The Guardians Of The Peace ... ?

Over a number of years the Irish public has grown accustomed to the declining service provided by An Garda Siochana (the Irish police). Certainly in my childhood the Gardai seemed to be motivated by a sense of public service but this seems to have been largely done away with. The modern face of the Irish police force is of slovenly and poorly trained individuals who seem only concerned with revenue collection on the behalf of the state. In the public mind they have become the enforcers of the government's will and little else. A prime example of this was the aggressive line taken with protesters involved in the "Shell to sea" protests. And, some years ago, the conduct of certain gardai during the May Day protests caused national outrage, with newspapers and television news carrying shocking scenes of violence. Interestingly, when the events of May Day were investigated, every member of the force involved claimed not to be able to remember the name of any other gardai also on duty that day. And what was the result of this gross refusal to cooperate? Nothing, just business as usual. Disgraceful.

Interestingly, it is often said that people begin to look like what they are. This is true of the gardai also. Today, at the government "think-in" at an Athlone hotel, 200 farmers turned-up to protest against the government's mishandling of the agri-economy. When some of them broke through the police lines in an effort to have their protest heard by the self-sated incompetents who presume to lead us, the gardai (many with batons drawn) threw some of them to the ground and faced-off many others. Again, we saw the horrible vista of our police force, with batons held aloft, facing a crowd of peaceful protesters, many of whom appeared quite elderly. Perhaps they have special training for use when manhandling older people ("go for the legs boys!") as they certainly showed their abilities in this area when knocking elderly civilians to the ground during the Shell protests. Their families must be so proud of them.

But, as I remarked, the gardai have begun to look like precisely what they are: private enforcers for the ruling classes. Many appeared to be sporting baseball caps and seemed to have adopted a stance whereby they stand casually with their baton, held aloft but resting on their shoulder (i.e. ready to strike).

Traditionally Ireland has operated a consensus policing model (i.e. most of the people accept the need for a police force and support them in their work) but this appears to be shifting towards a more coercive model.

With an increasingly unpopular government, interested only in protecting bankers and property developers, and a police-force who seem highly politicised and willing to offer violence to a dissenting citizenry, it is not beyond belief that we could see serious scenes of civil unrest in the coming months and years.

It is time now, I think, for the gardai to take a step back from the government and reconsider their role - otherwise they may end-up being little more than security guards for a defunct and feckless administration.

Question Time...

Last week on RTE 1's flagship talk-show, The Late Late Show, Brian Cowen was subjected to a tough line of questioning by the show's new host. In his first outing on the show Ryan Tubridy took a harsh and unrelenting line with the beleaguered premier. It made a pleasant change from the easy ride RTE generally affords the political classes. The News and Current Affairs department must be hanging their heads in shame - none of their interviewers would ever dish it out to a politico like this. Poor old Cowen presumably thought he would get an easy bit of publicity without too much risk...bad call.

Here is the interview:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErxADYAfJQ4

and

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6N5ykav3gI&NR=1

It is amazing to see Cowen babbling like a schoolboy, caught without hi s homework.

All credit to Tubridy for taking the difficult road and avaiding the easy, chatty approach.

BIFFO Cowen On The Job...

The recent controversy surrounding two unflattering portraits of Irish Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Brian Cowen has, at least, given the hard-pressed voter a chuckle or two. Artist Conor Casby gained notoriety when the unflattering renderings were smuggled into the National Gallery and the Royal Hibernian Academy and hung on the wall. Despite the long and established history of caricature as a way to deflate the self-importance of the political classes, our great leader did not see the funny side. The Gardai (the Irish police) swooped on the offices of a commercial radio station and threatened a popular DJ with arrest if he did not cooperate in their enquiry. His crime? He had discussed the portraits on air. The the state broadcaster, RTE, apologised in a most grovelling fashion for having shown the unflattering depictions in a news item. It seems that, in Ireland, the act of painting a picture can land you in trouble with the law. The artist may be charged with indecency, incitement to hatred and criminal damage - though this seems less likely now as some time has passed.

This episode, though quite frivolous on the surface, brings into stark relief the lack of independence enjoyed by both the Gardai and the national broadcaster. Quite scary for a DJ to be threatened with arrest - and, remember, you cannot SEE pictures over the radio! The heavy-handed response calls into question the freedom of expression we all take for granted in this part of Europe - but does it exist in reality?

Also, we should ask just who do these people think they are? Our political classes have long lived well off the backs of the working-man. Has their rich lifestyle blinded them to the reality of precisely who works for who? Or have they simply reached a level of self-importance that nothing can penetrate their narcissistic self-belief?

Another question: where were the massive protests in the media about this effort to use the criminal-justice system to attack a man who had painted a couple of funny pictures? It would have been heartening to see a solid response from Irish newspapers and broadcasters, protesting such hard-line tactics on behalf of the state. But there was hardly a whimper.

