DGB Editorial: It is about time someone started to do something about these Somalian pirates. They are not going to stop pirating these vessels unless or until there are significant negative consequences to those who do it? Who is standing up to the plate? Who is going to do anything about these Somalian pirates? At least this article indicates a start. Much more is needed.
Is there a NATO jail anywhere in the world? What happens to violators of international law? Obviously the Somalian pirates and North Korea are two entirely different cases. However, the dynamics are the same. Some bands of people/countries (The Somalian Pirates, The Taliban, North Korea...) are going to keep pushing The United Nations and/or NATO, transgressing international law at their leisure and whim, unless or until they are faced with, and confronted by, a more powerful international police force and/or army that is capable of destroying and/or at least imprisioning them.
It seems obvious to me that there is a growing need for a stronger, more powerful, more intimidating international governing body of politics, law, and soldiers/police force that is better than anything we have in existence right now. This concept goes right back to Thomas Hobbes philosophy. Diplomcacy and democracy must be essential features of this international governing body. But when push comes to shove, there has to be a very real powerful international army to 'outmuscle' the capabilities of any one democratically transgressing nation, or band of pirates, or international group of extremist-terrorists -- religious and/or political.
-- dgb, April 5th, 2009.
........................................................................
From the internet, Yahoo News...
Canadian warship thwarts suspected pirates, helps boatload of Somali refugees
2 hours, 27 minutes ago, April 5th, 2009.
By The Canadian Press
TORONTO - Warding off suspected pirates and coming to the aid of a boatload of fleeing Somali refugees is all in a day's work for the crew of HMCS Winnipeg in the Gulf of Aden.
In the past 24 hours the Canadian warship has sent its Sea King helicopter after several skiffs that were shadowing a commercial vessel, using a large red "Stop" sign to tell the speedboat crews to get lost.
Commander Craig Baines says the suspected pirates did just that when they saw the sign, written in Somali, hanging out to chopper's door - along with the aircraft's machine-gun.
The Pacific Opal vessel had earlier radioed for help.
Baines adds that today the Winnipeg saw more action when it spotted a boatload of Somalis, trying to get from Somalia to Yemen.
He says they had been at sea for two days and were hungry and thirsty, so crew from the Winnipeg were able to get supplies to them.
The Winnipeg is currently participating in a NATO-led counter-piracy mission known as Operation Allied Protector.
With a crew of approximately 240 officers and non-commissioned members, the warship has been at sea since early February, and won't return to Victoria until August.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
PM, cabinet, soldier families decry Afghan rape law
From the internet...Yahoo news...
PM, cabinet, soldier families decry Afghan rape law
April 1st, 2009, 6:15pm.
39 minutes ago
By Alexander Panetta, The Canadian Press
OTTAWA - Angry Canadian politicians say the country hasn't sacrificed soldiers' lives and spent billions of dollars in Afghanistan so that men there could be permitted to rape their wives.
There's growing outrage over legislation that would restrict the rights of Afghanistan's minority Shia women, making it illegal for them to refuse sex to their husbands or even leave the house without permission.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper said he's deeply troubled by a move which flies in the face of what the international community wants to accomplish in Afghanistan.
"This is antithetical to our mission in Afghanistan," he told a Canadian media outlet in London, where he's attending the G20 summit.
"The concept that women are full human beings with human rights is very, very central to the reason the international community is engaged in this country. . .
"It's a significant change we want to see from the bad, old days of the Taliban."
Canada has lost 116 soldiers and spent up to $10 billion to support the government of President Hamid Karzai. Several members of Harper's cabinet voiced similar outrage, as did opposition politicians and one military family.
Defence Minister Peter MacKay said he will use this week's NATO summit to put "direct" pressure on his Afghan counterparts to abandon the legislation.
"That's unacceptable - period," he said Wednesday. "We're fighting for values that include equality and women's rights. This sort of legislation won't fly."
The proposed Shia family law has cast a shadow over an international conference in Europe on Afghanistan's future.
Critics say Karzai approved the law in advance of his country's elections in the hope of winning critical swing votes from conservative Shia men.
But it remains shrouded in mystery: it has not been published, Karzai's office has refused to comment on it, and its alleged details have been made public by Afghan parliamentarians who opposed it.
There are even differences of opinion about whether the law is in effect; the Canadian government says it understands the law is not yet finalized.
Confusion over the legislation is so widespread that even Afghan diplomats appeared sideswiped by the news. Afghanistan's ambassador to Canada, Omar Samad, said he's unclear on its basic details and is working to get information from Kabul.
