21. mars 2004

EU to name Anti-Terror Czar. That'll show them! Terrorists everywhere are now shaking in their boots and running for their caves, as the European Union has decided to be tough on terror. Really, really tough. Now the EU will appoint an anti-terror czar with wide powers to issue vague recommendations through the eurocrazy (sic). One day, Europe may become even tougher and actually implement the security measures that were decided immediately after September 11, 2001, maybe in time for the decennial for the war on terror. Some smaller EU countries (in particular Belgium, which hosts large parts of the EU bureaucracy already) suggested creating a European Central Intelligence Agency. However, those countries that already have significant intelligence services balked at the idea of dumping its crown jewels into the EU system. After all, whatever you tell the intelligence services of 25 different countries, you can just as well print in the newspaper. So now we know what Zapatero meant when he said that "bombs and Tomahawk cruise missiles" is not the way to defeat terrorists. Let's drown them in unimplemented EU directives instead, and let's employ a new eurocrat to write even more. That'll have the bad guys begging for mercy in no time. 9:47:19 PM    comment []  trackback []

China bans Norwegian computer game The computer game Project IGI2: Covert Strike has been banned in China for "smearing" the country. In the game, players are spies stealing secrets and sabotaging (and shooting people, of course) in a number of countries worldwide, including China. Obviously, that was "insulting" for Chinese authorities. Sale, distribution or ownership of the game will be prohibited. I have no idea if this relates to illegal copies, too. The game is developed by Innerloop, based in Oslo, Norway. 9:03:50 PM    comment []  trackback []

So who marched against the war? If you suspected that the worldwide anti-war marches the other day consisted of a strange mix of Anti-Semties, pro-Saddam Baathist fascists, terrorist supporters, communists of various types, the general flag burning fetishists and the merely confused, you'd be right. If I went to march against or for a cause I believed in, and found that neo-nazis or other extremists were marching with me, I'd go home in a second. Anyone marching with extremist groups help justifying them. The leftist press has desperately been trying to spin this into a strong worldwide protest against Bush. You'd get greater crowds marching against tea prices most places. Yet, e.g. Norwegian VG used the headline "The world marches against the war." Yeah, right. 6:13:49 PM    comment []  trackback []

Malaysia's voters punish Islamists PAS and other Islamist parties looks set for disastrous results in elections in Malaysia today, with Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's multi-ethnic Barisan Nasional coalition gaining even in the traditionally Islamist Malay heartland. "It looks like we've made a lot of gains in the Green Belt," a well placed government source told Reuters, referring to Malay-dominated states where the influence of Islam is strongest. Reports cited by state-run television channel TV3 said Barisan, led by Abdullah's United Malays National Organization, had scored resounding victories in the Islamist-held Kelantan and Terengganu state assemblies. Barisan had retained control of the key state of Kedah and its tiny neighbor Perlis -- both of which the opposition Parti Islam se-Malaysia (PAS) had targeted to take over. "It will be a huge, huge bonus for us if it's true," said the source, referring to the reported coalition victory in Kelantan -- a state held by the Islamist PAS since 1990. Very good news, and an encouragment to those who believe democracy at worst gives a temporary win for Islamists. Once people find out what extremists do while in power, they are likely to throw them out of office next term around. The only way back for Islamists will then be to become moderate Islamic-democratic parties, like Erdogan's Turkish AKP.  The real danger is if the constitution is so weak it allows Islamists to cease power and put an end to democracy. Yes, there are some lessons here for the coming Iraqi democracy. 5:14:49 PM    comment []  trackback []

No fools for oil Michele at A Small Victory has been out photographing the morons who were out demonstrating yesterday. She also has posted a few comments, so I don't have to. Well, I will say one thing: I wonder if any of these clowns had a banner saying "The US out of Iraq. Civil war now!" or "Withdraw the troops! Destroy Iraq!" 2:59:05 AM    comment []  trackback []

© Copyright 2004 Jan Haugland. Last update: 01.04.2004; 02:27:06.