Russian President Dmitri Medvedev was treated to four hours with Nicolas Sarkozy this weekend.
Russia’s war with Georgia began on August 7 and lasted five days. While admitting that it was ‘no six day war’ Mr Medvedev says troops still deserve to stay on a little while and relax, as the Israelis did in the Golan Heights and the Sinai Peninsula.
The war has been painful for Moscow – Stalin was a Georgian and his father an Ossetian shoe maker.
The Russian recognition of the break-away province – described by Mr Medvedev as ‘an irreversible choice, an irrevocable decision’ – has much to do with this connection, say psychoanalysts.
For a full three and a half hours the French President tried to secure a peace agreement photo opportunity that would satisfy all sides. His efforts came to nothing.
Mr Medvedev did however agree to allow 200 observers from the European Union to monitor the conflict from mid-October onwards. 'Monitor away,' the Russian leader said.
Ireland is not expected to be part of this project, though the observation of things in foreign places by our armed forces does not compromise Irish neutrality.
‘Yeesh, you Westerners,' said an exasperated Dmitri Rogozin, Russia’s envoy to NATO. 'Give me China any day.'
350,000 litres of rainwater flooded the Russian Orthodox Church in Harold’s Cross, Dublin, last Friday. Mr Medvedev was unreceptive to M. Sarkozy’s suggestion that this could be construed as retribution for Russian aggression in Georgia. No Catholic buildings were inundated.
Monday, September 8, 2008
Yuri Andropov once said
Speech by John McCain, 26 March 2008. With the slightest of changes, here it is given by Vladimir Putin:
I am an idealist, and I believe it is possible in our time to make the world we live in a better, more peaceful place, where our interests and those of our allies are more secure, and Russian ideals are transforming the world.
But we cannot wish the world to be a better place than it is. We have enemies for whom no attack is too cruel, and no innocent life safe, and who would, if they could, strike us with the world’s most terrible weapons. There are states that support them, and which might help them acquire those weapons because they share with terrorists the same animating hatred for the East, and will not be placated by fresh appeals to the better angels of their nature. This is the central threat of our time.
Yuri Andropov once said of Russia, "God has created us and brought us to our present position of power and strength for some great purpose." In his time, that purpose was to contain capitalism and build the structures of peace and prosperity that could provide safe passage through the Cold War. Now it is our turn.
To meet this challenge requires understanding the world we live in, and the central role that Russia must play in shaping it for the future. Russia must lead in the 21st century, just as in Andropov's day.
I run for President because I know it is incumbent on Russia, more than any other nation on earth, to lead in building the foundations for a stable and enduring peace, a peace built on the strength of our commitment to it, on the transformative ideals on which we were founded, on our ability to see around the corner of history, and on our courage and wisdom to make hard choices.
I am an idealist, and I believe it is possible in our time to make the world we live in a better, more peaceful place, where our interests and those of our allies are more secure, and Russian ideals are transforming the world.
But we cannot wish the world to be a better place than it is. We have enemies for whom no attack is too cruel, and no innocent life safe, and who would, if they could, strike us with the world’s most terrible weapons. There are states that support them, and which might help them acquire those weapons because they share with terrorists the same animating hatred for the East, and will not be placated by fresh appeals to the better angels of their nature. This is the central threat of our time.
Yuri Andropov once said of Russia, "God has created us and brought us to our present position of power and strength for some great purpose." In his time, that purpose was to contain capitalism and build the structures of peace and prosperity that could provide safe passage through the Cold War. Now it is our turn.
To meet this challenge requires understanding the world we live in, and the central role that Russia must play in shaping it for the future. Russia must lead in the 21st century, just as in Andropov's day.
I run for President because I know it is incumbent on Russia, more than any other nation on earth, to lead in building the foundations for a stable and enduring peace, a peace built on the strength of our commitment to it, on the transformative ideals on which we were founded, on our ability to see around the corner of history, and on our courage and wisdom to make hard choices.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Lenihan finds way out
The Government has found a way out of the current economic crises. It has lodged a compensation claim with the British Government for €330 billion.
This follows the Italian agreement to pay Libya €2.5 billion compensation for its thirty year occupation of the North African nation. ‘It is a material and emotional recognition of the mistakes that our country has done to yours during the colonial era,’ Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi told Muammar Gadafy.
‘When Brian heard this he had something of a Eureka moment,’ said Enterprise Minister Micheál Martin.
The sum has been calculated by the Department Finance and is seen as a generous understatement of our case.
‘We know Britain isn’t exactly teeming with money at the moment,’ said Mr Lenihan last night. ‘But the Libyan case sets a precedent and we’re willing to take this to Strasbourg. We have multiplied the sum in recognition of the longer period of occupation suffered by this country but we are only asking the British Government to compensate for four hundred years of oppression as opposed to the traditional eight.’
