THE FLASHLIGHT, March 22-28, 2008
THE FLASHLIGHT
March 22-28, 2008
No Peace without Justice, no Justice without the Facts
Tibet
Time, 3-31. Pico Ayer, “A Monk’s Struggle”, discusses the reforms of the Dalai Lama, 72, at his headquarters in Dharamsala, India. Science is part of the monastic curriculum. Women are allowed to study for doctorates and become Buddhist abbots. After the age of ten, children receive lessons only in English.
In Lhasa, Chinese immigrants make up two-thirds of the population of about 300,000. There are many tourists. On the main streets alone the journalist counted 238 discos and karaoke places and 658 brothels. The Potala Palace, former residence of the Dalai Lama, is surrounded by an amusement park.
NYT 3-24. Witnesses say that on March 14 Tibetans looted and burned the Chinese shops in the Old Quarter. They burned down the Bank of China and overturned cars and fire trucks. Since then China has brought in more troops and cracked down on the insurgents.
Iraq
NYT 3-24. The death toll of Americans in Iraq now exceeds 4,000.
CNN 3-25. The Shiite dominated Maliki Government is now fighting the Mahdi Army in both Baghdad and Basra and other Shiite militias in Basra.
CNN 3-26. Michael Ware. The battle for Baghdad is over, and the Shiite have won: they represent 75-80% of the population. Most Baghdad Sunnis are now refugees in Syria, Jordan, et al. The Iranians are helping in varying degrees all the Shiite forces in Iraq who are now fighting each other. Thus, Iranian influence is being consolidated. Bush pretends that American backed forces are winning.
3-27. The Green Zone in under frequent attack and two Americans have been killed there by mortar fire. There is a new upsurge in violence all over southern Iraq.
Israel/Palestine
Osama bin Laden, judging from a recent video, seems to be seeking more influence in the Palestinian territories. He said, “Palestine cannot be retaken by negotiations and dialogue, but with fire and iron.” [Osama may have been exposed to Bismarck’s famous quotation that Germany could be reunited only with “blood and iron.’]
US Presidential Campaign
CNN 3-22. After making his speech on race, Obama appears to have righted his ship, recovering his lead over Hilary Clinton in the national polls. She still leads in Pennsylvania, where white working class males hold the balance.
CNN 3-24. In the month of February Obama raised $51 million, Clinton, $35 million, and McCain, $11 million. 3-25. In Pennsylvania Hilary has important advantages: many people over 65, strong labor unions, and the support of the governor of the state. If she loses there, says a commentator, she is finished.
CNN 3-37. The Democratic candidates are now focusing attention on the economy. They say that the federal government should not help only the banks, but those facing foreclosed mortgages. Since the Rev. Wright affair, Hilary’s popularity has declined.
US Entitlements
W Post 3-26. Social Security and Medicare entitlements are now being paid from declining funds. Medicare will be bankrupt in 2019; Social Security in 2041.
March 22-28, 2008
No Peace without Justice, no Justice without the Facts
Tibet
Time, 3-31. Pico Ayer, “A Monk’s Struggle”, discusses the reforms of the Dalai Lama, 72, at his headquarters in Dharamsala, India. Science is part of the monastic curriculum. Women are allowed to study for doctorates and become Buddhist abbots. After the age of ten, children receive lessons only in English.
In Lhasa, Chinese immigrants make up two-thirds of the population of about 300,000. There are many tourists. On the main streets alone the journalist counted 238 discos and karaoke places and 658 brothels. The Potala Palace, former residence of the Dalai Lama, is surrounded by an amusement park.
NYT 3-24. Witnesses say that on March 14 Tibetans looted and burned the Chinese shops in the Old Quarter. They burned down the Bank of China and overturned cars and fire trucks. Since then China has brought in more troops and cracked down on the insurgents.
Iraq
NYT 3-24. The death toll of Americans in Iraq now exceeds 4,000.
CNN 3-25. The Shiite dominated Maliki Government is now fighting the Mahdi Army in both Baghdad and Basra and other Shiite militias in Basra.
CNN 3-26. Michael Ware. The battle for Baghdad is over, and the Shiite have won: they represent 75-80% of the population. Most Baghdad Sunnis are now refugees in Syria, Jordan, et al. The Iranians are helping in varying degrees all the Shiite forces in Iraq who are now fighting each other. Thus, Iranian influence is being consolidated. Bush pretends that American backed forces are winning.
3-27. The Green Zone in under frequent attack and two Americans have been killed there by mortar fire. There is a new upsurge in violence all over southern Iraq.
Israel/Palestine
Osama bin Laden, judging from a recent video, seems to be seeking more influence in the Palestinian territories. He said, “Palestine cannot be retaken by negotiations and dialogue, but with fire and iron.” [Osama may have been exposed to Bismarck’s famous quotation that Germany could be reunited only with “blood and iron.’]
US Presidential Campaign
CNN 3-22. After making his speech on race, Obama appears to have righted his ship, recovering his lead over Hilary Clinton in the national polls. She still leads in Pennsylvania, where white working class males hold the balance.
CNN 3-24. In the month of February Obama raised $51 million, Clinton, $35 million, and McCain, $11 million. 3-25. In Pennsylvania Hilary has important advantages: many people over 65, strong labor unions, and the support of the governor of the state. If she loses there, says a commentator, she is finished.
CNN 3-37. The Democratic candidates are now focusing attention on the economy. They say that the federal government should not help only the banks, but those facing foreclosed mortgages. Since the Rev. Wright affair, Hilary’s popularity has declined.
US Entitlements
W Post 3-26. Social Security and Medicare entitlements are now being paid from declining funds. Medicare will be bankrupt in 2019; Social Security in 2041.
posted by THE FLASHLIGHT at 8:01 AM
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