Yes we can (Irish way)

Obama made a new style of campaigning, creating a new school of propaganda. Even a new school of politicians. Issues like PR, image and new technologies become much more important than what they already were and were exploited at their maximum (for now). The tactics gave so good results that have been copies all around the world. In Israel they used Obama's websites and new tech tactics, in Spain they almost use Obama as their candidate (with no presence whatsoever of their own candidate) and even in Iran, Obama's archenemy, Ahmadinejad, has copied the "Yes we can" from the American president's campaign.

Ireland is different. As a sample, a few posters for the new European elections due to the 6th of June.

1. Image? Presence? Loquacity? What for all that? Everyone knows action speaks better than words. An image consultant, however, would be benefitial.


2. This one needs too a consultant to help him improve that smile.


3. Campaigning is hard and expensive. This candidate ran out of funds and had to finish the posters by hand.


4. This one doesn't know in Brussels it's forbbiden to smoke in the European parlament.


5. Defending the youth: for the right to a party session in the middle of the recession. I have to admit that I may vote him. I cannot resist the temptation of a good party either. And this guy knows how to party: being a europolitician in Brussels.



Kudos to Joerg.

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Yes we can (soccer way)

They said it was going to be a year of transition. A new manager, a newbie. A demoralized team. A strong and fit archenemy. A huge challenge. And they lost their first game of the season against one of the weakest teams of La Liga. But in the end, today Barcelona is the present king of world soccer.

Just a few times in a lifetime is possible to see so magical moments like the ones lived in Rome. With an excellent game -although not so excellent as everybody though it will be-, FC Barcelona won by two-nil the former European Champions, Manchester United. The difference in the scoreboard reflects the difference of quality on the field.

Before the game, ManU was the favorite. Partly because of the own Barca, with several injured or suspended, specially in the back and forward. Partly because of the English media, that made CR7 Caesar even before arriving to Rome.

But in the end, the modern soccer coliseum was the tomb for ManU and the esctasis for a social mass, the Barcelona supporters, that now can walk proud along the biggest teams in History.

Last night's victory makes Barcelona the first Spanish team to get the triple crown: Spanish League, King's Cup and Champions League, the three major tournaments a SPanish team can be involved in. They are also just the fifth team in all History that achieves that. The others are Celtic, Ajax, ManU and PSV. But of course, it's not the same achieven that in Scotland or Netherlands that doing it in Spain or England.

Last night, the soccer won. It won a style, a way of living this sport, an elegant way of playing it. Seven player of the starting lineup of the Barcelona were from the house. Some of them (like Messi or Pique) are now the reference in their positions in the field.

But also individually, there was some kind of justice. Silvinho and Henry saw the price to a great career with the only title they were lackying. Guardiola, on the other hand, got the privilege of getting into a prestigious club: the one with the players that have won the Champions League both as players and managers. The other two are Cruyff and Rijkaard. Worths saying that all of the three guys won the cup at least once with Barcelona.

But there was some space too for the other side of the coin. CR7 has shown the world before he's just a kid, and last night he did it again. And although in Rome there wasn't any incidents, in Nigeria a ManU supporter killed 4 Barcelona supporters that were celebrating the thriumph.




Photo: EFE/Ettore Ferrari. More photos here.

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Friendly fire 28/05/09

- How to: assist to a charity auction for the free sandwiches and come back home with a fighter jet.

- Israel and the USA, full cooperation for anti-missile shield.

- Casualties in Iraq and Afghanistan, tracked down in Google Earth.

- Australia wants to increase the fleet of sub from 6 to 12, but for now, it struggles to have at least one operative.

- Maybe in the end the FCS of the US Army is not a dead walking zombie...

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Arms race goes east II (The Dragon wakes up)

2030 is also the date in red on Chinese’s agenda. By then, according to the graphics we have been seeing for a decade, they will be the first economy of the world, way upper than the USA. And of course, it’s expected that the military power will follow similar paths as the economic development.

