Antony Loewenstein

Chinese humour versus American humour, a discussion.

RIP The Godfather of Soul, James Brown (I saw him twice, once in Sicily and once in Sydney, and both times he lived up to his reputation as a hard-living, crazy dancing legend):

Merry Christmas to any and all readers who celebrate Jesus Day.

For some, of course, today will not be as celebratory as it should be.

Omid Memarian is an Iranian journalist living in California. He talks about Iranian blogging, internet censorship and living under a cloud.

Some much needed perspective.

Having coffee with Richard Perle (prince of darkness):

Robert Fisk, The Independent, December 23:

Typical of the dirt thrown at [Jimmy] Carter was the comment by Michael Kinsley in The New York Times (of course) that Carter “is comparing Israel to the former white racist government of South Africa”. This was followed by a vicious statement from Abe Foxman of the Anti-Defamation League, who said that the reason Carter gave for writing this book “is this shameless, shameful canard that the Jews control the debate in this country, especially when it comes to the media. What makes this serious is that he’s not just another pundit, and he’s not just another analyst. He is a former president of the United States”.

But in this context, why, I wonder, didn’t The New York Times and the other gutless mainstream newspapers in the United States mention Israel’s cosy relationship with that very racist apartheid regime in South Africa which Carter is not supposed to mention in his book? Didn’t Israel have a wealthy diamond trade with sanctioned, racist South Africa? Didn’t Israel have a fruitful and deep military relationship with that racist regime? Am I dreaming, looking-glass-like, when I recall that in April of 1976, Prime Minister John Vorster of South Africa – one of the architects of this vile Nazi-like system of apartheid – paid a state visit to Israel and was honoured with an official reception from Israeli prime minister Menachem Begin, war hero Moshe Dayan and future Nobel prize-winner Yitzhak Rabin? This of course, certainly did not become part of the great American debate on Carter’s book. 

Speaking of shameful Jewish acts…

The Podfather by Ricky Gervais.

A Christmas special.

The Western media characterises Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez as a dictator (principally because he doesn’t subscribe to a Washington-centric worldview.) It seems his people are pretty happy:

Venezuelans view their democracy more favorably than the citizens of all other Latin American countries view their own democracies, except Uruguay, according to a new survey released by the Chilean NGO Latinbarometro last Saturday. Also, Venezuela is in first place in several measures of political participation, compared to all other Latin American countries.

According to Latinobarometro, Venezuelans and Uruguayans expressed the highest percentage of confidence that elections were the most effective means to promote change in their country (both 71%), compared to 57% for all of Latin America. 

If you asked the average Australian or American about their views on democracy, the results would be uniformly negative. Many people feel disenfranchaised from the system. Money buys access. Participation is low. War is sanctioned despite a majority of the population being against it.

Jon Stewart on killing the mentally disabled:

Dror Etkes, Haaretz, December 22:

The curtain has dropped on the Theater of the Absurd directed by the Iranian regime last week – an event that convened figures from the margins of the Holocaust-denial scene and its “alternative” researchers. In Israel the conference was covered with an emphasis on the statements by the participants and the reactions of Israeli politicians. True, this was an international conference behind which was a country that declares its desire to bring about the fall of the “Zionist regime” – but beyond that hides a deeper factor, which is indicative of the connection between contemporary Israeli identity and the Holocaust.

An Israel with no real distinction between the establishment political left and the right with all its offshoots, continues to make use of the Holocaust in a way that combines cynicism and boorishness. Even though there is indeed a considerable and complex connection between the Holocaust and Israeli political culture, there isn’t – nor has there ever been – any justification for harnessing its memory for the sake of preserving the continuing occupation project that Israel has been conducting for 40 years now in the territories. 

Iraq, the reality:

Despite promises from Iraqi and U.S. leaders that 2006 would bring improvement, Iraqis have suffered through the worst year in living memory, facing violence, fragmentation and a disintegrated economy.

But everyone agrees that the situation now is worse than ever. Leaders in Iraq disagree only to the extent they blame one another for the collapse in security that has led to worsened services and living conditions. 

Iraq, the fantasy (courtesy of Australia’s comical Foreign Minister):

I have spent this past fortnight in Washington and London, maintaining our constant dialogue with the US and Britain about the gruelling challenges involved in securing the future of Iraq. We are all utterly convinced of one fundamental assessment: a premature withdrawal of coalition forces would be the worst possible outcome not only for the people of Iraq, but also for global security and stability. It would risk far greater bloodshed in Iraq, create the ingredients for wider regional conflict, and deliver a huge propaganda spur to jihadists worldwide…

Good progress has been made, with the training of about 300,000 Iraqi security forces, and Iraq’s own troops increasingly assuming responsibility, especially in southern Iraq. 

Alexander Downer clearly hasn’t yet received the latest memo from the White House. “Cut and run” isn’t being used anymore, Alex. Besides, the Iraqi security forces, of which you speak so highly, are actually part of the problem, infected with insurgents and corruption. In Downer’s world, the Iraq war may be difficult, but by golly, victory is just around the corner.

Bush’s speechwriter is revealed (an oldie, but this is gold):