Things Noticeable this week

[Nobody1]

Good news. The world is allowed to breathe a sigh of relief since Germany disarms herself. Albeit just involuntarily.

https://www.defensenews.com/naval/20...urrently-down/

But a sub in the junkyard is worth two in the bush. Sometimes I am really proud of my country. We should set a good example like this more often.

Do you remember the truck attack on a Berlin Christmas market? Always those pesky islamists, right?

https://www.theguardian.com/world/20...hot-dead-milan

Well, there's news. According to recent investigations of genuine journalism, Berlin's LKA has instigated Amri to commit this attack.

Sorry, only in German.

https://www.rbb24.de/politik/beitrag...heidplatz.html

How surprising! Now I am really, really outraged. Who would have thought that?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Gladio

Ave Caesar, morituri te salutant.

[vinceprince]

Originally Posted by Wendigo

And Harold Shipman as a specialist advisor in gerontology

Perhaps they should be renamed WHY

Or a climate change denier/fossil fuel lobbyist head of environmental protection?

Right America?

[rupertramjet]

Originally Posted by xyzde69

Should UNO remove the veto right ?
Should the blue helmet soldiers have the right to fight against several wicked dictatorships instead to let USA, NATO or Russian armies to intervene when they want for their own interests?

Simple answer, no to all the above!

[Roubignol]

Originally Posted by rupertramjet

Simple answer, no to all the above!

So... Should UNO give the veto right to all the members?

[Wendigo]

Originally Posted by xyzde69

So... Should UNO give the veto right to all the members?

No, that will be even worse as that will mean nothing will ever get done and it will become an even more ineffective talking shop. There's always going to be one nation will will oppose whatever measures are proposed.

[rupertramjet]

All members of the Security Council have it, lets say for example, that Zimbabwe have it, so there is a decision to send peace keeping troops there, because of the huge number of starving, ill, homeless and desperate folk, it is a one party state, with a leader who will spend millions on a birthday party, whilst his people starve.

Peace Keepers are usually on a double mission, providing security for the ordinary and dispossessed, and supporting the safety of the NGO's, like MSF, UNESCO,Oxfam and the Red Cross, they are never there to interfere with the rule of the country, however desperate. They will however protect civilians from the barbarity of soldiers and police, political gangs and groups, but this depends on the rules of engagement, which control when and why lethal force can be used, a breach of which will result in charges being bought, and imprisonment being handed out if proven.

All of the above are the norm in Zimbabwe, once the bread basket of Africa, it is now covered with desolate farms and starving people, all because of the blatantly racist and political favours for friends, policy of Mugabee. IF a man like him had the veto, he would of course use it, so no the Veto should stay as it is, although I personally would like to see it removed and a simple majority vote of the Committee introduced instead. I do not make policy, our role is to advise, and recommend, it is for those above us to decide on any action, be it National or International.

[Devius]

The Spanish prime minister has outlined plans to remove Catalonia's leaders, but not dissolve the parliament of the semi-autonomous region.

Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said after an emergency cabinet meeting that the government intended to hold regional elections as soon as possible.

The measures put forward by the cabinet now go to a vote by Spain's Senate.

They come almost three weeks after Catalonia held a disputed independence referendum.

Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont has ignored pleas from the national government to abandon his independence campaign.

Mr Rajoy said the government had no choice in seeking to impose direct rule, arguing that the Catalan government's actions were "contrary to the law and seeking confrontation".

Details:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-41704759

[Nobody1]

Of course, there is an (not entirely) unselfish interest of some (coincidentally former colonial) powers to deny others the right of veto. Shamed be he who thinks evil of it. For example, the nice little word neocolonialism.

Btw, there are certain members who quite officially do not give a damn about what the UN wants, and what it stands for. Need a small example?

https://www.vox.com/world/2017/9/20/...destroy-speech

Just to mention it.

Charter of the United Nations

Article 2 (3)

'All Members shall settle their international disputes by peaceful means in such a manner that international peace and security, and justice, are not endangered.'

Article 2 (4)

'All Members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, or in any other manner inconsistent with the Purposes of the United Nations.'

http://legal.un.org/repertory/art2.shtml

Strangely, they still have the right to veto. Even though they have not the slightest idea what UN means, let alone what is written in the Charter.

[Puhbear69]

Originally Posted by Devius

The Spanish prime minister has outlined plans to remove Catalonia's leaders, but not dissolve the parliament of the semi-autonomous region.

Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said after an emergency cabinet meeting that the government intended to hold regional elections as soon as possible.

The measures put forward by the cabinet now go to a vote by Spain's Senate.

They come almost three weeks after Catalonia held a disputed independence referendum.

Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont has ignored pleas from the national government to abandon his independence campaign.

Mr Rajoy said the government had no choice in seeking to impose direct rule, arguing that the Catalan government's actions were "contrary to the law and seeking confrontation".
[...]

All cruse controls are standing on "full speed" into a confrontation.

No negotiations and/or mediations within three weeks (!!!) after the announcement of the independence-vote. The Spanish government of Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy seems to be seeking for this conflict, not for a calm down or solving it in anyway, it is missing the politically will at all.
How "eligible" this government seems to be, everyone can count on ones five fingers himself.

In this case I'm very pessimistic, that it will come to a peacefully end.

Indeed, that "seems to be the spirit of the Franco regime". ('cicciobuki').

[Devius]

Populist billionaire candidate Andrej Babis and his party have won the Czech Republic's general election.

Mr Babis, 63, is the country's second-richest man and campaigned on an anti-establishment and Eurosceptic platform.

With all votes counted, his centrist movement ANO (Yes) collected a share of almost 30% - nearly three times that of its closest rival.

The centre-right Civic Democrats and the far-right SPD came second and third with more than 10% each.

Turnout was almost 61%.

Mr Babis is now set to become prime minister after coalition negotiations.

The 63-year-old is estimated to be worth $4bn (£3bn), making him the country's second richest man - but he has also faced numerous scandals including a fraud indictment and accusations he was a communist-era police agent.

Details:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-41708844