Peace & prizes
Massive congratulations to the United Nations' International Atomic Energy Agency and its director, Mohamed ElBaradei who have won the Nobel Peace Prize. I'm pleased it didn't go to Bono who was also nominated, though for quite what I am at a loss to explain.
The UN and the IAEA in particular may not be popular in Washington or London for preaching peace and negotiation over war and death, but this award is a timely reminder as to the work they quietly do and the success which they have achieved.
There has been a noticeable increase in sabre rattling over the last week. Despite Jack Straw's recent ascertain that an attack on Iran is inconceivable, Bush still refuses to rule it out, which must come as a surprise to no one. This week has seen a (curiously) anonymous British 'official' accuse Iran of being behind attacks on British occupiers in Iran, then an Iranian denial which was ignored by Bliar who issued a warning to Iran yesterday that they had better behave.
Then of course last night we had New York's police chief and mayor both claiming that an attack on the New York subwaywas imminent, although Homeland Security Department disagree. This seems to be nothing more than the politics of fear. Keeping us all scared so that we will be more receptive to the opening up of a new front in the US/UK's bid to control more of that lovely Middle Eastern oil.
Hans Blix said prior to the invasion that he doubted Iraq had any WMD, he just needed a little more time to prove it. That time was denied and thousands upon thousands have died as a result. Blix has been proved right. Mohamed ElBaradei has certainly been tougher on Iran than Blix was on Iraq, but he will know that if Bush wants a war Bush will have a war. And so he must also be prepared to stand up to the politicians whose arrogant (god given?) belief in their own agendas threatens the peace and stability we all presently enjoy.
The UN and the IAEA in particular may not be popular in Washington or London for preaching peace and negotiation over war and death, but this award is a timely reminder as to the work they quietly do and the success which they have achieved.
There has been a noticeable increase in sabre rattling over the last week. Despite Jack Straw's recent ascertain that an attack on Iran is inconceivable, Bush still refuses to rule it out, which must come as a surprise to no one. This week has seen a (curiously) anonymous British 'official' accuse Iran of being behind attacks on British occupiers in Iran, then an Iranian denial which was ignored by Bliar who issued a warning to Iran yesterday that they had better behave.
Then of course last night we had New York's police chief and mayor both claiming that an attack on the New York subwaywas imminent, although Homeland Security Department disagree. This seems to be nothing more than the politics of fear. Keeping us all scared so that we will be more receptive to the opening up of a new front in the US/UK's bid to control more of that lovely Middle Eastern oil.
Hans Blix said prior to the invasion that he doubted Iraq had any WMD, he just needed a little more time to prove it. That time was denied and thousands upon thousands have died as a result. Blix has been proved right. Mohamed ElBaradei has certainly been tougher on Iran than Blix was on Iraq, but he will know that if Bush wants a war Bush will have a war. And so he must also be prepared to stand up to the politicians whose arrogant (god given?) belief in their own agendas threatens the peace and stability we all presently enjoy.
posted by phylos @ 19:02
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