But we don’t have to go so far. Today’s Chinese Armed Forces are a power to take in consideration. And even a step behind, the number of them and their inventiveness keeps them in the frontline. Well, maybe inventiveness is a bit excessive, as many progression is not theirs, but a copy of other’s work.

However, whatever they do, they are doing it well. In less than what was expected, they have jumped from third generation jets to the fourth (Europe and the USA have already their 5th gen. fighters, the Eurofighter and Raptor respectively; and Russia works in the details for his own fifth gen. jet). But we should note that they were helped by the Russians in this jump (not willingly, however). But the fact is that now, they not only have a plane more than capable of facing the Hornets, Eagles and Sukhois in an air battlefield, but also to plant battle in the markets. And a better positioning in the places where this kind of planes might interest (Asia, Latin America and Africa).

Also the Navy sails with full power. The construction of a medical ship in November, woke up all kina of rumors in the West. This kind of ships have two primary tasks: help the casualties from conflicts far from the homeland, or help with humanitarian aid operations. It may be that China, ashamed after being unable to help in 2006 after the tsunami in Thailand, is trying to solve that for the future. But neocons in Washington prefer to think it is because of the other option, much more sinister.

Something else starting to take off in China is the naval air power. Today, the Chinese are the only superpower without a carrier capability. That will change from now to 2030. The dragons have announced they plan to build between four and six mid-size carriers. Like as it happened with Iran, some analysts are already calling wolf.

Truth, however, is slightly different. Four, six or even ten carriers don’t present a big threat. Kyle Mizokami gives ten reasons why we shouldn’t fear the Chinese. Norman Polmar also uses similar arguments. But over all that, over the difference in quality, quantity and experience, it would be the fact of China being more likely a friend than a foe.

Much more dangerous than a few carriers looks the possibility of the Chinese modifying ICBMs to target Western carriers. They never have said so, but a carrier is the only target possible that meets the description of a “big mobile sea target”. Either is that or the golf ball. But again, although it may be scary, is not something worth to worry. Many nations, including Australia, the UK and India already have anti-carriers measures. But these kinds of weapons are considered more a defensive mean than an offensive one. So, unless the US plans to attack China (and they don’t), there is nothing to fear.

The most imminent threat to the Americans may come from Korea. As demonstrated this week, its nuclear program and its ballistic missiles program make them the biggest menace to region stability. But of course, Korea doesn’t need any kind of advertising, Kim il-Jong already does his job now and then to make sure everyone notices him.



Photo PLA

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Arms race goes east I (Central Asia)

The USA and Russia, with endangered economies because of the economic instability, seem keen to go forward with the disarment programs. Not for the Asia-Pacific region.

The approach from Medvedev and Obama looks logical. Not only from a strategic and military point of view, but also economically. In the end, if they can forget about the expensive expenditure of the Defense bill -specially the one derivated from the upkeeping of the nuclear deterrent- that could mean a huge relief for their bad economies. In the US there is even a debate around about if Obama should renounce to the “first strike”, something Americans never took out from the table. But the cuttings aren’t only in stuff. Also in staff, even at a senior level.

On the other hand, the threats from our father’s times are over. Now we won’t need big armies to confront other armies in at least twenty years time. In fact, today’s battleground is an asymmetrical warfare, with invisible foes that attack and retreat like the smoke, and where versatility, mobility and adaptability of small unit is essential. Both, the USA and Russia are working in that way. Also the UK follows the path. And even though the US Army wouldn’t do anything else but maintenance for the oncoming years, they will be without doubt the most powerful force on Earth, even more than all his foes together.

But the Americans aren’t just maintaining the arms. It’s the biggest bill of all armies. The US spends in defense 4.6 times more than the Chinese, 7.7 times more than the Russians, 85.2 times more than Iran and 100 times more than North Korea. The difference for this year is that although it is still growing, it grows less.

