Ramblings...

Apologies for the absence. I'd like to say my absence was due to me efforts to get here or that I've been doing something of value. Unfortunately that would be a lie, although I have increased my alcohol tolerance. In lieu of anything more coherent I append below various random links and thoughts which you might care to peruse. Or not.

Firstly a particularly narcissistic link to myself and some comments I posted on my other blog, The Peace Pipe, about the forthcoming elections in Iraq.

This article suggests that "the Chagos issue" is on the agenda for discussions during a state visit by Mauritian PM Paul Berenger to China. Anyone care to guess what exactly they're going to say? Could we be about to see China weigh in on the issue?

Elsewhere the Alliance for Workers' Liberty (AWL, a small Trotskyist sect, who get brownie points for being prepared to think outside the box) are appealing for the formation of a large, united (their big on unity in the AWL, at least in their propaganda) campaign to support Iraqi trade unions. Sounds like a good idea to me and I like the pluralist approach they suggest. I have felt at times that the AWL have tied themselves in knots trying to straddle diametrically opposed positions on the situation in Iraq, but here I agree with them and think their appeal merits serious thought and action. So, yeah. Go do something about it.

That's enough for now. Come back soon. Byeee!