Magic Statistics

Moscow has devoted much attention in the past few years to building close relations with nations in Central Asia, the South Caucasus, and Eastern Europe that used to be part of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (map at right). Political analyst and Columbia University Visiting Professor Vasili Rukhadze, blogging at NewEurasia, provides a full country-by-country rundown on Russia's geopolitical offensive.

Threats and bribes brought impoverished Tajikistan to heel. President Kurmanbek Bakiyev of Kyrgyzstan was threatened by worsening relations with both Russia and the United States.  Bakiyev caved to Russian energy and communication monopolies to preserve his tenuous grip on power.

Uzbekistan became an international pariah after government forces opened fire on a crowd of peaceful demonstrators in the May 2005 Andijan massacre.  That gave Russia an opportunity to move in and negotiate a full-scale economic, political and military alliance with the desperate regime.

Kazakhstan, the largest, wealthiest, and most independent of the Central Asian republics, has proved difficult to control; but unrelenting pressure and subtle threats are gradually forcing the energy-rich nation closer to Russia.

Vladimir Putin’s campaign to dominate Central Asia was greatly advanced by this month’s energy agreement with Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan.

President Putin, during his week long visit to Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan, reached an agreement with the Central Asian leaders ensuring Russia’s access to Turkmenistan’s abundant gas resources. According to Mr. Putin’s announcement Turkmen gas will be transported via Kazakhstan and Russia to Europe. . . . These three states along with Uzbekistan also agreed that two other gas pipelines will be renewed. When all these envisioned pipelines go into operation, Russian natural gas imports from Central Asia will almost double to 90 billion cubic meters per year from the current 50 billion. In other words, these agreements assure Russia’s unequivocal dominance over Central Asia’s gas imports.

For complete discussions of developments in the South Caucasus (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia) and Eastern Europe (Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Estonia), read the whole thing.

Russian leaders have disclosed that they intend to bring the countries of the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics under Russia’s control in a new “Eurasian Union”.  Clear and substantial progress is being made toward that goal.

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Last month Russia said it will no longer comply with the terms of the Conventional Forces in Europe treaty and hinted it could also abandon another nuclear arms-limitation treaty.

Now comes news that Russia has test-fired an inter-continental ballistic missile with MIRV (multiple independently targeted reentry vehicle) capabilities in what President Vladmir Putin (photo at right) says is a response to US plans to "stuff Eastern Europe with new weapons".

Do these developments portend a new arms race between Russia and the United States?  Military experts think not.

Duncan Lennox, the editor of "Jane's Strategic Weapons Systems," says an arms race is not realistic.

"I think this is just a continuation of the process that has been in place for many years between the Russian Federation and the United States," Lennox says.

“Independent Moscow-based military analyst” Pavel Felgenhauer also thinks Russia is too weak economically and demographically to assemble a credible challenge to US military superiority.

Russia takes a rather different view.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in Potsdam, Germany, on May 30 that the planned U.S. missile-defense system is a threat to his country, adding that "the arms race is starting again," Russian and international media reported.

Russian media explicitly claimed that mass production and deployment of the RS-24 ICBM could give Russia “strategic parity” with the US in less than a decade.

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• Putin: Russia not a “monster”
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Lina Joy, the woman at the centre of an important religious rights case in Malaysia, is disappointed that the country’s highest court refused to recognise her conversion from Islam to Christianity.

"I am disappointed that the Federal Court is not able to vindicate a simple but important fundamental right that exists in all persons," she said, according to her lawyer, Benjamin Dawson.

Joy was referring to the right to believe in the religion of one's choice, and the right to marry a person of one's choosing.

She cannot legally marry her Christian partner because Malaysian law requires non-Muslims to convert to Islam to wed a Muslim.

"The Federal Court has not only denied me that right but to all Malaysians who value fundamental freedoms," Joy said.

The court ceded jurisdiction in the matter to an Islamic shari’a tribunal, which is hardly likely to render impartial justice.  She would almost certainly be punished for “apostasy”.  In any case, since she is now a Christian, Ms Joy rejects the authority of Islamic courts.

She refused to rule out the possibility that she may emigrate.

