Putting Things in Perspective: The Vetting of Sarah Palin

 By Bill Peterson (Right photo)

Wednesday night, Sarah Palin gave what was by all accounts an excellent speech.

This is a woman who, in the last week, has been the target of multiple, scurrilous attacks. The left wing press has made her into a pariah, a target upon which it can unload all of its hatred for conservatism. Much has been said, and it has been roundly speculated that McCain’s vetting process was anything but thorough. But between Palin and Barack Obama, can there be any question as to whose record has been more carefully examined by the media– by the American public?

Briefly consider the following facts, and ask yourself how many times you’ve heard about them in the mainstream press:

Obama, a black man, is a former member of a church that endorses Black Liberation Theology, a faith that believes that Christianity teaches us to free the “oppressed” through redistributing the wealth– the oppressed, in this case, being everyone who is black; this is a church that he attended for twenty years.

While visiting his father’s homeland, Kenya, in 2004, Obama met with and campaigned on behalf of fellow Luo tribesman and openly socialist Ralia Odinga, who is now the Prime Minister of Kenya.

Obama is a known associate of William Ayers, unrepentant domestic terrorist directly responsible for bombings on both the Capitol Building and the Pentagon; it is in that man’s home where Obama held his political coming-out party in 1995, when he first announced his candidacy for State Senator of Illinois.

Many are familiar with Barack Obama as a “community organizer,” but few seem to know what work he did specifically; Obama worked for the Developing Communities Project of the Calumet Community Religious Conference in Chicago, organizations based around the principles of the Communist writer, Saul Alinsky. Alinsky wrote a book called Rules for Radicals, which Obama says he read in college in his autobiography, The Audacity of Hope. Considered by many to be the Bible of bloodless socialist revolution, Rules for Radicals surely had an effect on the just-out-of-college Obama, considering that he went to work for organizations dedicated to the principles that were laid out in it. Alinsky’s son, L. David Alinsky, recently said to the Boston Globe:

“Barack Obama’s training in Chicago by the great community organizers is showing its effectiveness. It is an amazingly powerful format, and the method of my late father always works to get the message out and get the supporters on board. When executed meticulously and thoughtfully, it is a powerful strategy for initiating change and making it really happen. Obama learned his lesson well.

“I am proud to see that my father’s model for organizing is being applied successfully beyond local community organizing to affect the Democratic campaign in 2008. It is a fine tribute to Saul Alinsky as we approach his 100th birthday.”

According to Alinsky, Obama has learned his lesson well. What lesson, and from whom? The answer: how to affect “Change” as taught by an avowed Communist. This is how Obama earned his stripes– organizing.

When Barack Obama, the man who may quite possibly be the next Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the United States of America, is free from the intense scrutiny that has been given to Sarah Palin’s seventeen year-old daughter’s romantic life, something is not right.

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API/Source.autonomyblogivisits

East Africa: Tanzania challenges Uganda on “secret” Nile pact

Tanzania suspects that the two leaders entered a pact to take more water out of the river for their mutual benefit. Tensions were fanned further after Uganda Water and Environment Minister Maria Mutagamba made three unofficial visits to Cairo that Tanzania now suspects could have been intended to draw up the framework for the Mubarak-Museveni pact.

President Mubarak made a brief stopover in Uganda on his way from South Africa where he had gone to rally support for Sudanese President Omar El Bashir against his likely indictment for crimes against humanity by the International criminal Court. According to a source who sought anonymity, among other bilateral issues, the two presidents also had specific discussions on the use of the Nile waters.

Neither of the countries, however, shared the minutes of these talks with the Nile Basin Initiative (NBI), an inter-governmental organisation that brings together the Nile Basin countries of Burundi, DR Congo, Egypt, Eritrea (still an observer), Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania Sudan and Uganda. The EastAfrican has learnt that Tanzania requested the meeting’s minutes from NBI in vain, and consequently asked the organisation to use its mandate to follow up on the matter.

