I'd like to wish all my readers a Merry Christmas and a happy new year.
Hopefully 2008 will bring us many more joyous times :)
Blogging will resume in the beginning of January.
Happy Holidays.
Raffe
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Coming Soon: A Palestinian State?
Well it seems we are finally on our way to statehood for the Palestinians who left and were removed by Israeli forces in the wars of 1948 and 1967.
For those that don't know after Israel's declaration of Independence the surrounding Arab armies declared war on the new country. Fighting back, Israel managed to overcome the odds and proclaim victory, however there was a dark side to the celebrations. Confident of wiping out the new state the Arab governments convinced the Arabs that lived in Israel that they should evacuate and return to their homes once the fighting was over. Those that didn't choose to leave were incorporated into the new State of Israel as citizens.
In 1967, with another major war on the horizon, Israel launched preemptive strikes against it's enemy neighbors and claimed victory within 6 days. However, when they beat the odds they also became responsible for the welfare of over a million Palestinians living in the West Bank and Gaza, territory captured by Israel.
Over the last 40 years this has caused significant headaches for the Israeli government as the Palestinians living an squalor blame Israel for their mess. They have, on hundreds of occasions, launched terror strikes against the Israeli populace leaving thousands upon thousands of civilians dead in their wake.
Their latest weapon of terror is constant barrage of missile attacks (there have been over 3000, with 700 in the last 12 months alone) that are leaving more and more people dead.
The recent peace conference in Annapolis has led to a very recent conference of world economic leaders who are raising money for Palestinian statehood. The world has so far pledged 7.4 billion dollars (with Australia pledging 45 million) to see the creation of infrastructure and to raise the standard of living for Palestinians.
I'm personally quite skeptical about this, the last Palestinian leader to be in control of the economy ended up on the Forbes Rich List.
However this could be a step forward for peace. Once the Palestinians living in Gaza see how good the West Bank-ians have it then they'll throw off the shackles of the oppressive HAMAS government.
Lets hope that in the next several years we will see a strong, stable Palestinian economy and an even stronger Palestinian state.
For those that don't know after Israel's declaration of Independence the surrounding Arab armies declared war on the new country. Fighting back, Israel managed to overcome the odds and proclaim victory, however there was a dark side to the celebrations. Confident of wiping out the new state the Arab governments convinced the Arabs that lived in Israel that they should evacuate and return to their homes once the fighting was over. Those that didn't choose to leave were incorporated into the new State of Israel as citizens.
In 1967, with another major war on the horizon, Israel launched preemptive strikes against it's enemy neighbors and claimed victory within 6 days. However, when they beat the odds they also became responsible for the welfare of over a million Palestinians living in the West Bank and Gaza, territory captured by Israel.
Over the last 40 years this has caused significant headaches for the Israeli government as the Palestinians living an squalor blame Israel for their mess. They have, on hundreds of occasions, launched terror strikes against the Israeli populace leaving thousands upon thousands of civilians dead in their wake.
Their latest weapon of terror is constant barrage of missile attacks (there have been over 3000, with 700 in the last 12 months alone) that are leaving more and more people dead.
The recent peace conference in Annapolis has led to a very recent conference of world economic leaders who are raising money for Palestinian statehood. The world has so far pledged 7.4 billion dollars (with Australia pledging 45 million) to see the creation of infrastructure and to raise the standard of living for Palestinians.
I'm personally quite skeptical about this, the last Palestinian leader to be in control of the economy ended up on the Forbes Rich List.
However this could be a step forward for peace. Once the Palestinians living in Gaza see how good the West Bank-ians have it then they'll throw off the shackles of the oppressive HAMAS government.
Lets hope that in the next several years we will see a strong, stable Palestinian economy and an even stronger Palestinian state.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
The Death Penalty
I'm often asked why I can be anti-capital punishment yet support Israel's right to extra-judicial assassination such as in the wake of the Munich Massacre or against Sheik Ahmed Yassin.
I'm very much against the death penalty. No state should sanction the killing of someone that is already within their custody and secure from any further harm against the public. Should the prisoner escape and once again threaten the public then any protection they had from state sanction death is void.
A government has a right to protect itself but it doesn't have a right to be vengeful, it has a right to punish but it doesn't have a right to kill (shamelessly stolen from West Wing).