Canadian officials have contacted Karzai's office and demanded more details.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton reportedly upbraided Karzai over the proposed law during this week's 80-country Afghanistan summit in The Hague.
Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff said he's outraged by the legislation and Canada must make it clear to Karzai that it's unacceptable.
International Co-operation Minister Bev Oda said she was in "disbelief" when she first heard about the legislation. She noted that the equality of the sexes is a key Canadian objective in Afghanistan.
"We've invested a lot, we've put a lot of energy and resources into that," Oda said.
"It's very problematic. It's of great concern, and it is going to be a difficulty for Canada - because of our investment and our commitment to human rights, the rule of law, and equality. . . the steps we're taking, the investment we're making, and the work we're doing."
The father of a dead soldier also expressed anger. But he said Canada must continue working to modernize the country.
"My son gave his life up for all these causes and to have President Karzai's government bring in a law like that, that's insulting," said Jim Davis of Nova Scotia, whose son, Cpl. Paul Davis, was killed in Afghanistan in 2006.
"The law is offensive but what is the alternative? We just have to continue on with our effort and hope that we can make some improvements. . . The country has a long way in the last six years so hopefully we can just continue on our efforts and see some more improvements."
PM, cabinet, soldier families decry Afghan rape law
April 1st, 2009, 6:15pm.
39 minutes ago
By Alexander Panetta, The Canadian Press
OTTAWA - Angry Canadian politicians say the country hasn't sacrificed soldiers' lives and spent billions of dollars in Afghanistan so that men there could be permitted to rape their wives.
There's growing outrage over legislation that would restrict the rights of Afghanistan's minority Shia women, making it illegal for them to refuse sex to their husbands or even leave the house without permission.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper said he's deeply troubled by a move which flies in the face of what the international community wants to accomplish in Afghanistan.
"This is antithetical to our mission in Afghanistan," he told a Canadian media outlet in London, where he's attending the G20 summit.
"The concept that women are full human beings with human rights is very, very central to the reason the international community is engaged in this country. . .
"It's a significant change we want to see from the bad, old days of the Taliban."
Canada has lost 116 soldiers and spent up to $10 billion to support the government of President Hamid Karzai. Several members of Harper's cabinet voiced similar outrage, as did opposition politicians and one military family.
Defence Minister Peter MacKay said he will use this week's NATO summit to put "direct" pressure on his Afghan counterparts to abandon the legislation.
"That's unacceptable - period," he said Wednesday. "We're fighting for values that include equality and women's rights. This sort of legislation won't fly."
The proposed Shia family law has cast a shadow over an international conference in Europe on Afghanistan's future.
Critics say Karzai approved the law in advance of his country's elections in the hope of winning critical swing votes from conservative Shia men.
But it remains shrouded in mystery: it has not been published, Karzai's office has refused to comment on it, and its alleged details have been made public by Afghan parliamentarians who opposed it.
There are even differences of opinion about whether the law is in effect; the Canadian government says it understands the law is not yet finalized.
Confusion over the legislation is so widespread that even Afghan diplomats appeared sideswiped by the news. Afghanistan's ambassador to Canada, Omar Samad, said he's unclear on its basic details and is working to get information from Kabul.
Canadian officials have contacted Karzai's office and demanded more details.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton reportedly upbraided Karzai over the proposed law during this week's 80-country Afghanistan summit in The Hague.
Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff said he's outraged by the legislation and Canada must make it clear to Karzai that it's unacceptable.
International Co-operation Minister Bev Oda said she was in "disbelief" when she first heard about the legislation. She noted that the equality of the sexes is a key Canadian objective in Afghanistan.
"We've invested a lot, we've put a lot of energy and resources into that," Oda said.
"It's very problematic. It's of great concern, and it is going to be a difficulty for Canada - because of our investment and our commitment to human rights, the rule of law, and equality. . . the steps we're taking, the investment we're making, and the work we're doing."
The father of a dead soldier also expressed anger. But he said Canada must continue working to modernize the country.
"My son gave his life up for all these causes and to have President Karzai's government bring in a law like that, that's insulting," said Jim Davis of Nova Scotia, whose son, Cpl. Paul Davis, was killed in Afghanistan in 2006.
"The law is offensive but what is the alternative? We just have to continue on with our effort and hope that we can make some improvements. . . The country has a long way in the last six years so hopefully we can just continue on our efforts and see some more improvements."
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