Not in Asia. Here, it doesn’t only grow, but sometimes growths even more than in previous years. Up until some point it’s understandable. Asia is the hottest part of the planet right now, where most of the conflicts and instability regimes are (letting aside Africa), from Burma to Sri Lanka. Also where most of tomorrow’s threats are, from Iran to the DPRK. And even where today’s conflicts are taking place, like Afghanistan and Pakistan.

So many problematic people together cannot be good. That’s why, imitating the Europeans, America and Russia after WWII, most of the countries in the region are rearming themselves heavily. Just in case, for what could happen in the future. The dates are fixed, as demonstrated by the new Australian Defense white paper and the Chinese PLAN: 2030.

Iran is a crystal clear example of this. Behind the threatening rethorics of Ahmadinejad, facts are that its power up to date can only endanger weak neighbors. It doesn’t matter what Israel tries to sell us with the fear policy; Iran doesn’t represent a threat today for the West.

Today. But tomorrow it can. Iran is planning the basis for what can be the biggest menace for Israel in all its modern history, and made the mullahs capable of face the Jews without any kind of complexes. The tools are being developed: nuclear weapons, ICBMs and drones to deliver the package.

But probably, the biggest problem is not in Iran itself but in its eastern border: the Af-Pak. The irony of this comes out from the fact that, what started as an operation to stabilize a country and kick the Talibans out from a Government has derivated in a fight to avoid the Talibans taking control of another country in more dangerous conditions.

The fall of Pakistan in hands of a fundamentalist regime would be a huge backstep not only in Washington, but also in Tehran, New Delhi, Tel Aviv and even Beijing or Moscow. It’s not only the problem of having a haven for terrorists, with the back from a state. There is too the threat of Pakistan’s nukes.

Between 60 and 150 weapons, plus the missiles to put them anywhere in a few hundreds miles around, could fall into the hands of some crazy guys whose wet dreams are about that. The threat looks real. At least, real enough to make Washington prepare a plan B to take over the nukes in case Pakistan’s State fails.



Photo; Thomas Cole

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Arms race goes east III (Australia and the guardians of the West)

Before this perspective, the traditional guardians of the West -although some Japanese may disagree on this- are rearming themselves too for what may come.

Japan, mentioned above, plans the biggest remodelation of their Armed Forces since World War II. Not only a material one, but spiritually and in essence. After WWII, as their name states, Japanese army is only an Autodefence army, just for defensive means and not expansive as the previous empire. But just a few years ago, Japan started to go abroad, always keeping in mind avoiding the direct combat, however. Now, Japan’s army has have presence in Iraq and Japanese navy sails the East coast of Africa to patrol the waters and keep them free of pirates.

Of course, we don’t have to go so far to find the biggest problem for Japan: Korea. The DPRK and its missile and nuclear programs represent a big pain in the arse in the backyard. That’s why the main expenses in Japanese defense budget runs along anti-missile systems. Japanese navy is the only foreign navy, together with the Spanish, that has the AEGIS system integrated in their ships. Japan also has a vast network of Patriot launchers defending the cities and strategic areas of the country. And it’s studying the creation of an early warning satellite network.

If Japan is Korea’s Cerberus, India is Pakistan’s. Like we said in the post before, the danger of an Islamist Pakistan in the hands of fanatics with nuclear weapons is a real nightmare. And in spite of American plans to recover the weapons, is better to watch our backs before it happens. That’s why the Indian army is re-enforcing itself heavily. Examples of this are the new Sukhois, new indigenous tanks (plus new T-90 Russian tanks), and two new carriers by 2010.

This expenditure, however, carries on some risks too. As we have said here in Worldwide before, India and Pakistan are playing a dangerous game in an arms race. An increase in India’s military budget may be seen in Pakistan as a new threat. And that may launch the Pakistan army into the hands of the Talibans. Even more than now.

And although India may be powerful, and Japan so, and others like Singapore, who is buying second hand Eagles, is irrelevant if compared to the combined power of the foes. And they lack of regional leadership and strength. Here is when it comes all to Australia.

