Dateline: SWA flight 2279 from Phoenix to Providence, 10 February 2005
Neat story today in Times ("Asterisk Aside, Saudis Prepare For Their First National Election," by Neil MacFarquhar, NYT, 10 Feb 05, p. A1) about upcoming Saudi election. Yes, no women voting. And yes, only half the seats on these councils up for grabs, as the royal family gets to pick the rest, but hey, it's a start for the only country in the world named after a family. Saudi Arabia is not really a country, but at least it's trying to act like one, and that's amazing. 9/11 doesn't do this. Nor does Afghanistan. Iraq does this—pure and simple.
As for Iraq ("Shiite Offers Secular Vision Of Iraq Future," by Dexter Filkins, NYT, 10 Feb 05, p. A1), not every Shiite political heavyweight is talking a big role for religion in the constitution.
Great opening sequence:
Adel Abdul Mahdi, one of the leading candidates to become the new Iraqi prime minister, recalled the day last year when he and other Iraqi leaders were summoned to the holy city of Najaf by the country's senior Shiite clerics.
The topic was the role of Islam in the new Iraqi state. Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, the country's most powerful Shiite leader, questioned whether Mr. Mahdi and the others, members of the American-appointed Iraqi Governing Council, had the legitimacy to draft an interim constitution.
"You were not elected," Ayatollah Sistani told the group.
Mr. Mahdi says he did not hesitate to answer.
"You were not elected," he told the ayatollah.
Now to the "bad" Core.
Good WSJ story ("Putin Survives Parliament Vote of No Confidence: Welfare Overhaul Still Puts Kremlin on the Defensive, Threatening Other Efforts," by Alan Cullison, WSJ. 10 Feb 05, p. A10.) on Putin backtracking a bit in response to recent pubic protests that segue into a no-confidence vote in the parliament. Hell, as a former Soviet expert, I just enjoy reading that headline!
I know, I know. Death of Russian democracy and all that.
Give me a break. This baby is just learning to crawl, and a no-confidence vote here and there simply reminds us that Russia is still learning—on all sides.
Sadder story ("Lenovo Deal Elevate China Fears: Proposal to Buy IBM Unit Raises Security, Competitive Issues," by Greg Hitt, WSJ, 10 Feb 05, p. A4) reminds us how dumb some members of Congress can be. Somehow this sale is going to be the death of us! China's going to get their hands on computing technology! Now China's buying up "crown jewels" just like Japan did!
Boo hooey!
Ask yourself why IBM is willing to sell. Does anyone with their head out of their ass think controlling the PC market is the key the future? They have a saying among the Echo Boomers: "How come you're still using a laptop?"
Better yet, try this on for strategic thought: article notes correctly that these fears are reruns of those we had on Japan, Inc. at start of 90s, but then—we are reminded—we were talking about a democracy and a military ally.
So the answer we get from some deep minds in Congress? "Let's cut those crafty Chinese off from this technology! That'll teach 'em!"
This is so bassackwards you want to cringe. Yes, our economic and technology ties with China far outdistance our political and military ones, and this proposed sale reminds us of that reality.
So what's the answer? Slow down the economic and technological connectivity? Or speed up the military and political connectivity?
I say to Congress, FIRMLY GRIP BOTH SHOULDERS AND PULL!
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