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We Drew the Line

If you've looked at some countries on a map (particularly in the Middle East) you'll find the borders of those countries are surprisingly ... regular. They don't follow mountain ranges or rivers or other natural features, and instead cut across the desert like a knife. Did you ever wonder who was responsible?

The New York Times offered a surprisingly thoughtful glimpse into Iraq's Imperial past in a recent article. Back in the days of Empire, Britain decided on Iraq's borders. It was quite usual in those days for agents of the crown to parcel off things in this manner and sprout new countries with carefully hand-picked rulers. The law of unintended consequences oft holds true, and Iraq does seem to be the poster child for this. It's sobering to think of soldiers fighting and dying there a hundred years ago for reasons and justifications eerily similar to those given today.

If you have time, I invite you to check out the story's main link - the 'Gertrude Bell Project'. I certainly never heard her name before this story, but she seems to resonate through her diaries and papers, which contain hundreds of tidbits on the attitudes and politics of the times - not to mention being a joy to read just for her turn of phrase. As she commented in 1919, regarding British presence in India 'If India were not so much divided, Hindus against Islam, native princes against Nationalists, it would be a much graver matter, indeed if India had the homogeneous population of Egypt, we could not hold on at all.' (This was the old 'divide and conquer' rule; if you're invading a country, make sure they hate someone else more than they hate you, and then when they're both worn out, you take the spoils).

The ghosts of Empire, those men and women drawing lines in the sand and deciding the course of history, still have the power to reach across the years and affect us today. So the next time someone asks 'Why is Iraq such a mess?' - you can always blame the British Empire...

Posted by union_jack at 05:44 PM | Comments (1)

Absentee Ballot Blues

When is a runner not a runner? When he's Tom Delay!

In a strange turn of events, a court ruled this week that Tom Delay, erstwhile unrepentant hammer of Congress, must appear on the ballot in his Texas district this coming November. Those of you who were following this story no doubt recall Delay purportedly moved to Virginia with the express intent of getting -off- the ballot; what with those pesky will-they-won't-they criminal charges looming, he felt it best to retire and get out of the way, so that the local party could nominate a replacement. Alas, this doesn't look like it will be happening. The Democratic challenger, Nick Lampson, is no doubt filled with inane glee as he can now run against a man who has said he doesn't even want the job anymore. Such is the power of name-brand - whether positive or negative.

Speaking of name brand, who hasn't heard of viagra! I'm told it's wonderful. Rush Limbaugh thinks so too. From the Department of 'Well it seemed like a good idea at the time' comes the story that Rush was caught rushin' through the airport with bottles of the drug made out to another man. I am left puzzled as to why Limbaugh thought having his doctor make out the prescription to someone else - to keep matters quiet - wouldn't bite him hugely in the ass later, given his track record with prescription painkillers. Maybe he should have just embraced it and gone on the record as a spokesman instead. 'I'm Rush, and I stand tall and lean to the right - thanks to Viagra.' What worried me more wasn't the bogus prescription label so much as the fact someone, somewhere, is prepared to jump into bed with Rush Limbaugh.

Posted by union_jack at 06:42 PM | Comments (1)

Ken Lay - Gone Today

One of those stories you have to read twice to be sure it's not a phony, but it's true; Ken Lay, former Enron CEO died in his sleep today of natural causes. While I do extend my sympathies to his family who are no doubt grieving, it did leave me feeling.. oddly cheated. Ken will never see the inside of a prison cell now. While his obituaries will probably make much of Lay's fall from grace, it would not add up to the sight of him in handcuffs, escorted off to start sentence.

Perhaps Ken had the last laugh after all.

Posted by union_jack at 06:47 PM | Comments (1)

The Glorious Fourth

Since coming over here to live, Independence day has always aroused somewhat mixed feelings in me. After all, it has its roots in the Revolutionary war. While I do believe America would have achieved its independence without a war sooner or later, and that the British were not that bad (compared to other conquering empires, that is) America did fight and win its freedom back in those early days. So it is quite right to celebrate independence; in fact, among the results of the war was the US Constitution and Bill of Rights, which I think still stand as two of the most world-changing political documents ever written.

So I have a reasonably positive view of America; what it could be, what it should be, despite its flaws. It seems lately though that my view isn't shared by too many at home - a recent poll indicated British opinion of America has .. well I suppose 'plummeted into the abyss' would not be too far of an exaggeration. Given that British troops fight alongside American, and our foreign policies seem to be inextricably linked at this point, this may be a point of concern. I guess you can take comfort that most Britons seem to like the American people - well, they find them tolerable at any rate. Maybe after the next presidential election we can be friends again...

I hope you all have a safe and happy Fourth - remember, be careful where you aim the fireworks, and you may want to stock up on the pepto-bismol if your plans include anything like Joey Chestnut's.

Oh, and last but not least - no, Independence Day is not celebrated in Britain. In case you were wondering (yes. I have actually been asked this).

Posted by union_jack at 01:27 PM | Comments (0)