statism watch

Mark Seddon, The Guardian
January 3, 2009

In these times of tension, Russia’s neighbours’ fears are far from alleviated by US missile defence plans

As Russia flexes its muscles, cutting gas supplies to Ukraine in a dispute that is as much about unpaid bills as it is about settling political scores, a small, disused Warsaw Pact airfield in a remote corner of north-west Poland finds itself at the heart of a new conflict between the US and Russia.

Ukraine was part of the Soviet Union and Poland a Soviet satellite state, but with the fall of communism both have moved into the western camp – and Redzikowo base was selected by the Bush administration to host the “missile defence shield”, a system designed to intercept incoming rockets from rogue states such as Iran. The US ambassador to Poland recently visited the nearby town of Slupsk to see the mayor. Russia sees this as yet another provocation and, in an echo of the Cuban missile crisis, says it is being targeted by the proposed shield and will respond accordingly.

Recently Dmitry Medvedev, the Russian president, rained on Barack Obama’s parade, promising like for like: Russia would move its own missiles to the Kaliningrad enclave, on the Polish border. Russia’s ambassador in Warsaw, Vladimir Grinin, struck an even tougher line. “Of course our relations with Poland are important,” said Grinin. “We hope that Obama will listen to our concerns, and not go ahead. But in the worse-case scenario, if the Americans do proceed, we will also target the new radar systems in the Czech Republic, and will place missiles on ships in the Baltic and around Kaliningrad.”

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CBC News
January 3, 2009

Demonstrations were held in cities around the world to protest Israel’s military offensive against Hamas as Israeli ground troops entered the territory on Saturday.

In Canada, rallies were scheduled in Ottawa, Toronto, Winnipeg and Vancouver.

At least 1,000 people gathered in Dundas Square, in Toronto’s central downtown business district.

Officers on foot, bicycle and horseback patrolled the area as demonstrators for and against Israel gathered on either side of Yonge Street.

The rally was passionate but peaceful as people shouted at each other from across the street.

In London, at least 10,000 people, many carrying Palestinian flags, marched past British Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s Downing Street residence to a rally in Trafalgar Square.

Once marchers stopped outside Brown’s residence, hundreds of them hurled shoes at the tall iron gates that block entry to the narrow road.

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