by Duke, PolitiPorn Int’l Bureau Chief
International Report
Africa
The An Yue Jiang, a Chinese cargo ship carrying 3 million rounds of ammunition, grenades and mortar rounds destined for Zimbabwe was finally allowed to dock in Angola after being refused by damn near every other African nation with a surfable beach. Angola has promised only to allow “merchandise destined for Angola” to be unloaded.
Zimbabwe, as you may recall, had themselves a presidential election last month in which former current President Mugabe lost decided that a recount was necessary. Results of the recount haven’t been published due to the lack of 3 million rounds of ammunition.
Zimbabwe’s state-run newspaper has made an appeal to everyone in the world that has lost their freaking minds…
“Zimbabwe is… under attack from the former coloniser and its allies. As such, Zimbabwe probably needs to arm itself more than any other country in Africa today,”
Gaza Strip
The inmates are still running the asylum as the psycho Israeli government tries to starve the innocent people of Gaza for, evidently, not swatting down Hamas rocket fire before it hits Israel. The government of Israel and Hamas both have the blood of innocent children on their hands, so spare me the anti-Semitic routine.
The Israeli government decided yesterday to temporarily resupply the Gaza Strip’s main power plant with fuel (which the EU pays for) hours before it would have to be completely shut down. The fuel will be enough to keep the plant open for another three days.
Meanwhile the UN has told Israel that if they continue to suspend fuel for vehicles, the trucks that deliver food for 1.1 million people would run out of gas within 24 hours. UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon calls the fuel embargo punitive and unacceptable.
Syria/North Korea
Well it turns out that the nuclear reactor that Israel understandably blew the fuck up may have been built with a little help from a North Korea. Syria has denied such a link, while the North Korean dictator has invoked his rarely used “License to Ill.” Syria, a signatory of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, could have some ‘splaning to do.
Pakistan
Three big stories flew across the well-laden Pakistani headlines recently.
- 1. Pakistan’s new PM issued an old offer (but from a new person) in his inaugural address to hold talks with any militants who give up arms and embrace peace. It may have actually done some good this time as hard-line, pro-Taliban cleric Baitullah Mehsud has agreed to a truce citing ongoing negotiations with the Pakistani government, contingent on a public apology for constant referrals to him as Jail-Baitullah Mehsudsy.
Mehsud is reported to have helped Osama flee Afghanistan after the bombing of Tora Bora in 2002 and is said to command 20,000 pro-Taliban maniacs, so a ceasefire ain’t gonna do it as far as we are concerned. The Pakistani government has some fairly flimsy evidence that he was behind the Bhutto assassination, but for that matter everyone else has some fairly creditable evidence that the Government was behind the Bhutto assassination.
- 2. Pakistan released Maulana Sufi Mohammad, a prominent spokesman for the Taliban after seven years of detention in exchange for a promise that he do his darnedest to help restore peace in the Taliban ridden NWFP district of Swat. This have prompted a promise by Charlie Manson not to kill anymore actresses (or their unborn fetuses) and a promise by Rosie O’donnell impersonator, Khalid Sheikh Mohammad to let bygones be bygones.
- 3. The PPP made a commitment to reinstate the judges sacked during Musharraf’s emergency rule within thirty days. Well, that was 25 days ago and the judges are still looking for work and the head of the PPP has shown a little reluctance to follow through. He actually does have a decent point about focusing on the restoration of the Judiciary as a branch of government, rather than focusing on a quick fix of judges who weren’t that great to begin with.
Also Ran
Sri Lanka
The blood is flowing in Sri Lanka after the Government pulled out of the latest cease-fire agreement with the Tamil Tigers. Most recently, the Tigers blew up a bus killing 24 and wounding 50. (Note: The Tamil Tigers are in no way affiliated with the Detroit Tigers)
Nepal
After a recent victory by the Maoist party in Nepal, one of the last remaining monarchies is about to be toppled. It was kind of on its way out after one of the princes machine gunned the entire royal family over a woman he wanted to marry.
If I ever had to sail near Africa, I would loaded to the hilt as well. It’s just not SAFE. Although, I don’t think they needed quite that much but better safe than sorry!
You make a point. I’m guessing the boat left China with at least 3.5m rounds.