My favourite of the two paintings is this one: BIFFO On The Bog.

It shows the great leader, sitting on the loo. For those not from our fair shores I should explain that BIFFO is an acronym for: Big Ignorant Fucker From Offaly, Offaly being a particularly awful place, and Cowen's home county.

As I reflect on the self-importance of this mediocre and inept man, I am greatly calmed by the thought that I am many miles away from him and his thought-police, rocking softly on the gentle seas. For tonight all is calm in this little part of the ocean and I feel a good sleep coming on...perhaps I shall dream of nicer things and better times.

The Road To Hell...

As the world economy begins to regain its footing and some glimmers of hope can be seen on the far horizon, it is interesting to note that the government in Ireland have all but ignored the advice of the country's best economic minds and have embarked on a ludicrous scheme to help out their supporters in the banking and land-development sector. Needless to say the tax-payer will fund this extraordinary bail-out, fulfilling the top priority of the Fainna Fail / Green Party coalition: The Guilty Must Not Suffer! Since the first moments of the fiscal disaster which has befallen Ireland the government has pulled out all the stops to protect the guilty at the (enormous) expense of the working man. The Financial Regulator and the Central Bank of Ireland signally failed to reign-in the dangerous, but highly profitable, lending regime being operated by all of the major Irish financial institutions. Stock-holders benifited, directors benifited and land developers benifited from the many short-sighted lending practices of the banks. Most importantly though: Fianna Fail profited, as grateful developers made generous donations to the party (and, perhaps, to individual members -- in the ubiquitous brown envelope). These donations were made quietly, almost silently, in order to allow the government to remain asleep at the wheel while Ireland's economy gained acceleration. Regrettably we were aimed at a brick wall, and the air-bags had been removed by a Celtic Tiger developer, on the basis that "there is no tomorrow, all that matters is today and how much commission we can make."

Now that the dust has settled and the full awfulness of our financial predicament has been exposed, the clear need is for imaginative, bold and decisive thinking from government - the people want and need an intelligent plan. A way forward. The crisis demands that those in power think outside the box and formulate a strategy which energises the economy whilst fixing the sick banking sector. A tall order, indeed. But government have access to the best advice, the finest economic brains and all of the expertise of the Central Bank.

So, with all of this at their disposal, what did they come up with? What fiendishly clever scheme do they propose? How are they going to solve our problems?

Here is the government plan in full:

Step one: Increase tax on the working man and impose public service and pension levies.

Step two: Give all of the money to the banks which caused the problem in the first place.

Step Three: There is no step three.

That's it. That's yer lot.

Amazing, isn't it? Apparently the finest economic minds in Ireland think not. A total of 46 of the leading economic academics in Ireland penned a piece for the Irish Times in which they opined that the scheme is stupid and dangerous and will not work. In fact, it does not require a PhD in economics to see that it will not work, as the stupidity of the plan is apparent for all to see.

If it were part of the plot of a TV comedy it would be quite funny. But it is the cold, harsh reality for millions of Irish people - and they are finding it difficult to laugh as they lose their jobs and face the terrible reality of negative equity and a crashing employment-market.

The proposed vehicle for this governmental folly is the National Asset Management Agency (NAMA) which, it is proposed, will buy bad loans from the banks - not at current property values, oh no, as this would not succeed in the stupid spending of enough public money. They are going to value the property in question (and most of these toxic loans involve property) based on future projections, which will almost certainly over-value each asset by a considerable margin.

Despite the opinion of the best informed minds in the country and the mass opposition of the electorate, not to mention the concerns of leading lawyers on the constitutionality of the plan, this is the scheme they want to push through the Dail (parliament).

The opposition party, Fine Gael, have proposed an alternative. They think the state should allow stock-holders to bear the brunt of the bank's poor management and lending practices, which is the way capitalism is supposed to work, isn't it?

Many people are wondering why the banks should be saved at all. Are they that much of an asset to the country, when one considers their greedy and corrosive behaviour in recent years? I suspect that whatever the eventual outcome and whichever apprach is finally decided upon, the pill will be much easier for the public to swallow if those who led the banks (and the country) into this perilous situation were seen to suffer. The thought that, throughout this harsh period, the directors and senior managers of the financial institutions have continued to collect huge salaries and bonuses, is most unsettling to the majority who are now struggling to put food on the table and to save their homes from repossession.

Looking Ahead With Hope...

Now that Obama has been sworn-in and Brains has been dispatched to Texas, the world waits hopefully for things to get better. Early indications are positive -- already the new administration has moved to halt trials of US detainees in the "war on terror" and promised a new openness in government.

The American people seem very pleased with themselves and delighted with their new Pres. They should, perhaps, realise that the election of a non-loonie does not cancel-out their support for Bush, nor does it brings all of the dead innocents back to life. It will take time, good will and a huge effort for the US to reclaim its place in the community of nations. And maybe a little humility. I do not intend to strike a sour note here, for I think that Obama is just the man who might accomplish a resurrection of America's fortunes. But the excessive back-slapping is a little off-putting in light of the many millions who have been destroyed by America's folly.

