statism watch

Nick Pron, The Globe and Mail
August 16, 2008

BARRIE — A three-year-long preliminary inquiry into what was described as part of the worst corruption scandal in the history of the Toronto police force ended quietly here yesterday, with the withdrawal of two “duplicate charges” against one of the officers.

Former police union chief Rick McIntosh, Constable William McCormack Jr. (son of former Toronto police chief William McCormack Sr.) and Constable George Kouroudis face trial on charges including fraud on the government, breach of trust, obstruction of justice, influence peddling and accepting benefits in relation to the enforcement of bars in Toronto’s entertainment district.

At one point during the last two days of the hearing, Mr. Justice George Beatty complimented defence lawyer Peter Brauti for his “very good” closing arguments for his client, Mr. McIntosh, the 43-year-old former head of the Toronto Police Association, now retired.

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Stephen Kinzer, The Guardian
August 16, 2008

In his first interview with a foreign newspaper since becoming head of state, Abdullah Gül tells Stephen Kinzer of his vision for his country as a bridge between nations

Days after Russia scored a stunning geopolitical victory in the Caucasus, President Abdullah Gül of Turkey said he saw a new multipolar world emerging from the wreckage of war.

The conflict in Georgia, Gül asserted, showed that the United States could no longer shape global politics on its own, and should begin sharing power with other countries.

“I don’t think you can control all the world from one centre,” Gül told the Guardian. “There are big nations. There are huge populations. There is unbelievable economic development in some parts of the world. So what we have to do is, instead of unilateral actions, act all together, make common decisions and have consultations with the world. A new world order, if I can say it, should emerge.”

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