Casting the net – 08.11.07
12:05 pm - November 8th 2007
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Each day – Monday to Friday – I’ll be posting a quick review of the highlights from the blogosphere and other media. Basically, this will be an open thread where readers will be pointed towards the very best comment and analysis on the web.
As with all areas on Liberal Conspiracy, it’s your interaction that will be crucial to ensuring that we’re on the ball, and that we don’t allow any brilliant commentary to slip through the net. So, if you have written or come across interesting and insightful content, feel free to drop me an email at aaronh[at]liberalconspiracy[dot]org or leave a comment on the daily net-review thread.
Pakistan
The Guardian reports that three politicians and a union activist have been charged with treason in Pakistan. The BBC also runs with news that 700 members from Benazir Bhutto’s political party are being held by the authorities, as President Musharraf’s crackdown continues. Over on Comment is Free, Ali Eteraz claims that the west has learned nothing from its dalliance with the Shah of Iran, supporting yet another hated and insecure leader. Robert Fox, meanwhile, explains how the violence in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan are now directly linked, and highlights the importance of keeping Pakistan’s nuclear weapons out of Taliban hands.
Shiraz Socialist also has “notes from the underground”, quoting and linking to the blog of Farooq Tariq’s (Gen. Secretary of Labour Party of Pakistan (LLP).
Hari on Gaza
Johann Hari goes down a well-trodden road in today’s Independent, giving a heartfelt defence of the people of Gaza, as they struggle to survive under increasing Israeli pressure. Hari, in a move that’s bound to attract even more controversy, links the story of a female suicide bomber with that of an IDF attack on a bus carrying nursery children.
Bush: Iraqi’s should be crying, “I love freedom”
Everyone’s favourite world leader reacts to questions on Iraq, arguing that the situation isn’t a “quagmire.” Via. Think Progress.
Cross about funding
Kerron Cross (who is looking more and more like Jesus Christ Superstar every day) is angry at Tory MP David Amess, who has been claiming that Lord Ashcroft’s millions are no different to Labour’s reliance on Union contributions. Kerron, somewhat unsurprisingly, claims otherwise.
Cohen attacks again
Columnist Nick Cohen accuses liberal writers of group-think. Again.
Another Linford Top Ten
List are always interesting (honest). Paul Linford gives his The Top 10 Political Turning Points.
Report: Trends in avoidable mortality
The Civitas blog celebrates improvements, but that there is still a long, long way to go.
Paul rakes in online millions
Dizzy reports that libertarian presidential hopeful, Republican Ron Paul, pulled in $4m in just one day’s online campaigning.
The “Blog Wars” continue
Conservative blogger Ellee Seymour is the latest to attract Tim Ireland’s ire. Another stalemate at the UN Security Council is preventing a peace keeping force from being despatched to Guildford.
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Aaron Murin-Heath is an occasional contributor. He is a writer based in Newark-on-Trent and Tallinn, Estonia. He is both socially and economically liberal. Aaron blogs at tygerland.net.
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Reader comments
If it is a blogger against a non blogger is it really a ‘blog war’?
Anyhoo….
Another stalemate at the UN Security Council is preventing a peace keeping force from being despatched to Guildford.
Heh heh!
Nice on Aaron.
Ziauddin Sardar has a good piece in the New Statesman on Pakistan too:
http://www.newstatesman.com/200711080016
The tipping point for Musharraf came when it became evident that the Supreme Court was likely to rule against the notion that a man in military uniform can be elected as president of Pakistan. In his address to the nation, in which he compared himself to Abraham Lincoln, Musharraf clearly stated that he wants a compliant judiciary. The executive, legislature and the judiciary must be “in harmony”, he said. Since he controls both the executive and the legislature, this amounts to a declaration that the General must have absolute power.
The most disturbing element of the crackdown is the role played by the former prime minister, Benazir Bhutto. She sees her route back to power via accommodation with Musharraf, which has not endeared her to those now leading the resistance against him.
Oh dear!
Can’t have people tossing around accusations of liberal-groupthink, can we?
I mean. It’s a strawman, innit?
I’m not really sure what Cohen is saying, it’s pretty much the usual garbled stuff, but oh, that photo! Jeez, is he going for the ‘consumptive writer’ look?
I think there is a critical but sadly typical absence here–any notes/comments/links related to European issues. At the very least a link to Human Rights Watch report (http://hrw.org/english/docs/2007/11/08/italy17280.htm) on the proposed Italian expulsion decree merits note if not discussion.
I am often dismayed – but not surprised – by the lack of discussion of issues/actions by members of the EU over which we can/should exercise some democratic oversight by left/liberal commentators and analysts. There is not only little comment, but even less contextualising information.
People quite rightly know about Halliburton, its influence, its outrages, but rarely can name the European arms, water, energy, banking. etc companies operating in Africa and Latin America which are also culpable of dubious and damaging practices….and yet we can hold them to varying sorts of account through investigation and regulation…
Similarly, we are systematically treated to exposes of the workings, details and scandals of US politics (fair enough and very important) but not of our European partners.
I hope there will be more discussion/links on European issues — more opportunity to interrogate and analyse the operation of not just the EU but also its constituent members… This doesn’t really happen much elsewhere –.
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