Month: May 2006

In our generation’s struggle for secularism against religious fundamentalism, Turkey is on the front line. Jim Geraghty gives an interesting account of the situation there.

"Here we are at a press conference where you are able to put me, the British Prime Minister, and this the new Iraqi Prime Minister, under pressure. That is what has happened in Iraq. Iraq has a government elected by the people, but for all the difficulties caused by those of terrorism and bloodshed who want to disrupt democracy surely the great thing that has happened here is that despite all the terrorism and violence the people have spoken, they have elected the government, the government has a programme that the government wants to deliver for its people.

And the answer to your Question is it worth it, is the fact that we are even here, having this conversation and discussion, as people in a country that is now a democracy and for all the challenges which we have to overcome, that is better surely than people living in dictatorship and we should refuse absolutely to believe that Iraqis are not entitled to the same rights and the same freedoms as people in our country or throughout the rest of the world," – British prime minister, Tony Blair, at a press conference with Iraqi prime minister, Nouri Maliki, yesterday.

(Photo: Empics/Landov.)

New York City, sunset.

Guanajuato, Mexico, afternoon.

"Lots of people in the world care if waterboarding happened at Guantanamo. Why should this court martial care?" – Lieutenant Colonel Paul H. McConnell, presiding over the court-martial trial of Sgt Santos Cardona, yesterday.

This trial could be the one where we actually begin to identify the real people responsible for Abu Ghraib and the Bush torture policy. Human Rights Watch is blogging daily from the trial. Check it out.

In my recent column, I expressed mixed feelings about the Great Wall of America. As an immigrant to this country, my heart sinks at the symbolic exclusion of it. It reeks of the idea that foreigners are a threat, rather than the great resource they have always been to the U.S. I’m also in favor of liberal immigration policies, and would like to see more selection on the grounds of talent and abilities, rather than mere family reunification. I viscerally dislike some of the nativist and racist rhetoric surrounding this subject.

But I have to say that, after mulling it over, my objections to the wall are beginning to wane. I take Jonah’s point. If it’s possible to secure the border, why not? One of the core responsibilities of government is law and order, and protecting and controlling borders is a basic duty. A real wall might even alleviate some of the hostility to Hispanic immigrants, by removing the stigma of illegality. Yes, I’m also in favor of a gradual legalization of most of those illegals already here. But we’d have a better chance of persuading Americans of the need for a humane approach to this if they were persuaded the wall represented a real moment of border control – and not another gimmick. If we did it first, we’d have a better chance of integrating those already here. Just as welfare reform helped ease some racism in this country, the Wall might have a similar effect on the current wave of anti-immigrant panic. Or am I being naive?

"I introduce to you, as the Lord Jesus has said, the next governor of the state of Florida, Charlie Crist," – Rev. O’Neal Dozier, pastor of the Worldwide Christian Center in Pompano Beach.

Apparently, Jesus had appeared to Dozier in a dream and told him that Mr Crist would be the next governor of Florida. Why bother with a vote? No, I’m not making this up. This is what the Republican Party now is.

Bogota, Colombia, 10 am.

Another cartoon flare-up. See the offending image here. This time, it’s ethnic grievances at work. And I can see why Azeris might be upset. Still, riots? Jailed editors? Every now and again, you get a glimpse into how ready some parts of the world are for the thick skin that true democracy requires. And it’s not that hopeful an insight.

Sometimes the cliche is correct. Google trends show the top five countries worried about "bad sex": Iran, Egypt, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates. I swear: if they could only get laid, we might get democracy in the Middle East. (Still, how did the Brits not get on the list?)