Mugabe helped by Bush's error

The dreadful attack on an already fragile democracy in Zimbabwe is heartbreaking.

The present open state oppression rivals the excesses of Idi Amin. He was overthrown by a Western backed attack from a neighbouring state. Iraq has destroyed the world’s faith in military intervention. The same remedy is justified but unlikley.

The scandalously silent neighbouring states have now found their voices. The International Criminal Court  (ICC) was designed to deter state oppression. Had the USA not gone to great lengths to sabotage it; the Court could now have become an international institution that would strike fear in the heart of Mugabe.

A correspondent queries my claim that Bush’s offences are not ones for the ICC. Although their results were catastrophic, the crazed intentions were not malign. Hard to believe but Bush probably believed that he was doing good.

The Iraq attack’s purpose was to secure the future of the world for American values. The results have endangered the prospects for world peace. But his crimes are not in the same category as Rwanda, the Holocaust, Darfur or Zimbabwe.

European countries must press the next Government in the USA to drop their opposition to the ICC.

Physician, cure thyself

Raj Persaud is not one of my favourite broadcasters or writers. His stance has always been populist. Sense is always secondary to his need for audience pleasing. His superior pontificating is undermined by  his ill-informed views. Happily, he is one of the irritating television pundits we will hear less of in future.

His excuse for outrageously stealing other peoples' work and selling it as his own was unsurprising. He said he was 'under stress'.

Probably needs a good psychiatrist - or a good book.

Euro-greed

Peter Mandelson  is right. President Sarkozy is wrong.

Peter has been pushing for more free trade. The Irish farmers have looted vast sums from the Common Agricultural Policy - even more than France and Germany. Three quarters of Irish farmers' income is subsidy. In Wales it's less than a third.

France and Germany want to continue picking he pockets of taxpayers to featherbed their farmers. It 100% copper bottomed hypocrisy to blame Mandelson for world starvation. The greed of the CAP has deepened  poverty is third world countries. Our over production has sabotaged and undercut local markets throughout the third world.

Peter is not exactly a close pal of mine, but he is doing a great job on the CAP

Comments

[Huw O'Sullivan]

We agree on more than we disagree on Paul and I am glad you highlight the situation in Zimbabwe. As an Irishman however I cannot say I am thrilled to have you describe Irish farmers as having looted anything. They have done nothing of the sort. The Irish Government did indeed get its act together in the 80's to get the maximum support and assistance from Europe that it was entitled to and now Ireland is to take up the position of being a net contributor to EU funds. It is an immense pity that they voted no in the referendum,
although the changes in the rules giving smaller nations less input make it understandable, the size of the loss would need some real changes to the perceived and actual loss of status for the people to change their minds. No one can really say how much of a better position Wales would be in today if Wales had a government
of its own to represent its own unique situation in Europe. The CAP has always been an issue and ongoing reviews and reforms will always be necessary. As far as Mandelson goes, he is a capable and intelligent operator, unfortunately the only real tension is wondering what his next scandal will be.

[Miller 2.0]

Here here.

Rather bizarre to find oneself sticking up for him.