The new Australian Defence white paper plans a remodelation of Australian armed forces from now to 2030. This would be the biggest -and more expensive- since WWII also for the Australians.

Priority for Australians, as said by their Premier, is to play the role of the USA in the Pacific. This is, becoming a regional superpower capable of facing China any potential risk and to defend themselves from a “direct attack”.

It’s surprising, however, to see Australia spending cash they don’t have, specially when the rest of the world is cutting costs everywhere. But truth is that, although maybe it won’t be possible to accomplish all the demands, Australia has a big relieve to his economy in his mining industry. Ironically, the main buyer is China. That allows the Australian run a bit faster than others in these economically confusing times.

To the increase in the Afghanistan expenditure, we have to add up a close co-operation with New Zealand. Australia also will bet for air power. Just last month, Mr. Rudd’s government announced they will buy more Super Hornets, more Growlers, upgrade the current fleet and up to 100 more JSF. Even the Raptor has attracted their attention (unsuccessfully).

However, the biggest push comes from the Navy, like other countries in the area. The submarine fleet will double the present size, from 6 to 12 -although there will persist the present problem of how to supply those subs with crew. It’s also contemplated the acquisition of a few surface ships, including 8 new frigates, a carrier and a few hundred choppers to supply them.

But is all this necessary? In Beijing no one sees this plan as a threat. And letting aside a few exceptions, neither the West thinks like that. As we said before, it’s more plausible to have China as a friend to count on (like with the six party negotiations with Korea) rather than as a foe. It’s worth then to ask if Australia really need such an expensive military bill in a so instable economic climate. But of course, it’s easy to say this when Iran, Pakistan, the DPRK and China are more than 10 hours away in a plane and not in your backyard.



Photo; Reuters

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Obama starts playing politics

It was a matter of time. In the end, Obama is just another politician. Deceptions were about to come sooner or later. But maybe the last one, the relative to the tortures, is even more significative, because was one of the few things where both McCain and Obama agreed. And is even more worrying because this time, the one who agrees with Obama is Dick Cheney.

First is the delay of the release of photos regarding tortures to detainees in Iraq, Afghanistan and Guantanamo. Maybe after seeing the photos, Obama decided it was too much for the average American stomachs. The official argument lies on the possible threat that could represent for American troops abroad, who could see an increase on the attacks due to the hate coming from the fundamentalists. Of course, this is the same the old administration told us. And Cheney is more than happy with this. Something is wrong if that happens. Worried? Keep reading.

In the second part of the case on tortures, Obama decided to keep the military commissions for the trials for Gitmo’s detainees. The Cuban prison is becoming a headache for Obama. First was the problem of what to do with the detainees that won’t be in America. Now, with the ones that will be in America.

The present decision has more to do with the fact that, if a normal trial is granted to the detainees, a lot CIA and FBI agents will have to face public disclosures. And those guys are really worried of their privacy. In that case, it’s better -for Obama- to leave on the side of the road the civil rights he was promising than endanger the National Security. Equally, is left aside the trust from his believers supporters.

All this comes just after the decision last month to not prosecute the CIA and FBI agents who actually made the tortures, allegedly because they were just following orders. Obama just came to them in a softly parental way to say them that it was wrong, and made them promise they won’t do it again.

Another cold water shot -not waterboarded, though- over the hope Obama brought came with the negative from Obama to intervene in the dismissal of an Army official because is gay. It’s not like what he praised during his campaign, as one of his promises was to stop any sexual discrimination at work, regardless gender or orientation.

It’s even worse by the fact that the guy dismissed is a West Point official, just back from Iraq, where he was serving as an Arabic linguist; a kind of person highly demanded right now.

So, let get me this right. Waterboarding maybe makes detainees talk, but it won’t make them speak English. But you will fire the guy that can understand something more than the “glglglgl” of the suspected terrorist, just because he is... a fag? Jon Stewart explains it better here.

