The Read International For Christmas 2008: Military Coup Goes Through in Guinea: More Israeli-Palestine Tension

Photo from the AFP

Three stories to past along tonight on this installment of the TRI (The Read International) thread:

Though the world is condemning it as a whole, the people of Guinea are happy that the military coup to overthrow their government in place has been successful. Leading the country now will be Moussa Camera, who forced the outgoing Prime Minister to endorse him:

Ahmed Tidiane Souare said on Thursday he and other members of the government that was overthrown after the death of Lansana Conte, the long-serving president, earlier this week were ready to work with the coup leaders.

"Mr President, members of the National Council for Democracy and Development, we thank you and we put ourselves at your disposal," Souare said in comments broadcast by Radio France International.

Earlier on Thursday, Souare presented himself at an army camp near Conakry after being ordered to do so by the country's self-declared president.

Camara ordered the government and senior military leaders to give themselves up by the end of Thursday.

As expected, the heavy hitters of the world have cast criticism on these events, but two things need to be said from their reaction. They can lambaste the craziness that has taken place in a country that has been dysfunctional for a long time, but what will their quotes honestly do? Trade embargoes won't lead to an overthrow of the military in the country, especially when the people are enthusiastic about the takeover. Also, where was this denunciation of political actions in Guinea from the international community when that dictator, Lansana Conte, was in charge? Just wasting their energy, that is all they are doing.

In the second story, it has already gotten ugly and unfortunate again between Israeli and Palestine, as the blockade placed on Gaza by the Israelis has led to missiles flying everywhere and more contentious feelings between the two states. Hamas still doesn't recognize Israel's existence, and just as egregious, the closing has led to moral wrong from Olmett and company:

There are shortages of more than 100 essential pharmaceuticals and critical emergency surgical kits, while more than 100 containers of humanitarian aid at Ashdod port in Israel have been cleared for entry into Gaza.

Due to the lack of fuel and spare parts, Gaza power plant has been shut since Dec. 19, affecting all aspects of daily life including sanitation, water and power supply to households, schools, and civilian institutions.

In particular, 60 percent of the Gaza population is receiving running water once every five to seven days. The waste water treatment plant, unable to operate regularly, has since Saturday doubled the amount of raw sewage it is dumping into the sea to 40 million liters per day, OCHA said.

And in one more hint of news that would make Captain Jack Black want to retire, guess how much those Somalian Pirates have made off the rest of the world in their looting?

$30 million. China looks to make sure that they won't get jacked either. And if the pirates try and do so, the consequences will be deep.

China's state-run Xinhua news agency said the fleet will join in multinational patrols of the Gulf of Aden.

It said the fleet is equipped with ship-borne missiles, cannon and light weapons, and carries helicopters.

The report said the two destroyers, among China's most sophisticated war vessels, were indigenously designed and manufactured.

Oh, and I had to point the word in bold out. "Indigenously" is not a word.

Shoddy journalism? Indeed so.