Changes with Music

München (Munich)


Obama has certainly started with Big Changes. And Joe Biden, now travelling in Munich, is seemingly backing up the President and moving forward with the new American agenda. According to a news release from Russia, "European media reported that Biden may voice Obama’s idea on a radical – up to 80% – slashing of U.S. and Russian nuclear arsenals." Gosh.

Many are still sceptical, of course, wondering if Obama can really change things -- will he be able to, is he a puppet or with a mind of his own? And so on.

It is too early to have all the answers, and even I am not naive enough to think every example of the ignorant Bush administration could change for the better at once. For example, the USA seems to be willing to make NATO even stonger and more powerful, and the talks about the threats of terrorism are very much alive - and I find the both of these things quite strange.

But after the latest news on Obama's actions, I'd judge a lot is changing, and the changes have been good.

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By the way, I rarely recommend this news agency, but now I make an exception, since that was here in the ITAR-TASS site. Putin, be aware!

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At the end of his speech Biden whacked Russia, and then with diplomacy he softened the statement:

"We will not agree with Russia on everything. For example, the United States will not -- will not recognize Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent states. We will not recognize any nation having a sphere of influence. It will remain our view that sovereign states have the right to make their own decisions and choose their own alliances. But the United States and Russia can disagree and still work together where our interests coincide. And they coincide in many places."

And not agreeing with Russia is a good start.

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For all the music lovers, here comes the Bush speech once again.

Remember when he said the fact that there was no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq has been "a significant disappointment"?

I still find it hard to understand how stupid that man has been. As well as the ones who voted for him.

"Of course we are returning to those times."

The Cold War is back.

According to the Guardian, President Vladimir Putin has just said he wants to threaten Europe with nuclear missiles, if the US missile base is being set in Czechia.

Whoaa. I have been thinking about the Cold War starting again. Ever since I wrote that The Games Have Begun Again.

But this is getting so strange, and much worse. "Of course we are returning to those times", Putin had affirmed. Of course.




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The Guardian, by Luke Harding

President Vladimir Putin yesterday declared that a new arms race and cold war with the west had begun and announced that Russia would retaliate against US missile defence plans in Europe by pointing its missiles at European cities.

In a hawkish speech that sets the stage for a frosty G8 summit this week, Mr Putin launched an extraordinary broadside at the west over missile defence, Kosovo and democratic standards.

Mr Putin will meet George Bush, Tony Blair and other world leaders on Wednesday in the German resort of Heiligendamm for their annual meeting. In an interview released last night he made his most strident attack yet on western power.

(The whole article here.)

Parliament, nukes and NATO

Here comes the sun...


This is how it has been officially put, according to the pages of the Finnish Parliament, Eduskunta:

In Finland sovereign power lies with the people represented by the Parliament in session.

History

When the Finnish Parliament adopted the Declaration of the Independence of Finland on 6 December 1917, the new state already had a rich national culture and centuries of experience in managing its own affairs. The makings of an independent nation derived partly from the times of Swedish rule (from the 12th Century until 1809) and especially from the period when Finland was an autonomous Grand Duchy of the Russian Empire (from 1809 until 1917).

Parliamentary elections results, 2007

Number of seats in Parliament
Centre Party Parliamentary Group: 51 (-4 from 2003 elections)
National Coalition Party Parliamentary Group: 50 (+10)
Social Democratic Party Parliamentary Group: 45 (-8)
Left Alliance Parliamentary Group: 17 (-2)
Green Parliamentary Group: 15 (+1)
Christian Democratic Parliamentary Group: 7 (same as 2003 elections)
Swedish Parliamentary Group: 9 (+1)
True Finns Party Parliamentary Group: 5 (+2)

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Soon we Finns are trying to find solutions to difficult questions. I have not been able to find out any solution to this one:

To which planet should we send the old-fashioned, senile officials of the Ministry of Trade and Industry? Them, who openly support the expensive and hazardous nuclear industry, opposing all the sensible ideas (like increasing usage of bioenergy + wind, solar), and who keep repeating like blind dinosauruses that more and more electricity is needed. As if it would not be a matter of politics.

Listen, you decisionmakers both in the relevant ministries and in our parliament: You guys can actually conduct these things by political decisions. Really. There is enough technology for both slowing down the climate change, and producing heat and power. And good technology; clean, safe, and productive. But what is lacking is political will. Prove me wrong, please.

The second problem is the NATO. I have earlier referred to that question comparing it to jack-in-the-box. And, what was the problem again?

I just don't like the idea of sending Finnish military forces (= young men and women) anywhere, to any military organisation, or let alone, to a military operation led and run by the USA, together with its axis of best friends, or however George W. and Condoleezza would put it.

Well, would we have to send our kids anywhere?

Yes, that could actually happen. This is how the FAQ at the NATO pages put it:

Q: What does NATO do?

A: The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) is an alliance of 26 countries from North America and Europe committed to fulfilling the goals of the North Atlantic Treaty signed on 4 April 1949. In accordance with the Treaty, the fundamental role of NATO is to safeguard the freedom and security of its member countries by political and military means. NATO is playing an increasingly important role in crisis management and peacekeeping. (--)

Q: Does NATO have its own armed forces?

A: All member countries that participate in the military aspect of the Alliance contribute forces and equipment, which together constitute the integrated military structure of the Alliance. These forces and assets remain under national command and control until a time when they are required by NATO a specific purpose (i.e. conflict or crisis, peacekeeping). (--)

Good luck. To all of us.