Previous related post: Lina Joy loses bid for legal recognition of religious conversion

The House of Bishops of the Anglican Church of Canada recently issued a pastoral statement discouraging same-sex blessings (SSBs).  The Rt Rev Michael Ingham, Bishop of New Westminster, has told his Diocesan Council that he voted against the statement because, in his view, the bishops should have kept their mouths shut an open mind.

Bishop Michael Ingham told Diocesan Council this month that he could not agree with a statement issued by the Canadian House of Bishops that recommends that the June General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada again delay decisions regarding the blessing of same sex unions.

“I voted against it,” said Bishop Ingham, adding that he knew some other bishops failed to agree with the statement also, although the vote count was not made public.

I think we see here one of those instances where the headline says something not clearly supported by the content of the article.

Bishop says colleagues should have kept open mind on blessings

In fact, it seems to me to be contradicted by the subhead:

Opposes more delay at national Church level

Call me cynical, but I find it hard to believe that Bp Ingham would have raised the smallest objection to a statement calling for immediate authorisation of SSBs in every parish of the Anglican Church of Canada.  Indeed, the subhead implies exactly that: He’s against further delay.

Michael Ingham has publicly stated his support of SSBs in the church; other bishops have publicly stated their opposition.  If it’s kosher for individual bishops to take public stands on this issue, why is it illegitimate for the bishops to meet together and issue a joint statement?

Anyway, the text of the bishops’ pastoral statement shows that they have kept an open mind.  They call for further prayer, study, and discussion on the issue, and ask for theological and ecclesiological reports to be prepared and disseminated before General Synod 2010.

Who has the open mind: those who want more discussion and deliberation, or those who oppose further delay and want the issue put to a decisive vote right now?

The graphic is Binky’s latest creation, posted at his blog earlier today.  It arises from another discussion of Anglican issues, but it kinda fits here, too.

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Three Indonesian Sunday school teachers imprisoned in 2005 on dubious charges have been told they will be released on parole soon.  Rebekka, Ratna, and Eti have spent their time behind bars sharing the gospel with other prisoners and guards.

They have remained in high spirits although they have now spent two years in jail for a crime that most people say they did not commit.

In 2005, the three Sunday school teachers were put on trial after a group of Muslim radicals in their village accused them of converting their children to Christianity.

Evidence was presented suggesting the Muslim parents were aware their children attended Sunday school with their Christian friends. Regardless, the court still pronounced the women guilty and sentenced them to three years in prison.

The women say they will return to teaching children in Sunday school, but they will be careful because they know adversaries will be watching.

h/t: Christian Persecution Blog

Previous related post: Imprisoned Indonesian Christians send a Christmas message

Some bozo named Mark McGowan doesn't like the way the British royal family treats their corgis.  Wanting to encourage better treatment of the unfortunate pooches, he racked his brain for a way to set an example of tender loving care of canines.  So, naturally, he ate one.

Mark McGowan set up a table on a London street Tuesday and dined on what he said was the meat from a corgi in hopes of drawing attention to media reports that Prince Philip, the queen's husband, had beaten a fox to death during a hunt.
.  .  .
"We love our animals in Britain," McGowan told AP Television News. "Why is it then that we then allow people - especially people who are supposed to be ambassadors for this country - to treat animals with such disrespect?"

Please treat your animals with respect, as Mr McGowan does.

McGowan said the corgi he consumed had died recently at a breeding farm and had not been killed for the purposes of the protest. He did not say how the dog had died.

That’s almost as revolting as eating the critter.

"I ate three lumps of it. But I spat two of them out, so I really ate one and a half of them," McGowan said.

This guy is completely sicko and arithmetically challenged.  Obviously, a total hoser.

h/t: little green footballs

Hmmm. Where have we heard this sort of thing before?

A Muslim woman on trial in London for failing to disclose information on terrorism allegedly encouraged her husband to martyr himself for the faith.  She wrote him a letter pressuring him to fight infidels and promising that she would raise their baby son to do likewise. The letter was read to the jury yesterday.

Bouchra El Hor allegedly said in her letter: 'I am so proud of my husband. I am happy that Allah has granted you the chance to be a martyr.

'I am writing to let you know that you have my support and to remind you to be strong and do not let Satan influence you… to remind you that jihad is now compulsory and we are now obligated to protect Islam, to help our brothers and sisters to fight the kuffar [non-believer].