Balance starts going dangerously into the broken promises. And the ones not broken are irrelevant or have been done just at half of it. Like the ban on the presents from lobbies, but then you have the Freeman case, where the American president submits to the will of the AIPAC and Israel. Or like the limit on executive salaries from companies rescued by the Government, not with retroactive action, of course. It allowed the later AIG outrage.

But hey, Obama kept the promise of getting a dog for his daughters, and it was covered by TV networks like if it was the biggest news on the year. That’s just what the USA (and the world) needed. Both the dog and the coverage of the dog by the media.




Photo: AP
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Friendly fire 17/05/09

- Fighting the Taliban in shorts. Kudos to David for the link. On other terms, the oldest casualty in Iraq is a Vietnam veteran.

- The economic crisis through Google Earth eyes.

- Zombie ants. No, it isn’t next horror blockbuster title; it is something real.

- Iran frees American journalist, who flies home. She wasn’t in jail enough to get a place inside the Time 100 most influential people of the world in 2009.

- Wars simplified to a fool-proof mathematical formula. It’s a pity that for now is everything but accurate.


EXTRA: A military analysis on Star Trek.



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Anglosaxons 2 - 0 Latins

There is a difference between Anglosaxon politicians and the Latins: the first ones still keep some honor and shame, despite being politicians.

If you decide to live your life in Washington, London, Brussels, Rome or Madrid’s halls, chances are that after living a life of high standards, near the power and always insulting your opponent (in a mannerly way) will head you into corruption soon or later. You have to be a real angel to avoid a moment of weakness. We just have to look at all the democracies; in all of them have been, are and they will be corruption cases. Not to talk about non-democratic countries.

We all can fail sometime. Politicians even more. They have the temptation closer to them and theirs is stronger. Make mistakes is human. Stay in a mistake is for idiots. Stay in a mistake trying to hide it, lie or escape from it after is cynical and people in politics caught doing so should be able to work again in a public job. And it should be a shame for everyone, from the person involved to the party.

Well, not in Latin countries. We talked here a few days ago about Italy and Berlusconi. In Spain, is kinda the same.

Biggest Spanish scandals from the 80’s and 90’s were in hands of the socialist party -then in power- and their friends. Now, it’s the turn for the Popular Party. Francisco Camps, president of the regional government of Valencia, faces a possible case of inappropriate use of public expenses to pay for personal goods. To be precise, to pay for a few suits. But Camps is only the top of a fraud pyramid that goes much further, with many people involved, some close to the former President, Mr. José María Aznar.

The usual for these cases is that the person involved claim for his innocence (obviously). If the case if too dark (and this one is), he or she should resignate even before everything is cleared, just for the greater good of the party. Even if the mistake was committed by accident. That is precisely what happened in the UK. There, a similar scandal is taking place, with dozens of MPs from both parties being asked about the expenses claimed in the past five years.

The ones with the biggest debts -at least for now only on the papers-, like Shahid Malik, Minister for Justice, have submitted their resignation. The party leaders apologize for themselves and for the party. Shame make the ones involved look to the floor.

Not in Spain. In fact, there it is completely the opposite. The party supports the accused (logical) by saying it is all a conspiracy from a pro-socialist or pro-government judges and a party-targeted prosecution (illogical). And the ones affected, not only don’t look at the floor covered on shame but they shout defiant that Justice will never be able to prove it. Of course, no one talks about resignations.

To resign in Spain -or Italy- is part of Sci-Fi like it is good weather in England. It has to be really messed up to make a Spanish politician to resign. In the UK politicians resign over expenses; in the US over a plane flying low in Manhattan. In Spain, someone who contracted a low cost aviation group to take home from Afghanistan a group of soldiers, didn’t resign. Not even after the plane crashed in Turkey. Not even after the corpses weren’t properly identified and remains of different soldiers were mixed up in the coffins. No one resigned. No one said sorry. No one showed shame, not even in the current prosecution. In Spain, as long as others don’t blow up your cover, you are safe. You can even be promoted.



Photo: EFE
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Stop bullying the USAF!

