30 years after the Raid on Entebbe

Gaza is not Entebbe

30 years ago yesterday, the Israelis would have celebrated the raid on Entebbe when Idi Amin of Uganda gave refuge to a situation where pro-Palestinian militants took over a 100 Israeli/Jews hostage in the terminal building of Entebbe airport.

The advantage the Israelis had to mounting a rescue effort successfully involved the fact that Israelis built the terminal and had enough information from blueprints and so on as to how to approach the building.

There was occasion where the Israeli government would have acceded to the demands of prisoner release especially if the planned raid failed.

In the end, the success celebrated the death of all the hostage takers and good number of Uganda soldiers and unfortunately some of the hostages and the ground commander of the operation - Colonel Yonatan Netanyahu - the big brother of Binyamin Netanyahu.

Those were a time when the bravado of Israeli daring-do was lauded and that was only a few years after the 6-day-war.

Men of war and peace

The prime minister of that time was Yitzhak Rabin who seven years later shook the hand of Yasser Arafat on the White House lawn in front of Bill Clinton and on November the 4th 1995 was assassinated by a Jewish extremist.

Today, such swash-buckling days are over, the crux of the moment centres on the taking of Gilad Shalit, a 19-year old conscript with the rank of corporal.

He is probably somewhere in Gaza, but since the Israelis do not have the blueprints and plans of the ghettos of refugee desperation and suffering, it is unlikely that they have smoke him out as they did in humiliating Idi Amin and Uganda.

However, since the current fledgling government of Ehud Olmert need to prove tough, something Ariel Sharon would not have had to do, what has been smoking ahs been power plants, bridges and the main infrastructure of the deprived Palestinian people.

Conventionally flouting civil engagement

Poignantly, once again the Geneva Convention rears its head inconveniently for the United States and Israel.

First in the United States where the prisoner detention at Guantanomo bay and the suspension of habeas corpus ad subjiciendum for the inmates puts the government at variance to its constitutional remit and the 3rd Geneva Convention on the treatment of Prisoners of War - this enemy combatants moniker drew no praise from the Supreme Court.

So now, Switzerland as the depository of the Geneva Conventions has accused Israel of violating what might be the 4th Convention pertaining to the protection of civilians in the time of war. This is evident in the fact that the destruction of civil infrastructure cannot be said to provide the adequate channels that could lead to the release of the hostage.

A dead soldier for more righteous indignation

Whilst is it understandable that Israel with all its might not want to negotiate with puny Palestinians, thinking people are wondering if the release of the hostage is desired or there is an ulterior motive of harassing the Palestinians to a point of losing faith in the Hamas government.

Sometimes, it appears that Israel is interested in the return of the soldier, but has not considered whether they want him back dead or alive. Returned alive would make him a hero for days before recriminations set in; where returned dead would create a martyr for the nation, a celebration of the dead and worse treatment of the Palestinians.

I would presume the win-win situation for Israel is both to have a dead body and the rage to wreak more havoc, destruction and suffering on Palestine with the element to retain their actions as just.

So, as the Israeli Prime Minster warns of escalation of hostilities as home made rockets like home made pies land in Israel, fired by resourceful Palestinian improvisers, one only wonders how much more Israel wants to do to ensure Corporal Gilad Shalit is returned in a box.

Pray for the young man as his people sacrifice his innocent soul to a goal that brings no peace.

No to Balkenende III

Balkenende III must not be conceived

The whole idea that the Queen of the Netherlands has assigned the task of reviving the dead duck government of Jan Pieter Balkenende in a reincarnation that would be known as Balkenende III fills me with uncomfortable dread.

The whole premise of the fall of this government seems to have been lost in some royal prerogative which one thinks should have better exercised in ridding the government of the bale of Mrs Verdonk rather than seeking a view to create a minority government.

If Ruud Lubbers, a former Prime Minister of the erstwhile ruling CDA party, whose most recent public showing was a resignation from a high profile UN posting on alleged charges of sexual harassment should succeed, I would expect the parliament to accede to a vote of no confidence in Balkenende III - We desperately need change, not a stitch-up.