Tanzania’s interest in the matter is said to arise from concerns that Uganda is releasing water beyond the normal flow from Lake Victoria into the river for purposes of hydropower generation, which in the process ensures more water flowing towards Egypt, but hurts the ecosystem of the lake. Kampala confirmed that the Nile was high on the agenda of the presidents’ meeting, but said that Tanzania should not intervene in the two countries’ bilateral relations, because whereas Uganda hosts the major exit to the Nile, Egypt’s lifeline depends on the river.

Meanwhile, NBI member states are yet to agree on a new deal that will govern the use of the Nile waters, after throwing out the outdated bilateral agreements between Egypt and former colonialists Britain because not all the countries in the basin had consented to them. Against that background, Uganda’s recent behaviour on issues regarding the Nile is being seen as potentially undermining the confidence and trust that had so far developed among the members over the past 10 years of negotiating a new agreement.

One of the sticking points preventing an agreement is a clause in its draft pertaining to the security of water for all the riparian states.

There have been concerns expressed within and outside Uganda that the country is releasing more water than flows naturally from Lake Victoria into the Nile in order to achieve enough water-pressure to run the turbines at the twin Nalubale and Kiira power plants in Jinja, in order to generate more electricity to reduce the energy deficit facing the country.

Uganda has in the past argued that the real cause of falling water levels in Lake Victoria is tied to the climate change phenomenon and catchment-area degradation in countries where the major rivers that discharge into the lake originate.

The falling levels have affected the ecosystem of the lake, resulting in declining fisheries, difficulties in water navigation and hydropower production. But for Egypt, it means more water flowing towards it.

It is noteworthy that Uganda, while chairing the Nile Basin last year, had the opportunity to call a heads of state summit, but did not because it was busy hosting the Commonwealth Heads of Governments Meeting, according to government officials. DR Congo is the current chair of the inter-governmental organisation, but has yet to show any intentions of calling the crucial summit.

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API/Source.East African (Kenya), by David Malingha Doya

Sudan: Rumblings of dissent on Bashir indictment

The first political leader to say so publicly was Ibrahim al-Shaikh, who is head of the small Sudanese Congress Party. Speaking at his party headquarters in Omdurman about how the country should deal with a possible indictment, al-Shaikh said there was ample evidence of the president’s involvement in crimes committed in Darfur.

“We cannot believe that the planes bombing civilians in Darfur can do that without his permission and approval,” said al-Shaikh.

Since the United Nations Security Council, UNSC, referred Darfur to the ICC in March 2005, al-Bashir’s government has strongly rejected the court’s jurisdiction, claiming to have a capable and impartial justice system able to prosecute crimes nationally. However, all the initiatives set up by Khartoum – like the Special Criminal Court on the Events in Darfur established one day after the ICC’s investigation was launched in June 2005 – have been dismissed as insincere by justice experts and human rights groups.

According to al-Shaikh, “It is clear to everyone that our judicial system is not willing to or capable of trying those who committed crimes, because of the lack of capacity of our lawyers and judges, which results from their lack of independence.” He called on the president to resign, adding, “If he thinks he is innocent, he should agree to stand trial, because that is the only way to end the crisis facing the country.”

This is the first open call of its kind since the prosecutor’s application for an arrest warrant against al-Bashir in mid-July, but it reflects a broader trend towards public questioning of the official line.

In the days before the prosecutor’s announcement, al-Bashir’s ruling National Congress Party, NCP, made every effort to show the world that the whole country was behind its leader. Commentators outside Sudan were taken aback as opposition parties scrambled to support al-Bashir and the NCP, but few within the country were surprised. Al-Bashir came to power in a military coup in 1989 and continues to control the army, police and security services, giving him a lot of leverage against his opponents.

In the aftermath of the prosecutor’s announcement, state-run radio and TV stations repeatedly broadcast messages of solidarity with the president, and the government tightened its censorship of independent newspapers. Editors were issued with new instructions which said that “any report or article seeming to be, or suspected of being, supportive of the ICC or the prosecutor will make the newspaper subject to suspension and the confiscation of its property”.