As I said -- maybe it is time for a little humility, not something the US does well.

Israel Disregards Palestinian Children

In a shocking departure from the internationally accepted rules of war the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) have failed in their obligations to assist civilians caught-up in a combat zone. Israel 'failed to meet its obligation under international humanitarian law to care for and evacuate the wounded,' according to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). It said the Israeli military attempted to force Red Cross workers to leave when they reached an area in Gaza City's decimated Zeitun district. The Red Cross had requested safe access to this zone several days earlier.

The ICRC said the delay in allowing access was unacceptable.

The Red Cross workers found four small children next to their dead mothers in a house in Zeitun. There were a number of other corpses lying on mattresses in the house.

Pierre Wettach, who heads the ICRC delegation for Israel and the Palestinian territories said it was a "shocking incident." He went on: "The Israeli military must have been aware of the situation but did not assist the wounded. Neither did they make it possible for us or the Palestine Red Crescent to assist the wounded."

Don't hold your breath waiting for The US administration to condemn these actions -- my impression is that they care not a jot for those with dark skin. Or their orphaned children.

Unbearable Awfulness...

Words cannot express my sadness at the tragedy unfolding in Gaza and the surrounding territories. In Europe we see endless pictures of injured children and bereaved parents. The terrible hypocrisy of Israel in insisting on "self-defence" while engaging in the wholesale slaughter of innocents is breathtaking. Why can this powerful nation not just comply with the United Nations resolutions demanding that it curtail its territorial expansion and live in peace with its neighbours? And how come America always seems to favour Israel, irrespective of the savagery of this terrorist nation's conduct?

It seems clear that this massive escalation of violence is being conducted while Brains is still in the White House - perhaps they fear that Obama will be less forgiving of their aggression.

Please God he will.

Oops...

Obama has taken quite a thoughtful approach in assembling his cabinet, with one worrying exception - appointing Hillary Clinton his Secretary of State. Wow, this is a major mistake as she has been campaigning against him for months and it is squarely in her interest for his government to fail.

What might this bizarre gesture mean? What might have prompted him to take this unlovely step? These questions have preoccupied me for a while now, and I have no answers. But I will share with you the possible answers which occur to me:

1. This was the price of her (and Bill's) endorsement;
2. He reckons that you should keep your enemies close; or,
3. Obama plans to use this appointment to somehow tarnish Hillary.

The first two seem to me to be the most likely as Obama seems too decent a man to conspire to damage Hillary in such a fashion. It is also possible, I suppose, that the great and the good demanded she be offered such a sop.

I suppose we shall see what happens in the fullness of time, but this appointment must be of concern to those who campaigned against the former First Lady and saw her ruthlessness up close.

Thank You and Good Night...

Although I was many miles from shore, snuggled under me little blanket and sipping a warming jug of rum, I felt a marvellous sense of connection with the decent-thinking people of the world when I heard that an Iraqi television reporter had hurled his shoes at President Bush. I suspect that a little chuckle erupted from many millions of people when they heard about or saw the incident. Muntadar al-Zeidi lost a pair of shoes, but gained world-wide fame in a splendidly surreal act of defiance and protest. I am informed that in the Arab world to throw one's shoes is a most insulting gesture. "This is a farewell kiss, you dog," he yelled in Arabic. "This is from the widows, the orphans and those who were killed in Iraq." Many would regard this as quite a polite response to Bush's war-mongering.

In an extraordinary twist it was revealed that the shoes were a size 10 or, roughly, the President's I.Q. - and the highest number he can count to without help from "Gunner" Cheney.

Yet again, this bungling President presents us with a story which would be hilarious were it not for all the dead Iraqi children. However, it is nice to note that this Pres would not allow the tragedy which underlies al-Zeidi's protest prevent him from making jokes about the incident at every opportunity. My impression is that he was genuinely amused by this poor man's frustration and anguish.

On the topic of bungling, where were the Secret Service during this attack? This TV newsman managed to throw both shoes at the President, who would have been hit had he not ducked. For all their prancing about and grimacing it seems that the Secret Service are as inept as their military brethren. I mean the President was in Iraq, for God's sake! Did they not think that he might need to be protected, considering that he is responsible for killing many thousands of Iraqi civilians? Supposing it was something more serious than a shoe - something which might have truly harmed the Great Leader, a TV camera or a microphone stand (both in plentiful supply on the day)? Obviously Bush is immune from brain-damage but he could have been hurt quite badly had the attacker intended to harm him.

One wonders on how many more occasions "W" will need to duck during the coming years. Certainly, he will need to be careful about foreign travel, lest he might find himself facing a War Crimes tribunal. Wouldn't that be a pity.