media, world wide does not make him a functionary of social change or in any way a spokesperson for the gay community in NZ or anywhere else for that matter. He does not have a track record in NZ for being a champion for social change. If he is to be remembered for any one act it would probably be for jokes made about him driving a Skoda, back in the days when the rear-engine cars were seen as something to be avoided (unlike the modern up-market version). He also fell out of tune with the National Party he represents for a while and generally he has been an 'also ran' member of parliament.
So Maurice, next time you drive down the Pakuranga Highway under the 'big gay rainbow,' think about your wonderful work with the gay community, (yeah right!) take stock of your career and dream of your chance to almost have taken a tilt at the Auckland mayoralty, thinking that the large gay sector would have voted for you because of your words of wisdom and solidarity; think again and wake up. It was most definitely a dream verging on a nightmare---for Auckland!