Judges at the ICC are still reviewing the evidence submitted by the prosecutors and have yet to issue an indictment for al-Bashir. A decision on whether to do so is expected any day now. Prosecutors say al-Bashir is responsible for ten counts of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity against the Fur, Zaghawa and Masalit peoples of Darfur. They say that over the last five years, the president has masterminded crimes to destroy communities on ethnic grounds, ordering the destruction of food stocks, shelter, and wells; and that he conducted genocide through rape, hunger and fear as government troops and allied “janjaweed” militiamen murdered, tortured, raped civilians and forced them from their homes.

Just seven weeks on from the prosecutor’s request, the daily protest marches against the ICC have stopped, and security restrictions on the printed media seem to have softened. None is outwardly calling for the president to stand down or face trial at the ICC, yet it is of some significance that the authors of opinion pieces are daring to critique the government and offer suggestions on how to solve the problem.

Abdelbagi Jabril from the Darfur Relief and Documentation Centre cautions that the current relaxation of the censorship over the ICC issue is only relative, and may be more a reflection of erratic policymaking than of real change.

“They may allow you to write a story one week, but only if it serves their objectives. Censoring is a reality and journalists are not free.”

It is hard to assess the true level of political support for al-Bashir from reading the censored press, but contacts in Khartoum say Al-Shaikh’s Congress Party stands almost alone in openly calling for the president’s resignation. The party is secular, liberal and progressive in outlook, and was established in 1985 soon after the downfall of the dictator Gaafar Numayri Nimeiri. It has opposed al-Bashir’s rule since he seized power in 1989.

Only some small parties, like the Movement of New Democratic Forces, and Hassan al-Turabi’s Popular Congress Party have publicly echoed his calls for al-Bashir’s resignation.

Meanwhile, the main parties represented in the National Assembly continue to support al-Bashir, outwardly at least.

* Reporting from Sudan was provided by local journalists, who have not been identified out of concern for their security. The report was compiled by Katy Glassborow, an IWPR international justice reporter in The Hague.

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API/Source.Institute for War and Peace Reporting (IWPR)

28 million Africans will die of chronic “silent killers” in ten years

YAOUNDE, Sept 3  – If action is not taken, some 28 million people will die of chronic non-communicable diseases in the WHO Africa region over the next 10 years, the WHO regional office for Africa has warned in the latest edition of its magazine African Health Monitor published in Yaounde on Tuesday.

 

      Non-communicable diseases, also called the silent killers, are debilitating and often present fatal complications such as blindness, renal failure and gangrene leading to lower limb amputations and hemiplegic conditions.

 

      The number of chronic disease-related deaths in the region in 2005 was 2,446,000, and WHO projects that 28 million people in the region will die from a chronic disease over the next years.

 

      “The rate of increase of deaths from chronic diseases will outstrip that from infectious diseases, maternal and prenatal conditions, and nutritional deficiences more than four-fold in the next 10 years. Most significantly, deaths from diabetes will increase by 42 percent,” writes Dr. Matshidisa Moeti of the Africa office in the magazine.

 

     It cites cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases as the most common forms non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in the region. Existing data suggest that there were 582,000 new cancer cases in 2002, the most common being cervical, breast, liver, Karposi’s sarcoma, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and prostate cancers.

 

     Globally, it says with appropriate interventions and services, one third of cancers can be prevented, one third are curable while the remaining one third are incurable. But the situation in Africa, because by the time of diagnosis, 80-90 percent of âtients have incurable cancers, with only 10-15 percent curable when given appropriate treatment.

 

     In 2002, cancer deaths were estimated at 412,100. If intervention to intensify and scale up prevention and treatment are not put in place, it is projected that in the year 2020 there will be 804,000 new cancer cases and 626,400 cancer-related deaths, says the magazine.

 

     Concerning diabetes, the overall regional prevalence is projected to reach 4.8 percent in 2030. The number of people with diabetes  in 2006 was 10.4 million and this figure is expected to increase to 18.7 million by 2025.