Extra-judicial assassination on the other hand is a very different matter. It is (in many cases) not based on vengeance but rather on pre-emption. If someone is coming at you with a spear then you stab him before he can stab you.
Case in point; Yahya Ayyash (aka The Engineer) who was a HAMAS bomb maker and caused the deaths of over 90 Israeli's and wounded hundreds of others. After a massive man-hunt lasting months it was decided that the best way to proceed was to eliminate him. A source was given a mobile phone that contained a small explosive, as soon as Ayyash put it up to his ear it was detonated killing only him.
In this case it was a more feasible option to eliminate the target rather than risk the lives of Israeli soldiers and Palestinian civilians to bring him in front of a jury.
Whilst I don't believe that all governments should pursue this course of action to apprehend criminals, the assassination of generals and terrorist who have openly declared war on your people (this declaration of war was repeated just hours ago at the HAMAS 20th Anniversary) then they are legitimate targets for assassination. Had the Israeli's arrested Ayyash then he would have ended up in front of a civil court and been given numerous life sentences. There has only been one occasion when Israel has used the death penalty in a civil courtroom and that was in the 1960's with Adolf Einchmann, architect of the Holocaust, a unique case if I ever saw one. Governments should make every attempt to bring terrorists to justice under a civil judiciary however if doing so openly risks the lives of the soldiers and the civilians that they hide behind then targeted assassination is the only option.
That, my friends, is why I differentiate between capital punishment (of which I am against) and targeted assassination of terrorists (of which I am for)
I'm very much against the death penalty. No state should sanction the killing of someone that is already within their custody and secure from any further harm against the public. Should the prisoner escape and once again threaten the public then any protection they had from state sanction death is void.
A government has a right to protect itself but it doesn't have a right to be vengeful, it has a right to punish but it doesn't have a right to kill (shamelessly stolen from West Wing).
Extra-judicial assassination on the other hand is a very different matter. It is (in many cases) not based on vengeance but rather on pre-emption. If someone is coming at you with a spear then you stab him before he can stab you.
Case in point; Yahya Ayyash (aka The Engineer) who was a HAMAS bomb maker and caused the deaths of over 90 Israeli's and wounded hundreds of others. After a massive man-hunt lasting months it was decided that the best way to proceed was to eliminate him. A source was given a mobile phone that contained a small explosive, as soon as Ayyash put it up to his ear it was detonated killing only him.
In this case it was a more feasible option to eliminate the target rather than risk the lives of Israeli soldiers and Palestinian civilians to bring him in front of a jury.
Whilst I don't believe that all governments should pursue this course of action to apprehend criminals, the assassination of generals and terrorist who have openly declared war on your people (this declaration of war was repeated just hours ago at the HAMAS 20th Anniversary) then they are legitimate targets for assassination. Had the Israeli's arrested Ayyash then he would have ended up in front of a civil court and been given numerous life sentences. There has only been one occasion when Israel has used the death penalty in a civil courtroom and that was in the 1960's with Adolf Einchmann, architect of the Holocaust, a unique case if I ever saw one. Governments should make every attempt to bring terrorists to justice under a civil judiciary however if doing so openly risks the lives of the soldiers and the civilians that they hide behind then targeted assassination is the only option.
That, my friends, is why I differentiate between capital punishment (of which I am against) and targeted assassination of terrorists (of which I am for)
Monday, December 10, 2007
Socialism...a nice idea
There have been a lot of reports in the international press about Hugo Chavez and his hijacking of the Venezuelan political system by attempting to abolish term limits. The move was put to a referendum and voted down by the people. Chavez's increasing erratic behavior in the international community, for instance his speech to the UN in 2006, has led me to believe that whilst socialism is a fine theory it is a terrible political practice.
Socialism is an ideology based on the overthrowing of Capitalism and retaining the economic production and exchange for the community as a whole. There is nothing wrong with this political stance. Any political movement that seeks to maintain equal rights for all people and to ensure that the indigent within society are well looked after is a movement that I support wholeheartedly.
Indeed the Mayor of Paris Bertrand Delanoe has helped implement a number of successful programs including the 'Free Bicycles' which aims to provide Parisians with easy, cost-effective and healthy alternatives to move around Paris.
