I am often dismayed – but not surprised – by the lack of discussion of issues/actions by members of the EU over which we can/should exercise some democratic oversight by left/liberal commentators and analysts. There is not only little comment, but even less contextualising information.

People quite rightly know about Halliburton, its influence, its outrages, but rarely can name the European arms, water, energy, banking. etc companies operating in Africa and Latin America which are also culpable of dubious and damaging practices….and yet we can hold them to varying sorts of account through investigation and regulation…

Similarly, we are systematically treated to exposes of the workings, details and scandals of US politics (fair enough and very important) but not of our European partners.

I hope there will be more discussion/links on European issues — more opportunity to interrogate and analyse the operation of not just the EU but also its constituent members… This doesn’t really happen much elsewhere –.

Can’t have people tossing around accusations of liberal-groupthink, can we?

I mean. It’s a strawman, innit?

Ziauddin Sardar has a good piece in the New Statesman on Pakistan too:
http://www.newstatesman.com/200711080016

The tipping point for Musharraf came when it became evident that the Supreme Court was likely to rule against the notion that a man in military uniform can be elected as president of Pakistan. In his address to the nation, in which he compared himself to Abraham Lincoln, Musharraf clearly stated that he wants a compliant judiciary. The executive, legislature and the judiciary must be “in harmony”, he said. Since he controls both the executive and the legislature, this amounts to a declaration that the General must have absolute power.

The most disturbing element of the crackdown is the role played by the former prime minister, Benazir Bhutto. She sees her route back to power via accommodation with Musharraf, which has not endeared her to those now leading the resistance against him.

Anyhoo….

Another stalemate at the UN Security Council is preventing a peace keeping force from being despatched to Guildford.

Heh heh!