Archive for October, 2009
10 12th, 2009
I failed to impress the Cheltenham Literary Festival’s Writer in Residence, Kapka Kassabova. She did not agree with the dangers of trying to install democracy in fragile societies, nor did she believe that Western democracies need to answer directly the achievments made by authoritarian societes for the very poorest people in the world. Kapka’s view is that Cuba’s high health and literacy levels are all part of the baggage of ‘unreconstructed Western idealists ‘ — of which I presume I am one.
I like Kapka’s poetry of which here are a few lines from her poem I want to be a tourist:-
…give me the open sewers, the stunted dreams,
the jubilation of ruins, the lepers, the dogs,
give me signs in a funny language that I never
have to learn. Then take my money and let me go
10 12th, 2009
I was privileged to chair a distinguished panel at the Cheltenham Literary Festival with Stella Rimington, Alan Judd and Richard Aldrich called Security Now. The nub that came from it was that intelligence services are already tracking detailed scanrios for cyber wars and not far into the future of climate change wars; that the US-UK special relationshipo is almost all based on intelligence/defence links; and that the notion of ID cards for the UK would be waste of time and money.
Click here: Democracy Kills Click here: Cheltenham — Security Now
10 10th, 2009
To the critics of the Nobel Committee for awarding Barack Obama the Peace Prize, it’s worth looking at the original criteria written by Alfred Nobel on November 27th 1895. The prize should be awarded to “the person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses”
In the past year of all those involved in these issues, Barack Obama has achieved the most. Whether or not, we agree with another accolade for a US President is another issue altogether.
I also confess an interest. He is examining transitions to democracy in a completely different way.
10 5th, 2009
I have had a number of e-mail accusing me of being an enemy of democracy — drawn mainly from the title of my new book Democracy Kills. I am no more an enemy of democracy than I am of fast cars or fine wines which I know can be lethal if not used properly. Therefore, I urge those interested in this very important issue to really engage, to stop pigeonholing and to argue the case for the value of democracy.
On page 376 of Democracy Kills, I quote a young Taiwanese politician, Bi-Khim Hsiao:- “Democracy is applicable to everyone. But you have to do it properly. We have created our democracy with our own hands and our own hard work and what we’ve done here counters the argument that democracy is not an Asian concept, that it is not applicable to Asians. We’ve proved that wrong. We cherish our democracy and it can be applied everywhere whatever the culture, race or religion.”
10 4th, 2009
I got embroiled in a gloomy problem-filled conversation over Pakistan and Afghanistan last night — and got fed up with it. So I argued that Pakistan is going through the transition that should have begun during the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan and really taken hold after 1989. But that didn’t happen. This time round, because failed states now threaten our comfortable Western democratic lives, minds are focused differently. The enemy is identified and the long-term goal is established. It might work. It might not. I suspect if it does work less blood will be shed than in the American Civil War and the First and Second World Wars and if that is the case, the Pakistanis will have done a lot better than us in building institutions and good governance.
10 4th, 2009
I am reading American Notes by Charles Dickens on his journey there in 1842. At the time, there was general critiscism in Europe of the way America conducted itself — the rebellious offspring from the colonial mother country — with slavery being an obvious target. The ‘New World’ carried much ideological baggage and writers such as Trollope described America as ‘that great experiment with democracy’ — democracy then being a concept more perjorative than advocated. I sense a similar, yet reverse, sentiment now with China. It has embarked upon a massive social experiment, the mechanisms of which are frowned upon by most in our own societies. But in the past year or so with issues such as the economic crisis, climate change and the development of Africa, we are beginning to become fascinated in the way China does things.
10 3rd, 2009
After much effort in trying to retain my relationship with Palm, I have been dumped. The circular conversations revolved around 32 and 64 bit, Windows Vista and Bluetooth. The upshot is that the company has adopted a policy that excludes customers with former Palm products. My Z22 is three years old. Goodbye Palm. Welcome Apple and Blackberry.