'Maybe one day I can follow you. If I can't, I will send our son to you so he can follow his father's footsteps.'

The woman’s husband Yassin Nassari has been charged with having documents and data related to terrorism, including plans for constructing rockets and explosives.  The couple deny all charges.

Similar blood lust among Muslim wives turned up in the investigation of the Toronto-area terrorist suspects.

h/t: Religion News Blog

Previous related post: Behind every failed jihadist stands a nagging wife

Greenpeace simply refuses to talk with anyone who doesn’t already agree with them.

We have a policy at Greenpeace that we no longer debate people who don’t accept the scientific reality of anthropogenic climate change.

That certainly cuts down on Greenpeace’s need for scientific investigation and other intellectually demanding ventures.

h/t: Andrew Bolt

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School graduation season is upon us—a time when weighty questions must be pondered.  Girls worry about which dress to wear, boys about snagging the finest grad date.  And, of course, college administrators lose sleep over causing offence to hyper-sensitive politically favoured minority groups.  (In that respect, graduation time isn't much different from the rest of the school year.)

Which brings us to the annual tradition observed by graduates of the University of Arizona.  Instead of tossing their hats into the air after receiving their diplomas, UA grads have taken to tossing tortillas.  Sound like an innocuous bit of fun?  Don’t be naïve.  Modern academia is haunted by the fear that someone somewhere might take offence at harmless exuberance.

In December 2005, the commencement ceremony was canceled for undergraduate students following a number of complaints about the tradition. Some complaints were made that the tradition is culturally insensitive against Mexican-American and American Indian culture.

The December 2005 event was reinstated following a student-sponsored forum discussion, but with a message from then-President Peter Likins stating that some groups frown upon the tradition.

At this year's graduation, both graduates and their guests will be searched for tortillas upon entering McKale Center, just like at sporting events, [Jim] Drnek [associate dean of students] said.

Policies concerning outside food at sporting events also govern graduation.

"You're not supposed to throw food in McKale Center," Drnek said. "You're not supposed to bring in outside food or beverages."

“Not supposed to throw food”?  Many college students would take that as a challenge.  Dean Drnek should re-consider his hard line, if only because the tortilla toss is much easier to clean up after than a food fight.

h/t: Tongue Tied 3

Manitoba First Nations have served notice to Manitoba Telecom Services that they expect to be paid for cell phone signals that pass through airspace over their territories.

At a recent economic development summit, the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs resolved to negotiate revenue sharing with MTS for transmissions signals that cross the land, water and air space of their reserves and traditional territories.

"[The request is] based on the understanding that we do have some fundamental rights as indigenous people to land, water and airspace," said Chief Ovide Mercredi of the Grand Rapids First Nation.

"When it comes to using airspace, it's like using our water and simply because there's no precedent doesn't mean that it's not the right thing to do," he said.

In fact, of course, using airspace to send cell phone signals is very different from using land for food or water for drinking.  If someone occupies your land to grow their crops or hunt their food, you are thereby prevented from using that land.  If someone drinks or pollutes your water, that water is unavailable for your drinking needs.

Using your airspace to send telecommunication signals, however, has no effect on your use of that airspace.  Others can send as many signals as they wish, and the quantity of airspace available to you is undiminished.  In fact, absent high-tech telecommmunication-monitoring equipment, how would the chiefs even know whether someone is sending cell phone signals through their airspace?

If negotiations with Manitoba Telecom Services reach an impasse, I’d like to see the chiefs try a blockade.

h/t: Darcey at Dust My Broom

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A Protestant pastor in south-eastern Turkey says that six people have been arrested for conspiring to attack him.

A church leader in southeast Turkey said on Wednesday police had detained six people for plotting to attack him, just weeks after three people had their throats slit at a Christian publisher in the region.

Ahmet Guvener, the leader of a Protestant Christian church in the province of Diyarbakir, told reporters the six had been detained after he had complained of being threatened, both to his face and by mail.

Local police could not immediately confirm Guvener's statement.

Stratfor reports that some of the six are believed to have had contacts with some of those suspected in the recent gruesome torture and murder of three Christian workers in Malatya.  (The Stratfor art