Lacking in judgment and relevance

My primary concern surrounds the general belief in consensus politics in the Netherlands where it is difficult, if not impossible, for politicians who exact greater standards of their electorate to claim responsibility for their faults almost to the point of being unaccountable even though they are quick to earn accolades for “success”.

Mrs Verdonk has at least 6 times had to appear before parliament to explain her actions in the controversial and volatile portfolio of Minister of Integration and Immigration. She has allegedly abused her office and over-reached her remit in ways that have brought serious concerns though difficult to assess objectively because of the populist nature of some of those actions.

However, the simple case for consideration is that this Ms Ayaan Hirsi Ali was inadvertently removed from parliament by someone with ministerial powers but has never been validated by an electorate.

A travesty of Democracy

The government which also has an electoral mandate till May 2007 also allowed itself to fall on a consensus that does not a represent an equality of partnership. Mrs Verdonk is a junior non-elected minister in the Justice Department, no matter how high-profile immigration has become in Europe.

What Mr Jan Pieter Balkenende has allowed is a travesty of democracy by not selecting ministers that can have the magnanimity to assume responsibility and take the rap on the one hand, and by his not having enough leadership acumen and disposition to address the issue in the broader context of our electoral franchise and Mrs Verdonk's insignificance in that respect.

This government is supposed to have a major legislative agenda concerning Afghanistan and the budget, but all that paled into quagmire of the irresolute apology for governance that Balkenende I & Balkenende II have come to represent.

A centre-right government that is soporifically docile, every news item of importance sits in the realms of extremists - they were precariously aided the lurch to intolerance that was becoming evident in the Netherlands.

To imagine that the CDA/VVD partnership can go back to the electorate and be rewarded for this utter lack of sense of occasion and responsibility would be too hurtful to contemplate.

Only one thing would suffice a caretaker government till November when we can really reward these legless leaders with a worthy retirement.

Hocus Pocus Zim Bab We Arghhh!

A national day of spells beckons

Forgive my petulance as I try to imitate a possible chant in a ceremony in celebration of witchcraft in Zimbabwe as news arrives that witchcraft has been legalised.

This is most interesting considering hardly over a week ago, Mr Mugabe called a National Day of Prayer which was boycotted by senior Christian leaders or any sizeable Christian followership.

So, with the legal recognition of witchcraft, one can cynically expect that a National Day of Spells might have more of a participation to boost Mr Mugabe’s ego and incessant vituperative diatribe.

It goes without saying that Zimbabwe and its over 12 million people have been under a most treacherous spell – the looming, brooding, foreboding and malicious spell of Mr Robert Mugabe since he got his hands on the levels of absolute government on December 31^st 1987.

Leading from best to least

A country though land-locked was the bread basket of Southern Africa and as independence was declared showed great promise, but under the leadership of derision and tyranny of Mr Mugabe, the country announced a record inflation of over 1000%.

Excerpted from Wikipedia

The “so-called” reforms of Mr Mugabe introduced has given Zimbabwe the epithet of having the lowest life expectancy in the world – how miserable life really has become in Zimbabwe.

Great age little wisdom

All Mr Mugabe can muster with bombastic bluster is that the West is responsible for the problems of Zimbabwe. Maybe, that is the case, but a man of his quite elder years of 82 should have the wise head to resolve differences that turned Zimbabwe from a conduit of prosperity to an island of misery.

That is really a moot point; Mr Mugabe has simply mortgaged the soul of his country and suffers from delusions of grandeur that his leadership is for the better of Zimbabweans.

For a man to have presided over such a decline of fortunes of his fatherland and still hold his face up high in complete denial and braggadocio is breathtaking at best.

Giving witchcraft a mission

The new legalisation of witchcraft which probably stems from the President’s inability to muster favourable church support is revealing – one can only surmise that if the use of witchcraft does not sustain Mr Mugabe in mind and body, it has not helped stave off the disaster of Zimbabwe.

In Africa, his age has prevented critical analysis of his tenure and condemnation of his actions, the pall of patriarchalism has not served us well, and Mr Mugabe is definitely no Mr Mandela.

Where a man in all his evil refuses to depart in the quest of eternal incumbency we have one great hope, the mortality of man – I wish Mr Mugabe no evil, but the witch doctors have their work cut out.