Whilst Socialism appears to work on a local level such as with Paris it does not work as well on a National level. My primary criticism with Hugo Chavez are his anti-Western attitudes. These attitudes are not diplomatic qualities. Regardless of Mr. Chavez's personal criticisms of the Bush administration (i personally have many) he must realise that the world depends on America. As the lone superpower America provides aid for the world as well as military might. Whilst i agree that the Bush administration has overstepped its bounds in Iraq I am also a realist when it comes to international foreign policy. The newly-elected Rudd government in Australia made it clear to the people that they value the US-Australia alliance on par with the commitment to the United Nations.
Socialism is a perfectly viable ideology and it has worked will on a local level however it has failed on a national level. Chavez has been increasingly demonized by the international press and lately by his own people because of his fierce anti-American rhetoric.
The socialist ideology works when there is little international involvement such as with local communities or towns however once you begin to deal with the international community then the people will demand someone that can represent them diplomatically without leaving them open to hatred by people around the world.
Socialism is an ideology based on the overthrowing of Capitalism and retaining the economic production and exchange for the community as a whole. There is nothing wrong with this political stance. Any political movement that seeks to maintain equal rights for all people and to ensure that the indigent within society are well looked after is a movement that I support wholeheartedly.
Indeed the Mayor of Paris Bertrand Delanoe has helped implement a number of successful programs including the 'Free Bicycles' which aims to provide Parisians with easy, cost-effective and healthy alternatives to move around Paris.
Whilst Socialism appears to work on a local level such as with Paris it does not work as well on a National level. My primary criticism with Hugo Chavez are his anti-Western attitudes. These attitudes are not diplomatic qualities. Regardless of Mr. Chavez's personal criticisms of the Bush administration (i personally have many) he must realise that the world depends on America. As the lone superpower America provides aid for the world as well as military might. Whilst i agree that the Bush administration has overstepped its bounds in Iraq I am also a realist when it comes to international foreign policy. The newly-elected Rudd government in Australia made it clear to the people that they value the US-Australia alliance on par with the commitment to the United Nations.
Socialism is a perfectly viable ideology and it has worked will on a local level however it has failed on a national level. Chavez has been increasingly demonized by the international press and lately by his own people because of his fierce anti-American rhetoric.
The socialist ideology works when there is little international involvement such as with local communities or towns however once you begin to deal with the international community then the people will demand someone that can represent them diplomatically without leaving them open to hatred by people around the world.
Thursday, December 6, 2007
An Open Letter to George Bush
Mr President,
I've just finished reading the National Intelligence Estimate on Iran and Nuclear Weaponry and i'd just like to ask that this not deter you from the goal of regime change.
I for one am relieved to know that Iran halted the enrichment of uranium from 2003-2007 but on the other hand i also understand the threat that Iran poses to US troops in Iraq and other states around the world.
The threat of terrorism by Iran, through their proxy Hezbollah, is one of the greatest dangers that the world faces.
Hezbollah has been responsible for countless murders throughout the world. They kill without caring who they maim or harm and like many organizations based on terror it seems that one dead body isn't good enough.
Whilst you and I don't see eye to eye on many issues I support your stance on fundamentalist terrorism.
A bombing campaign against Iran appears, for now, to be off the table and I couldn't be happier. However you must support groups in Iran that wish to overthrow the current regime of Ayatollahs and bring democracy back into the country.
Cut off the bank account of Hezbollah and free the people of Iran and that shall be your legacy sir.
Regards,
Raffe Gold
I've just finished reading the National Intelligence Estimate on Iran and Nuclear Weaponry and i'd just like to ask that this not deter you from the goal of regime change.
I for one am relieved to know that Iran halted the enrichment of uranium from 2003-2007 but on the other hand i also understand the threat that Iran poses to US troops in Iraq and other states around the world.
The threat of terrorism by Iran, through their proxy Hezbollah, is one of the greatest dangers that the world faces.
Hezbollah has been responsible for countless murders throughout the world. They kill without caring who they maim or harm and like many organizations based on terror it seems that one dead body isn't good enough.
Whilst you and I don't see eye to eye on many issues I support your stance on fundamentalist terrorism.
A bombing campaign against Iran appears, for now, to be off the table and I couldn't be happier. However you must support groups in Iran that wish to overthrow the current regime of Ayatollahs and bring democracy back into the country.
Cut off the bank account of Hezbollah and free the people of Iran and that shall be your legacy sir.
Regards,
Raffe Gold
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