This follows the Italian agreement to pay Libya €2.5 billion compensation for its thirty year occupation of the North African nation. ‘It is a material and emotional recognition of the mistakes that our country has done to yours during the colonial era,’ Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi told Muammar Gadafy.
‘When Brian heard this he had something of a Eureka moment,’ said Enterprise Minister Micheál Martin.
The sum has been calculated by the Department Finance and is seen as a generous understatement of our case.
‘We know Britain isn’t exactly teeming with money at the moment,’ said Mr Lenihan last night. ‘But the Libyan case sets a precedent and we’re willing to take this to Strasbourg. We have multiplied the sum in recognition of the longer period of occupation suffered by this country but we are only asking the British Government to compensate for four hundred years of oppression as opposed to the traditional eight.’
Obama to star in Gatsby remake
A scripted exchange due to take place at the Republican Convention has been leaked. The following dialogue will take place between John McCain and Sarah Palin in St Paul on Thursday:
‘I’ve made a small investigation of this fellow,’ says Mc Cain.
‘What?’
‘I said I’ve made a small investigation of Obama’s past.’
‘And you found he was an Oxford man,’ says Palin helpfully.
‘An Oxford man! McCain is incredulous. ‘Like hell he is! He wears a pink suit. Oxford, New Mexico more like it.’
The exchange will be followed by a three minute montage that compares Mr Obama to Jay Gatsby.
‘I’ve made a small investigation of this fellow,’ says Mc Cain.
‘What?’
‘I said I’ve made a small investigation of Obama’s past.’
‘And you found he was an Oxford man,’ says Palin helpfully.
‘An Oxford man! McCain is incredulous. ‘Like hell he is! He wears a pink suit. Oxford, New Mexico more like it.’
The exchange will be followed by a three minute montage that compares Mr Obama to Jay Gatsby.
Fukuda urges Cowen to follow
In a move that came as a blow to Taoiseach Brian Cowen, the Japanese PM tendered his resignation last night.
Mr Cowen has often been compared to Mr Fakuda (72). Both men took over just as the fortunes of their countries began to wane, and both men were cursed with more popular predecessors.
Mr Ahern and Junichiro Koizumi were both credited with the expansion of their countries' economies.
The seventy-two year old was very critical of the amount of ‘confusion’ that obtained during his brief stint - a statement that seems all too similar to our post-Ahern plight. ‘It is a fact that it took very long to decide on anything,’ Mr Fakuda said. He urged Cowen to follow his lead.
Mr Taro Aso, a conservative sixty-seven year old man, is expected to take the reins.
Mr Cowen has often been compared to Mr Fakuda (72). Both men took over just as the fortunes of their countries began to wane, and both men were cursed with more popular predecessors.
Mr Ahern and Junichiro Koizumi were both credited with the expansion of their countries' economies.
The seventy-two year old was very critical of the amount of ‘confusion’ that obtained during his brief stint - a statement that seems all too similar to our post-Ahern plight. ‘It is a fact that it took very long to decide on anything,’ Mr Fakuda said. He urged Cowen to follow his lead.
Mr Taro Aso, a conservative sixty-seven year old man, is expected to take the reins.
Jihad UK
A leaked memo from the Home Office has Britons gripped with fresh fears of a terrorist attack. The document, entitled Responding to Economic Challenges, envisages the following scenario:
If the economic situation grows worse then the public might grow hostile to migrants. If this occurs, radical Islamist groups could be in a better position to recruit than they currently are. If they are successful British Muslims could carry out attacks in major British cities.
British finance minister Alistair Darling stoked the fire with another conditional sentence: 'the current slump could be the worst for 60 years,' he said yesterday.
If the economic situation grows worse then the public might grow hostile to migrants. If this occurs, radical Islamist groups could be in a better position to recruit than they currently are. If they are successful British Muslims could carry out attacks in major British cities.
British finance minister Alistair Darling stoked the fire with another conditional sentence: 'the current slump could be the worst for 60 years,' he said yesterday.
Five star Cullen ‘for security reasons.’
Expenses incurred by Sports Minister Martin Cullen’s Olympic appearances were ‘unavoidable,’ a Department spokesperson has said.
The Minister’s flights alone cost €17,000. This may seem a large sum, but a thirty second advertising spot on this year’s Late Late Toy Show will cost the same amount.
Mr Cullen travelled first class for every leg of his visit and all Government officials were booked into the five star China World Hotel on the advice of the Olympic organising committee. ‘I was merely following orders,’ the Waterford-man said.
The Minister’s flights alone cost €17,000. This may seem a large sum, but a thirty second advertising spot on this year’s Late Late Toy Show will cost the same amount.
Mr Cullen travelled first class for every leg of his visit and all Government officials were booked into the five star China World Hotel on the advice of the Olympic organising committee. ‘I was merely following orders,’ the Waterford-man said.
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