First was the shame of the Defense budget, being left aside from the party with the smallest portion of cake. Then, they steal from their hands their “precious”, the Airborne Laser (ABL) project and the missile shield program.

But at least they still had the F-35, a whole bunch of $11.2 billion to spend in 30 aircrafts. Only to know later that in fact, they only will have $10.4 billion for the same 30 jets.

Then, when they though that it couldn’t be worse, it happens this:



Check the photo (an official shot from the DoD). It isn’t only that Gen. Norton Schwartz, the Air Force Chief, has been displaced from the rest of the group, but also his title description (click on the photo to enlarge it) doesn’t specify anything.

Enough is enough! Stop bullying the Air Force!


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Replacements are in

Since the beginning it was clear that pacify Afghanistan softly has been a priority for Obama. Gen. David McKiernan, however, didn’t agree with that soft policy. That’s why Robert Gates, the Republican support of Obama in the Department of Defense, decided to get real and forced his resignation.

McKiernan is an old school Army man. He thinks anything is possible with more raw power. That’s why he was always asking for more and more boots on the ground. However, Obama and Gates, this one even since Bush Administration times, were very skeptical to that idea. For them, a softer approach was worth more than old infantry military manuals.

That’s why McKiernan’s out and McChrystal gets in. Lt. Gen. Stanley McChrystal is the anti-McKiernan. He will arrive in difficult times. With the 82 Airborne taking the lead in Afghanistan from the 101 Airborne as main military force; the budget for that war summing more than the one for Iraq for the first time; presidential elections in the horizon, and diary terrorist attacks, even in Kabul; challenges are guaranteed.

The arrival of McChrystal has been welcomed by the military, both in the high spheres and for the boots on the ground. For the first ones, it’s enough to mention that Gen. David Petraeus, Chief of the Central Command is a close friend of McChrystal. For the second ones, as a fellow special ops commando, McChrystal has the respect of his commarades.

His merits also precede him. Veteran from Iraq, McChrystal achieved one of the biggest challenges for Americans in the Middle East: the neutralization of al-Qaeda’s leader in Iraq, Moussab al-Zarqawi.

However, the strongest point of his CV is too one of his weakest. The problem lies in the fact that Zarqawi’s elimination came, allegedly, only after a series of tortures to detainees in a secret prisoners camp. At least two people died mysteriously during the interrogatories. The unit responsible of the base, the Task Force 6-26, was directly under McChrystal’s orders. But nobody ended up in a trial because a “computer malfunction” eliminated the 70% of the data needed for the investigation of the case.

To that, we have to sum another grey incident on his CV, this one in Afghanistan: the Tillman case. Pat Tillman became a national hero after going to fight the Taleban instead of to a life of luxury, fame and glory with a multimillionaire contract in the NFL. When he died, by friendly fire, the commanders of the unit tried to hide that and said he was shot by the terrorists instead. That was obviously a more fashionable way to die. McChrystal, again, was on top of all this mess.

There is also something on his CV that points against him, but doesn’t have anything to do with his services act. It’s just being an ex-commando. It plays to favor him when we talk about troops. But plays against him if we consider that the Afghans population hate the tendency of the Special Forces units to send in air strikes, one of the biggest problems for the US in Afghanistan -and a huge PR mine for the insurgents.

Incidents are very common. Last week, an American strike left behind three dozen of deaths. And this week, a joint operation with the Pakistanis, made hundred of thousands flee from their homes into refugee camps. If the operation goes up -as it looks like- that number is likely to be increased.

All those attacks were sent in by Special Forces commandos. Not only Americans, all the soldiers in Afghanistan call in the Apache or the drones were in an ambush. It’s an easy, reliable and safe way to get rid of something that otherwise could get them stuck for hours or even days. In fact, it is so easy that many squad leaders are becoming quick triggers. Of the radio. If McChrystal can revert just that, it would be a good signal. But being himself an ex-commando used to call in the cavalry, will he can?




