The Trophy Trumps the Trip

The State visit of French President Nicolas Sarkozy to the UK is meant to prop up his sagging popularity amongst his countrymen, but it seems like he will be sidelined by the presence of his trophy wife, the former Supermodel Carla Bruni. Christie's Auction House has announced a day before the visit that it will sell nude photographs of Carla taken in 1993. The UK media has also used the State visit to reprint photos of Carla during her modeling period on their front pages.

This is English humor at work in its most contemptuous disdain for one they see as unworthy to be treated with all the trimmings of a VIP. By showing photos of his wife in the scantiest of clothing or none at all; the UK media, which did an extensive coverage of the romance, marriage and honeymoon of the Sarkozys, are pulling the curtains down and baring the couple in public as a spectacle comparable to the likes of Paris Hilton and Rick Salomon, or Britney Spears and Kevin Federline. No deference to Sarkozy as French President is being given.

President Sarkozy is attempting to build his prestige by reestablishing friendly, rather than mere cordial, relations with the United Kingdom. His recent statements about a possible boycott of the Olympics unless China settles the issues with Tibet has fallen on deaf ears globally. No one is taking him seriously. If this is the only western power that will openly support Tibet, then the Tibetans are better off without it. The Chinese may agree to a dialogue on the pretext of heeding Sarkozy's threat, only to laugh the Tibetans off the face of the earth, while looking at Carla's revealing photos. His lovestruck image in France has so disenchanted his countrymen who see him as an immature fool infatuated with a centerfold.

His idea of a high profile personality is to hook up with someone well known, to enhance his own image. There's nothing wrong with that strategy as Prince Rainier did with Grace Kelly. However, Grace Kelly was respected, projected a well bred and decent character as well as a wholesome family background. Nicolas Sarkozy's choice was like looking for a blend of Charlize Theron and Angelina Jolie, then settled for Pamela Anderson instead.

Haaarrrwwwwk...Twoooooph...Ting!

Angelina Assesses Assistance

Apparently shocked by the appalling conditions in the refugee camps she visited last August, Oscar winning actress Angelina Jolie was visibly horrified at the failure to address any of the issues raised about the camps 6 months ago; and frustrated that the situation has taken a turn for the worse. Her February 7 visit brought to life what she has been receiving in terms of documented reports that she couldn't put a handle to. Assistance to the Refugees had been fragmented and extremely inadequate. While choosing her words carefully, it was obvious that she felt governments involved in the refugee situation had no coherent and integrated approach to the crisis; that only lip service was being supplied, and a generous distribution of talk has occurred since August, but actions were invisible.

During this February trip, she was moved by the refugee's stories about their plight, the conditions within the camps, the sheer volume of displaced people (4.2 million Iraqis ) 2.0 million of which are in neighboring states and another 2.2 million displaced inside Iraq, 58 % of whom are children below 12 years old. She worries that those inside war torn Iraq are very very vulnerable. Provisions for food, water, sanitation, health and hygiene, and medicines are sorely wanting at the sites, and she stressed that this humanitarian crisis needs the immediate help and support of the global community. Returning to their homes which others now occupy, homes that have been bombed out, the absence of schools, water, electrical, and medical facilities, and no means of conducting livelihood or economic activity, will create problems in the Middle East that could affect the entire global community. Jolie expressed concern at how the situation is settled and the refugees brought together to live normal community lives. She referred to these as "pieces that need to be put together " and has called for more active participation from the UNHCR inside Iraq.

Since her appointment as Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, Angelina Jolie has traveled to some 20 countries including Sierra Leone, Pakistan, Namibia, and Chad at her own expense. Proceeds from her book "Notes From My Travels" are used to assist refugees, and one third of all her income goes to charity. She has also adopted a Cambodian boy from an orphanage (Maddox) and an Ethiopian girl (Zahara).

Angelina Jolie has risked her life visiting these countries and to generate awareness for the impact of wars that forces people to live under sub-human conditions. In Iraq, she has had to meet with the governments of Syria, Jordan, and Iraq; their NGOs and civilian communities to convince them to increase the pace with which assistance is provided. The UNHCR seeks US $261 million for these refugees and has more than 350 staffers directly engaged in Iraq and the surrounding region. Considering the sheer volume of people involved and the many issues and concerns that need urgent attention, the amount is a pittance.

This refugee situation was borne out of the sectarian conflict between Shiite and Sunni Muslims sparked by an attack on a Shiite shrine in Samarra; and has brought these millions of people to live very dangerously under conditions of extreme squalor. The refugee camps and the almost total absence of security within and around these camps, where men, women and children live constantly in fear of losing their lives from unseen enemies as well as famine and disease; is ripe for infiltration by the forces of terror, who could use the conditions for recruitment and indoctrination. This is the fear that Jolie expresses but does not say. A conclusion, drawn from being at the site and seeing and hearing it first hand from sources inside - sources who have been approached and possibly intimidated, to join.

It is safe to say that Angelina Jolie has done so much, more than her share in fact, and now asks for support from the global community. The support is not for herself nor the refugees alone, but for the world at large; since the expansion of terrorism is now a global malaise. The US led War on Terror has succeeded in terrorizing more than 5 million civilian citizens in Iraq, not to mention those in Afghanistan. Yet the US wants to continue the war since indications point to a victory. Perhaps a victory for their egos but not for the hazy cause of why it was fought. When will the lies about the war end?

The legacy of this war and what it leaves behind may soon be upon the world, the rise in the number of terrorists and acts of terrorism. So much for victory...

Haaarrrrwwwwk...Twooooooph...Ting!