Thursday, April 16, 2009

Cleopatra

The Times: Reports a new attempt to find the Tombs of Cleopatra and Mark Antony in Egypt. If the Tombs of these two great lovers could be found it would be the biggest news in the historical field since Howard Carter found King Tutankhamun in the 1920s. I have two different views on this attempt, it would be great to find the mummies of Cleopatra and Mark Antony, the latest technology could be used to see how reality matches the historical record. On the other hand there is the mystery of these two great figures, do I want to really know if the fact is different from the fiction. When one thinks of our Cleo, one thinks of a beautiful and intelligent woman, not the type you meet clubbing these days. Of Mark Antony you think of brave and intelligent soldier. If the mummies state something else it would you really want to know the new facts.

Two State Solution for the Middle East - USA

CNN News: Reports that under the Obama Administration the USA is still to support a two state solution to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. At the end of the day Israel has the final vote, it gets to decide if it wants a dangerous Palestinian State as a neighbour. The Obama Administration can huff and buff and use as many words at it wants, Israel gets the final veto. To miss quote President Obama and his statement that words must mean something, if Israel says NO its over, does not matter how many times Obama makes a speech or statement on the issue. The Israeli Lobby is powerful in the USA and in the Democratic Party. In 2012 Obama might need Florida, they are lot of elderly people living in Florida who happen to be Jewish. Thus Obama can only go so far, this is why US Presidents leave this issue for the second term, Bill Clinton was legacy hunting in the Middle East after the Impeachment, it didn't do him any good either, Israel and the Palestinians is not Northern Ireland, they have been fighting a few thousand years before Ireland was Ireland.

SORRY - UK PM Gordon Brown

BBC News: Reports that the UK PM Gordon Brown has said sorry for the smear scandal against the UK Conservative Party. This is a mistake by Mr Brown, it looks forced, it would have been better if the PM had let the story start to to disappear. If your going to say sorry say it the first time, this looks like he has been reading the press and decided he better say sorry. Also it does not negate the fact that the smear web site was registered to the House of Commons. Thus one had to ask who is the PM is covering for, a) Minister, b) MP or c) Aide. This foul smear campaign shows that Labour is worried it is going down the toilet next year, expect more of the same from Labour during the year.