That Bloke In The Big Smoke

Well done Labour, if indeed they were instrumental in securing two votes in the Commons. The second is the crucial one on military action, but it won't take place until the on-site UN weapons inspectors have reported back their findings. My views on Syria are still fairly fluid given the complex nature of the conflict, however if chemical weapons have been used (regardless of whether it was the government or the rebels), then I think I would support a limited air strike, merely to dissuade either party from engaging in that type of attack again. But only on one mandatory condition, that we had UN (and possibly even Arab League) support, just as we did with Libya. Surely that's the most important lesson to draw from the Iraq War fiasco. I don't think we should (ever) engage ground troops or take sides in this conflict because I think they're as bad as each other. If the rebels were to come to power, I'm fairly confident they would wipe out the Alawite community, to which Bashar Assad belongs. Sad as it is to digest, pre-Arab Spring, Assad, like Saddam Hussein before him, had largely maintained the peace (albeit fragile) between the various communities. Both belong to minorities, just as the Sunni rulers do in Shiite majority Bahrain. I suspect the best solution for Syria, would be to broker a deal between the warring factions, with the support of Russia. The last thing we need is to meddle in another regional conflict that is essentially a Greater Game being contested between Shiite Iran and Sunni Saudi Arabia. Yet I suspect between Iran's sabre-rattling over Israel, the Anglo-American Jewish lobbies, Iran's nuclear enrichment, and rising oil prices, my advice will eventually be ignored.

Am I missing something? Is it really this RIDICULOUS?

"Cubans have begun voting to elect a new National Assembly. Only one person is standing per seat, including Fidel Castro. His brother, acting leader Raul Castro, said the new chamber would meet on 24 February, when it is expected to decide whether Fidel will remain president. There are 614 candidates contesting 614 seats. Campaigning is not allowed, but a turnout of about 90% is expected. The BBC's Michael Voss in Havana says it is a low-key affair in this one-party state."

I don't know where to begin? What is the whole point of this sham vote? And how is it low-key if they expect a 90% turnout?!

The tectonic shift

"The leadership in the developed world still have not adjusted to the fact that this is not just a modest change in global economic power and influence. If you look at the developed world and how it is addressing this change, the steps that are being taken are relatively trivial. The emerging powers are still treated with a 'colonial' attitude." -James Wolfensohn, World Bank President 1995-2005

Right on mate! The earlier the developed world adjusts, the better for them. If not, the change is going to be uncomfortable. Outsourcing is just the beginning. A mere tremor for the earthquake to come. It's not too late to change.