Photo. Lt. Gen. Stan McChrystal/AP

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Shhhh! (Pentagon's Black budget, revealed)

Here is a fact for the Republicans claiming for the decreased spenditure in Defence -in fact, a 4% increase: Pentagon’s black (or secret) budget will go up to mora than $50 billions. That’s an increase of a 3% compared to FY09 and the biggest sum in history dedicated to secret operations.

But numbers alone aren’t enough to get the big picture, so let’s find some comparatives. The UK, i.e., has the second largest military budget on the world; $60 billion. Chinese and French spend $58 and $54 billion each on their Armed Forces. Japan is the fifth position with only $44 billion.

According to those numbers, “black” budget is enough to make the 5th biggest army in the world -at least on the paper and in terms of money invested.

More data to compare: NASA budget for FY10 sums $17 billion. And that’s even the great challenges the Space Agency will have to face in the oncoming years. The biggest of them will be to replace the obsolete space shuttles and survive until then relying on the Russians. Not easy.

It should be accounted too that in those $50+ billion is not included the CIA budget, that usually participate on the Pentagon programs. The Agency, i.e., uses drones developed by the Army regularly in Pakistan and Afghanistan against the Talebans, and they have even used them in Yemen.

So, make the maths.

Well, if you are too lazy for that, have a look here to the documents unveiled by the Pentagon. There are three different important documents: R-1 (Research and development), P-1 (Procurement) y O-1 (Operations).

The list of prices for the research department, detailed, is here. Many of the projects have exact numbers of spending. Some look like taken out from the latest sci-fi movie. Like the $105.7 million dedicated to investigate “Directed Energy Technology”; this is, a real life rail gun.

There are too some other more down to Earth programs, like the development of the Global Hawk drones ($486.8 million) or renewable energies and alternative fuel research ($75 million). It’s remarkable too the $119.6 million collaboration with the Israelis for antimissile systems.

However, many more still continue being secret. To be precise, those full of zeros. Vast majority of them correspond to the ultra-secret National Security Agency (NSA). Who knows what could be the “Cyber Security Initiative” or the “Dragon U-2” program. And don’t even try to mention the “Special Program”. That line doesn’t even have a name for the project.



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Air Force One revisits 9/11

When last April 27th New Yorkers watched a Boeing 747 over the city escorted by two jet fighters, everyone felt into the worse. Windows shook; stairs were full of people trying to escape from the skyscrapers, everyone wanted to go out the buildings fearing another 9/11.

In fact, everything was quite inoffensive. The plane, -to be precise, a VC-25, the modified version of the 747 used by the Air Force One- was just being shot (just photo shots) against the Statue of Liberty to renew the library of images.

Everything had been prepared to the detail to become something to be used later as a PR boost -as if Obama needed any marketing...-. Well, everything but a little thing: no one told the New Yorkers about it. Not even to the Mayor; Bloomberg was unaware of the photo op.

Because, why tell the people that a plane was going to fly over the Ground Zero at low altitude? Yes, Ground Zero from 9/11! Get me right; Americans usually tend to exaggerate threats, but if you are going to fly low in New York, better do it near the JFK or La Guardia. Maybe the Hudson. But for fuck’s sake; not Ground Zero!

In a matter of seconds, as it happened with the Hudson landing, collective paranoia invaded the city. Phones in the emergency services started to ring and many look at the sky worried. Some others, filming (as below), just in case. For once, panic in Wall Street was indeed in the street, not inside the buildings.

After the truth about the mysterious plane was revealed, Republicans were really happy. They ask themselves who could have been so stupid and with permission to make that happen. And the answer they got was Biden.

The White House, immediately launched an investigation to clarify the incident. In the end, it wasn’t a Biden idea (sorry, Republicans), but the culprit was Louis Caldera, head of the White House Military Office. His head, however, felt immediately after presenting his resignation letter.

Together with the resignation, came a seven pages report with more details from the operation. Like the chain of mistakes that were made in the chain of command and the cost of the photo: $328,835. Wouldn’t have been easier and cheaper using Photoshop?