 

      The majority of cases in the region go underdetected, while the undiagnosed cases are estimated to be as high as 60-80 percent in Cameroon, Ghana and Tanzania. Undiagnosed cases evolve silently into complications such as renal failure, foot disease and diseases of the heart.

 

      In some countries in the region, the diabetes mortality rate is very high, more than 40 per 10,000 inhabitants.     

 

      As concerns cardiovascular diseases (CVD), it is estimated that more than 20 million people are affected, mainly in urban areas. Prevalence in the region ranges from 25-35 percent in adults aged 25-64 years and studies show a clear relationship between the level of blood pressure, salt and fat consumption, and body weight.

 

      Rheumatic heart disease is the most important form of acquired CVD in children and adolescents, with a prevalence rate of 15-20 per 1,000 people. Of the 18 million people currently affected, two thirds are children between five and 15 years and there are around 300,000 deaths each year.

 

      Regional director Dr. Luis Sambo blames the growing threat of these leading killers in the region on changing lifestyles.

 

      “These changes include widespread tobacco, substance and alcohol use and abuse, reduced physical activity and consumption of diets rich in salt, sugar and fat, among others,” he says.

 

     “These risk factors, along with mental and neurological disorders, are conspiring with injuries and violence to overstretch the fragile and already overburdened health systems in the African region…Rapid androbust interventions are all we need to diffuse this ticking time bomb.”

 

     According to Dr. Paul-Samson Lusamba-Dikassa, preventing and delaying illness and death from chronic NCDs is possible.

 

     At least 80 percent of all premature CVD and type 2 diabetes and over 40 percent of cancer could be avoided through healthy diet, regular physical activity and avoidance of tobacco use, he says.(END)

By Tansa Musa

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API

Egyptian, Gabonese foreign minister discuss cooperation

The Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit on Thursday held talks with his Gabonese counterpart, Mrs. Laura Konditjo in Cairo.

According to the spokesman of the Egyptian Foreign ministry, Hossam Zaki, the main objective of the visit of the Gabonese Foreign Minister was to discuss bilateral cooperation frameworks in the areas of development in different areas, particularly in the areas of infrastructure, building construction and civil aviation.

Zaki pointed out that Gabon is being initiated in the implementation of giant projects in the area of construction, in preparation for hosting the African Nations Cup in 2012.

For its part, the Gabonese Foreign Minister expressed Gabon’s interest to benefit from Egyptian expertise in the field of civil aviation, information technology, and telecommunications and cement industries.

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API/Source.apa

Italy to award AU Commissioner decoration of grand officer

Italy will officially award on Friday, the chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission, Jean Ping the decoration of Grand Officer of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, APA learnt on Thursday.
The award – the first of its kind – will be given to Ping by the Italian Secretary of State, Senator Alfredo Mantica, who is in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia for the inaugural re-erection ceremony of the Axum obelisk.

According to a press release issued here by the AU, the award is in recognition of Jean Ping’s great achievements in his distinguished 35 year career in government and the international arena, marked by several diplomatic successes to restore peace and stability in Central Africa, in particular in Congo, Chad, Central African Republic and Sao Tomé and Principe.

Ping was elected chairperson of the AU Commission during the last January summit in Addis Ababa.

He served as Gabonese Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation, Francophonie and Regional Integration.

He was the president of the 59th session of the General Assembly of the United Nations (2004-2005).

The Order of Merit is the highest order of Italy.

It recognizes distinguished achievements and services to the Italian Republic performed in the fields of arts, literature, economics, or in carrying out functions in public offices, military and civil careers and in commitment to philanthropic and humanitarian purposes.

The award is expected to be officially given to Ping in the presence of the international community in Ethiopia.

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API/Source.apa

Commonwealth Parliamentary Association visits Malawi

 three-man delegation from the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), a UK-based organisation which works to support good govervance, democracy and human rights, is in the country on a week long visit.

According to the delegation leader Ian Davison here Thursday, the CPA visit will strengthen ties between Malawi and Britain.

\”We would like to discuss with local people on a number of issues, including various developmental projects implemented by government and the UK Department for International Development (DFID) and Plan Malawi if their work benefited Malawians,\” he said.