For all the evil they have allowed to befall Zimbabwe, the greatest evil to bring the most beneficial good would be bring Mr Mugabe to the point of complete breathlessness and repose.

The sacrifice of one man for the good of his country call only be Mr Mugabe’s highest calling – be long – shall we honour the man as the Great Martyr of Zimbabwe or humour the man as the Great Old Oaf of Zimbabwe?

Paris - from triumph to agreement

No flicker on Picasa

Having taken a good few photographs, I was met with the problem of how to publish them. So, to Google, I went searching for web ablums and I got introduced to Picasa Web Albums, part of the Google behemoth which I think is a play on Picasso the artist.

Easy as everything seemed including the deals and so on, I usually subscribe to any Internet service that would provide me value, performance and service – this goes for my hotmail and blog service.

So, how do I subscribe to the Picasa thingy? I need a Gmail account.

How do I get a Gmail account? I need to be introduced but another Gmail member or get an SMS message sent to my mobile phone. So, I go for the second option.

You cannot be serious, the Netherlands is not in the list, in fact, no European country appears in that list. Well, that is one lost customer for Google and one gain for Yahoo – getting on flickr.com does not involve extraneous and sanctimonious controls – I hate frustrated access – it puts me off and I sure would not be doing Gmail – not ever.

I just have to bear the silliness of greetings like Aloha AkinNLD! on flickr – One is seriously not impressed.

Paris ma belle ville

Anyways, I could offer myself as a mini-tour guide to Paris, I have done it a few times taking friends and relations round Paris and helping them understand that they do not have to see Paris and die.

Usually, my guests only have two nights to spend in Paris, so major attractions like the Louvre Museum are out of the question.

Usually, I concentrate on the views and the landmarks; first thing to do is the Eiffel Tower to the very top – a must, a time out for lunch and a trip on the tour bus. In a romantic setting it would be dinner on the 53^rd floor of the Montparnasse Tower the tallest building in Paris, facing the Eiffel Tower at night.

Alternatively, go up to the Grande Arche in the Place de La Défense and just have a time there.

In other cases, one can walk up or down the Champs-Élysées Avenue between the Place de la Concorde and the Arc de Triomphe.

I must confess that doing the Champs-Élysées at night saves you the urge and temptation others have to go into every shop with fools gold and too much glitter especially if you have to adjudge if the ring fits or the necklace design is right.

On a very sunny day, walking through the Jardins des Tuileries from Place de le Concorde to the Louvre is one exciting view – today, I did the Arc de Triomphe to Louvre plod recorded a few things of interest.

I took quite a number of pictures and you can find them on my flickr album.

Just in case you are wondering about the title - it is about my walk from the Arc de Triomphe (triumph) to Place de la Concorde (harmony/agreement).

The World Cup now excites me

What can I say?

I suppose we can all agree that France definitely has the measure of Brazil - three out of four in favour of France. The streets of Paris were rapturous in celebration as no South American team would feature in the last four of the World Cup in 2006.

After all the punters have said about Brazil and the put-downs that have gone in against France, apart from the French, there are only a few of us who really believed that France would put Brazil out.

Everyone who has a car has their horns in full blast.

Why does the World Cup excite so much passion, the sorrows of England’s loss are now behind me as I milk the energy of the success and jubilation of France – after all, I am in Paris – I do wonder what the lights are now doing on the Eiffel Tower.

Anyway, football now excites me. Germany v. France for the final and France might just pull it off.

The World Cup now bores me

No goals for this year anymore

And so the level of concentration regarding World Cup 2006 moves into the realm of disinterest and detachment as the one one main purpose of engagement falls by the wayside. 1966 would remain our greatest moment in football till 2010.

I would suggest that England did acquit themselves well seeing that being reduced to 10 men did not leave us too vulnerable to the Portuguese attack machinery. However, Rooney's red card leaves me wondering how he would have stepped out of that melee without giving the poor guy's crown jewels a bit of a foot massage.

It also brings to mind David Beckham's red card against Argentina in France when being felled he gave an ankle kick to an Argentine, and the absence of the play-maker lost us the match. We need both talent and cool heads in football, that should be a lecture given by Gary Lineker - a man never booked and winner of fair play awards.

Probably the wrong referee selection

I would not question the integrity or vigilance of the referee but I do have my issues with the choice of referee and I think this was wrong.

