Divergence in the Russian Media

A commentary piece in Vedomosti (highlighted by the BBC Monitoring Service) appears to see the holes in Russia's argument about the British Council and the Litvinenko saga...

Money quote:

"The situation with the British Council is reminiscent of the old parable of the pitcher. The housewife who broke her neighbour's pitcher offers up her explanations: first, I didn't take the pitcher; second, I took it but it was already cracked; third, I returned it intact. Each of these arguments on their own can be seen as convincing, but taken together they cancel each other out. In explaining their actions, the Russian authorities are also using several excuses, all at the same time."

Democracy: A New Hope?

It was previously reported that Democratic Presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama was a member of the Kenyan Luo ethnic community down his estranged father's side. This family tie has now been reported to connect Sen. Obama with the Kenyan Opposition Leader Raila Odinga, who recently fought in the national election against the incumbent Kenyan leader, President Mwai Kibaki.

In an admirable attempt to bolster his foreign policy credentials, Sen. Obama has reportedly spoken to both leaders at the centre of the crisis which followed the now alledgedly fraudulant election. Although currently unsure what significance Sen. Obama's comments have had; in embodying multiculturalism Sen. Obama is able to weigh into international crises where, in the last decade, America has lacked credibility (see GITMO, water-boarding, and other anti-democratic activities) and been unable to leverage a viable solution.

Through actions such as this Obama may be tactically drawing a line between current norms in US foreign policy, which Bush has entrenched, and Republic candidates and Sen. Clinton are unwilling to resist.

Here's to hoping that the next US President's Foreign Policy Doctrine will be tough mediation and not shock and awe annihilation.

Darwin is God...

All creatures and all systems change. This is admittedly not a truism, but I certainly believe it to offer insight on a great number of entities, including blogs. If every serious blogger were to continue writing along the rigid principles of enquiry their blog were established on, their blog would be a) untruthful of its authors interests, b) repetitive in the nature of its posts, and c) largely boring.

In light of this I have decided to offer no indication of what this blog should or could report on during its lifespan, and instead to simply get on with its development.

Enjoy! ;-)