Yesterday Obama said kidding in a dinner with the press and celebrities that in the next 100 days, he will consider “ to lose his cool”. Well, maybe in public still is cool, but indoors, the 27th of April, a few more gray hairs appeared on his head.

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We're back rockin'

I’m really sorry for the temporary absence from the blog in the last week. My job (the real job, the one that pays the bills) kept me quite busy during the last week. And according to the current economic climate, it’s not wise to make something that could fire you.

To make things easier, a badass flu (the normal one, not the swine flu) kept me in bed while not in front of my boss with a terrible headache, a giant project in one hand and a tissue in the other. Hard times for being creative in the office. And obviously, last thing I wanted back home, was to sit down and start writing again.

But I have on my backpack plenty of topics to start writing again during this week. Let’s roll.

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Just Iniesta

I'm still on tears of hapiness...

Definition of hapiness? This:

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Friendly fire 06/05/09

- 30 years of Lady Tatcher.

- Dozens killed by a US attack in Afghanistan. Tolls go from 30 to hundreds. Karzai demands an investigation.

- Strange coalitions in war against piracy: a South Korean navy ship rescues a North Korean freighter.

- The only pig in Afghanistan, under threat for the swine flu.

- Ahmadinejad says too "Yes, we can!"


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The Italian job

A month ago we talked here about corruption in Israel. But if there is an expert country on this, that’s Italy. And Silvio Berlusconi is his biggest product.

I always wondered why Italians keep voting him. In the end, many of the nationals from that country I met in the past hate him or think he is an idiot. Il Cavalieri, as he likes to be called, made his media-sportive-political emporium first, shielded it with laws and now lives on the rents from that. As leader of a long tradition corrupt political class and with an opposition without ideas or unity, Berlusconi’s empire looks pretty stable.

During the time he has spend in politics, he have angered Muslims saying they were an inferior race compared to Western countries; Germans for comparing a European politician from that country with the Nazis; Mussolini’s victims for saying he was a “benign dictator” who didn’t kill anyone, but send the opposition “on holidays”; Finnish for flirting as a “playboy” with their Premier to get a summit celebrated in Italy; feminists in several occasions, like when he said the reason to invest in Italy was “the pretty secretaries”; Chinese for saying that Communists “eat children” or “boil them” to use them as “fertilizers”... And the list goes on.

Not even a worldwide loved Obama was free from his jokes, as he argued that the American President is
even “tanned".

But probably, this year has been his most prolific in gaffes. In January, Berlusconi argued that it would be impossible to stop rapists in Italy, even deploying all the soldiers in the Army, because Italian women were too pretty.

If that scandalized the people, the royalty got the same medicine too on the G20 summit. There, Queen Elizabeth II was surprised to discover il Cavalieri shouting in his salon to call Obama with a voice that could be heard from the outside. Next day, he made all the Premiers and Presidents present for the NATO summit to wait for the photo group, as he was busy talking on the phone.

Last month, after the earthquake that shattered L’Aquila and ended with almost 300 deaths and thousands of homes destroyed, Berlusconi said to the ones who had lost everything to take it as a “camping weekend”. Not happy with that, a few days later he recommended them to buy the new furniture in IKEA.

Last chapter was the divorce demand presented by his wife, Veronica. The reason argued by the Italian first dame, 20 years younger than Berlusconi, is that the Premier went to a 18th birthday party of a girl in Naples and gave her a gold necklace. Kind of strange, as Berlusconi’s wife says he never attended any of his own children 18th birthday party.

That only boosted Veronica’s suspicions for Berlusconi’s preference for young women, as it did the pick up of young pretty women for his electoral lists, even many of them lack of some or even any political experience.

Il Cavalieri’s defense has been a few photos from the party, to show that it was all very “innocent”. Too bad that the photos look like being modified. But hey, now that they started playing with Photoshop they should have stopped there; they should have had real fun, as shown in this photo galery from the same party.

And after all this, will Italians continue voting him? Really?



Photo: Reuters

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