Much as it is almost a generation since England went to war with Argentina and we have re-established diplomatic ties with the same country, it would be naive to think all is forgotten and forgiven such that no one involved in the World Cup can be compromised.

Add to that the fact that the referee's home country had only been knocked out the day before amidst the hopes and expectations of many - you suddenly have the makings of something that could go awry, I'm only human, so is the referee, you really cannot divorce history for the context of today's events. It did not pass my notice that the dives and gymnastics of the Portuguese went unsanctioned.

Well, the verdict would be left open on that matter.

In the end, I must commend the Portuguese keeper who combined reflex and agility to save a few penalty kicks and intimidated Jamie Garragher well enough that he kicked the ball straight into the keeper's hands.

It is a shame that England have not mastered the game of penalty kicks and we have always fallen at this stage and twice now to Portugal, simply, if our game is not going to improve we need to apply technique and psychology to this problem which will haunt us every championship games we attend.

South Africa is the next call

Now, as I have been jubilant with England's success, I have to find ways of disengaging and detaching myself from the negative pall of defeat as we look forward to 2010 when I hope that both England and Nigeria would be available to display legendary talent.

Meanwhile, as France plays Brazil, let us hope 2006 would be a year of European football in the expectation that all South American influence and football hubris can be put paid to today.

Now, in need of a medium rare steak and Paris is the place to get a decent one.

Brunch with Florence Nightingale in Paris

Don’t be late for brunch

A morning in Paris is not complete without brunch at the Café Beaubourg adjacent to the Georges Pompidou Centre – usually, I take a window seat on the first floor and watch the world go by as I tuck into the amalgam of English/Continental breakfast.

Well, it is tea, coffee or chocolate, freshly pressed orange or grapefruit juice, toast, scrambled eggs, hash browns, fried ham looking like bacon, sausages, butter, jams, a salad and still water.

You crown that with a fruit salad or a selection of cheeses, somehow this time the waiter brought coffee instead of the chocolate, I ordered, that was changed, but I did not ask for the fruit salad to be exchanged for the cheese – well, sometime the staff are just not up to it.

The main thing is to get to the café before 11:00AM when things start to change to another kind of menu, so, as the White Rabbit in Alice in Wonderland, I did wonder to myself as I looked at my watch – “Oh dear! Oh dear! I shall be too late!”

I just never seem to make it for breakfast in hotels though the quality of choice can be lacking in hotel buffets.

My big toe – Ouch! Ouch!

So, I left the hotel with just 45 minutes to spare and got out at Les Halles metro stop, just as I was cresting ground-level on the escalator, there was a misstep and I bruised my toe.

It is summer and temperature are in touching distance of 30 Celsius, so we are all in shorts and sandals, but unlike the Dutch, I never wear socks in my sandals, probably leaving ones toes unprotected if one stumbles.

Protecting size 46 – European/12 – UK feet can be an ordeal, not that my feet are big, they are just long and really each foot is exactly a foot (imperial measure) long – so I do have 2 feet in every sense of the word.

Thankfully, my feet were already size 45/11 at 15 and they have not grown in that proportion, shopping for good shoes is some arduous task.

Anyway, I thought, it was just a bruise then noticed it was really bleeding, so I had to look for a chemist to get a dressing and treatment if necessary, so I hobbled about looking for a green neon sign in the shape pf a cross – the sign for pharmacies in Europe in general – I found one and walked in, queued up to be served.

Only Florence Nightingale could do better

A lady comes round and now my foot is something of a mess, she gets sterile pads and so on, and here I am thinking I have to find a bench to sort this thing out.

Then come the sterile gloves and disinfectant, swabs and all that nursey stuff, she gets me to sit down and sets to work on my bloodied big toe, nothing overly serious 4 lint pads later and a plaster.

Then she cleans the blood off my sandals too and after that, says I can go. I can go? No charge for the service? She would not take anything and you really cannot tip for this kind of service.

Anyway, I put a healthy currency note on the counter and insist, that is a thank you for what she had done.

Just in time for brunch at the café but for the first time I have to have it on the terrace rather than my favourite window seat.

If only the waiters in some restaurants in Paris could be as good as the lady at the apothecary.