Stuff keeps on happening

OK...so the authorities in Cyprus searched the ship and reported the results to the UN according to the BBC. As for that Togo ship carrying relief supplies, activists and religious figures, they were cleared out of Cyprus and are heading for Gaza according to the International Herald Tribune.

But what the heck was on that arms ship? Why won't anybody tell? I submit that the Iranians know, the Russians know, the Syrians know, the US Navy knows because they stopped the ship. So...who is trying to protect who here? Who is possibly being kept in the dark? Just folks like us? Seems like it.

Another item to pay attention to....is the Saudi succession. King Abdullah is sick, Crown Prince Sultan has cancer and if he goes before the King, look out. The Washington Institute for Near East Policy has a great piece on it. The intrigue and back room machinations makes picking a new mob boss look like an open western style democracy.

Oh...and if things weren't bad enough in Afghanistan with the Taliban destroying a bridge that carries supplies in for NATO, the government of Kyrgyzstan got a better offer from Moscow and is closing the U. S. Manas airbase there that serves as a re-fueling and transit point for US troops in Afghanistan. It's all about Russian re-asserting its old sphere of interest. What do you think the chances are of that money from Moscow trickling down to the Kyrgyz people? Yeah. That's what I thought.

All together now.... "It's a small world after all...."

And the nominees are.....Part Deux

Continuing our nominations in the sphere of international events, today we list more folks deserving of some kind of recognition, approbation or opprobrium. Here are the nominees:

SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE ON THE WORLD STAGE

Russian President Dmitriy Medvedev: For creating the amazing illusion that it's really he and not Vladimir Putin who is running things.

Dick Cheney: This one is almost too easy.

Than Shwe, Maung Aye, Shwe Mann and Thein Sein: The Burmese Generals who denied the enormity of the destruction of the cyclone and hampered access to relief crews.

SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE ON THE WORLD STAGE

Sarah Palin: I know, way too obvious but really, where do you start?

Condoleeza Rice: So much promise, such a disappointment.

Tian Wenhua: Head of China's Sanlu company. Yes melamine is good...for your bottom line.

ART DIRECTION

United States: For that colossal new embassy in Baghdad. Even the folks that created the sets for Spielberg and Lucas were awed.

China: For those nifty Olympic facilities. Never mind that they uprooted people and destroyed wonderful old neighborhoods. Progress baby. Just don't get in the way.

Bangladeshi filmmaker Ahsanullah Moni: For spending $58 million dollars to construct a replica of the Taj Mahal in Bangladesh. Yeah, that's exactly what this poor nation needs.

DICTATOR...I MEAN DIRECTOR

King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia: King, Dictator...whatever. Yes he's on the list. Call me when women, the other half of your population, have equal rights.

Aleksandr Lukashenko: This guy is old school. Repression, torture, bigotry, curtailing press freedoms. Oh yeah. He's on the list.

Bashar al Assad: Because you know he was involved in Hariri's death.