Yearly Archives: 2003

42 days to a Googlewash

The Register comes out all guns firing at the blogging community’s apparent “redefinition” of a term, calling it Orwellian doublespeak. Is it true that a small coterie of A-list bloggers is able to change the way we (for we: read Google users) define a phrase? Or is there really something bigger going on? Update: Good… Read More »

The second superpower

James Moore, Senior Fellow of Harvard Law School, writes: As the United States government becomes more belligerent in using its power in the world, many people are longing for a “second superpower” that can keep the US in check. Indeed, many people desire a superpower that speaks for the interests of planetary society, for long-term… Read More »

Blair: Future of the UN in Iraq

To paraphrase from today’s PMQs: “President Bush is fully behind what I see as essential: that any post-conflict Iraqi administration has to be specifically endorsed by the United Nations.” I remain deeply sceptical.

The triumph of fear

A powerful article from Tikkun (one of the only major Jewish organisations to oppose the Iraqi invasion) which attempts to raise the anti-war argument to another plane. I quote some passages below to give the flavour, but the whole article is well worth printing out and reading. 1. The Decline of Hope How could it… Read More »

Report from Baghdad

A very interesting interview with Robert Fisk, in which he warns of the quagmire that the UKUSIAN forces might well be getting themselves into: “…we’ve already got a situation down in Basra where the British army have admitted firing artillery into the city of Basra, and then whingeing on afterward saying ‘We’re being fired at… Read More »

A Citizens’ Declaration

As a US-led invasion of Iraq begins, we, the undersigned citizens of many countries, reaffirm our commitment to addressing international conflicts through the rule of law and the United Nations. By joining together across countries and continents, we have emerged as a new force for peace. As we grieve for the victims of this war,… Read More »

Parliament votes for war

There was a fine debate yesterday in the House of Commons. Blair won the vote, of course, although the rebellion was the largest ever. Passionate arguments were made for both sides of the argument. It restores one’s faith in the process here, even if MPs do not always vote according to logic or their constituents’… Read More »