While in the country, the delegation is expected to meet government officials, non-governmental organisations and will also visit election registration centres in parts of the Malawi capital Lilongwe to see how the exercise for the 2009 general elections was being conducted.

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Published by Chief Editor Korir, African Press International – api/ Source.apa

Burkina Faso reshuffles cabinet: Yet another African country with a very large cabinet following Kenya’s example

Six new ministers have entered the government of Burkina Faso in the wake of a reshuffle while others shifted portfolios, according to a decree that has been released.

The newcomers include Seydou Kabore, minister of infrastructures and development who replaces Hyppolite Lingani whereas Col. Emile Ouedraogo holds the Security department.

Another new minister, Noel Kabore, of Post services and telecommunication and Marie Therese Keita, the single female cabinet member, is vice-minister of budget.

Alain Bedouma Yoda, previously senior minister of Health becomes senior minister of Foreign affairs and regional cooperation, leaving his former department to Seydou Bouda who was the minister of Civil service and Reform of the State.

The 34-sized cabinet remained unchanged.

The cabinet is as follows:

 Prime Minister: Tertius Zongo
 Minister of State, Minister of Foreign Affairs and regional Cooperation: Alain B. YODA
 Minister of Agriculture, Hydraulics, and fishery resources: Laurent SEDEGO
 Minister of Economy and Finance: Lucien Marie Noël BEMBAMBA
 Minister of Justice, Attorney general: Zakalia KOTE
 Minister of Defence: Yero BOLY
 Minister of Health: Seydou BOUDA
 Minister of Transport: Gilbert N. OUEDRAOGO
 Minister of Territorial administration and Decentralisation: Clement P. SAWADOGO
 Minister of Infrastructures and Opening-up: Seydou KABORE
 Minister of Quarry mines and Energy: Abdoulaye Abdoul Kader CISSE
 Minister of Culture, Tourism, and communication, Spokesman of the Government: Filippe SAVADOGO
 Minister of Security: Emile OUEDRAOGO
 Minister of Environment and living environment: Salifou SAWADOGO
 Minister of Tertiary and secondary education, and scientific research: Joseph PARE
 Minister of Basic Education and literacy: Marie Odile BONKOUNGOU BALIMA
 Minister of Trade for the promotion of enterprises and craft industries: Mamadou SANOU
 Minister of Civil service and State Reform: Soungalo OUATTARA
 Minister of Labour and Social welfare: Jerome Bougouma
 Minister, Mission officer to the President of Faso, in charge of Analysis and Prospect: Gueda Jacques OUEDRAOGO
 Minister of Youth and Employment: Justin KOUTABA
 Minister of Social policy and national solidarity: Pascaline TAMINI BIHOUN
 Minister of Animal Resources: Sekou BA
 Minister for the promotion of Human Rights: Salamata SAWADOGO
 Minister of Post services and Information and communication technologies: Noël KABORE
 Minister of Women Empowerment: Celine M. YODA
 Minister of Housing and town planning: Vincent T. DABILGOU
 Minister of Sports and Leisure: Mori Aldjouma Jean Pierre PALM
 Minister of Relations with Parliament: Tibo alias Cecile BELOUM OUEDRAOGO
 Vice-minister for the Budget attached to the Economy and Finance minister: Marie Therese DRABO – KEITA
 Vice-minister for regional cooperation attached to the Foreign Affairs and regional Cooperation minister: Minata SAMATE
 Vice-minister for territorial communities attached to the Territorial administration and Decentralisation minister: Toussaint Abel COULIBALY
 Vice-minister for Agriculture attached to the Agriculture, Hydraulics, and fishery resources minister: Abdoulaye COMBARY
 Vice-minister for literacy and unofficial education attached to the Basic Education and literacy minister: Ousséni TAMBOURA
 Vice-minister for technical education and vocational training attached to the Tertiary and secondary education, and scientific research minister: Maxime SOME.

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Published by Chief Editor Korir, African Press International – API/ Source.APA