Why bother?

I read there had been protests around the world against the Iraqi War, and I have to wonder. "Why do they bother?"

I mean the only way to stop the war is if the Americans pull-out of Iraq right? Do you see that happening? I don't. The 3 contenders to be the next White House resident is Republican John McCain, Democrats Barack Obama, and Hillary Clinton, of which only Obama has openly said he will pull-out of Iraq if he win. I mean McCain has even went to Iraq to bolster his pro-war credentials! That if anything has proven to me that the Americans aren't that interested to pull out of Iraq (which ironically could be a better thing for Singapore than America).

The main thing seems to me that Americans still have this fantasy about winning the Iraqi War. How can they? This is a war that was supposed to last a few weeks, some in the Bush White House were even claiming days, 5 years later and Americans are still dying in Iraq. By fighting for 5 years, the Iraqi people, insurgents, terrorist (whatever you want to call them), has made it a fact that they will not be beaten. This despite being outmanned, outgunned and outfunded (they say America has spent 3 trillion dollars on the war already).

America can't win this war now, even if the fighting stop tomorrow no one will accept that its' a victory for America. The best America can hope for is a honourable draw. Unless they understand and accept that, I think the war will last for a long, long time.

Comics this week

Countdown to Final Crisis #7- 3 weeks ago, I express my happiness when Paul Dini & gang gave Holly Robinson and Harley Quinn some cool new powers. This issue opened with those powers gone. How did both Harley and Holly lose their God-given powers...we will never know, unless of course we pick up some other stupid tie-in that explain that. As Countdown near its conclusion, I find wondering about Trinity (DC's new weekly after Countdown); should I collect it? Not after this mess!

Annihilation Conquest #5- The original Annihilation was so successful that it single-handedly revived the long neglected Marvel Universe cosmic characters. I hope Conquest doesn't finish the revival before it get started. Okay; Conquest isn't that bad, but it's just isn't that good either. A series that is suppose to be a sequel to Annihilation has to be great, and at best Conquest is merely good. The 3 separate storylines also didn't help matter; Star-Lord's escape, the High Evolutionary's scheme, and Ronan's final gamble are all interesting, but nothing like the epic battles of Annihilation. This issue is only good if you enjoy Ultron, and want to know how it became the supreme ruler of the Phalanx. If you (like me) never enjoy Ultron, then I'm afraid there's not much here for you.

Nova #11- The terrific duo of Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning has done it again. They are seemingly having blast with Nova, and every issue so far has been one hell of a ride. At the far edge of the galaxy, Nova meet New Mutants' Warlock. Warlock is one of those characters that writers seems to have fun rebooting from time to time; I hope this latest version sticks. Warlock as the saviour of his race seems far-stretched, but it work here as he is given an underdog role. After Cosmo, the talking Russian dog, and now Warlock; I look forward to the next forgotten cosmic hero that will show up.

Come soak up the sun

After days and days of rain, the sun finally decided to grace us with his presence. Outside there is warmth and sunshine, and what am I doing right now? Struck in the office with its’ too-cold air-conditioning. Let no one ever say that the heavens do not have a sense of humor.

So if you are able to; go outside into the sun and soak up the rays of sunshine! Soak up more for me. Heavens know I can’t join you

War Drums beat on Iran

Recently, Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew stressed his opinion in the Washington Post that America must NOT pullout of Iraq before winning. Mr Lee believes that it would be a disaster if they do so...maybe he should have hold off on his opinion.

Don't get me wrong, I don't think the MM is wrong. I do think it would be better for Singapore if America stay on in Iraq. It might not be good for America, but it will be in Singapore's interest if they continue to fight in Iraq as it would mean that 1) Singapore will continue to be a 'firm ally' of America; 2) angry terrorists would rather attack America than Singapore; and 3) there's no chance of Singapore's FTA with America being reviewed. Say what you want, but what do I care if young warmongering Americans die in a country most Singaporean never even being to?

What worries me now is U.S President George W. Bush obsession with Iran. Everyone knows that the White House wanted to attack Iran, but for one reason or another, it never could. Now one of those reasons is gone. The commander of US forces in the Middle East, Admiral William Fallon, has stepped down. Fallon, who even Bush admitted has "served this country with honor, determination and commitment," stepped down and went into early retirement after reports came out in the U.S that he differed with Bush over attacking Iran. AKA, Bush wanted to hit Iran and Fallon didn't.

The White House is trying to paper over the cracks, but no one really believes them. With Fallon's exit, does this means a U.S war with Iran? I hope not. With oil price at US$110; an ongoing war in Iraq; a revitalised Taleban in Afghanistan; war with Iran is the last thing America needs.

Now, I don't really care about how many wars America want to be dragged into, I'm worried about Singapore. I don't think it's in Singapore's interest to be seem hand-in-hand with America as they try to have war with the whole Islamic world. It just isn't.

So maybe the MM should have hold off on his comments; it might not be in Singapore's interest to be seem as a close U.S ally in the near future (when they attack Iran).

High Oil Prices Here To Stay

Remember those days when oil was price at below US$100; how far ago that seems now. Remember the cries of anguish when oil price first breached US$100; how we wish those days would come back.

Dream on people! World oil prices are up, and they look like continuing their record charge in the near future. Already to US$110 dollars now, traders are now saying the unthinkable mere weeks ago; US$200! Of course the blame is cast on surging demand from China and India who are soaking up oil like water right now, but hey, it's not like there's any innocent party in this. We all use oil in one way or another right?

One good thing coming out of this. With higher oil prices, maybe people will now be less willing to buy cars and help destroy Mother Earth. Not very likely in Singapore, but I hope so.

But...she was the heroine!

You know, for a country determine to hold a good Summer Olympics this year, China seems strangely determined to score own goals also.

That's what I felt when I read that Oscar-winning director Lee Ang has come out to support Chinese actress Tang Wei, whose advertisements have been blacklisted in China following her role in Lee's "Lust, Caution." I didn't even know she was blacklisted till then, but the reason for the blacklist really got me laughing.

Now it's strange that China's State Administration of Radio Film and Television told local stations to cease airing ads starring Tang last week, what's even stranger to me was the reason why. Local Chinese media have linked the order to Tang's debut performance in the World War Two drama "Lust, Caution," but the reason why the Chinese were unhappy was because the movie 'defend the country's traitors.'

Now the movie features some lengthy and sometimes violent sex scenes with Hong Kong co-star Tony Leung (which were totally necessary by the way), but in what way did the movie 'defend the country's traitors'? Did they watch a different movie from me? Tony Leung's character (the traitor in question) was the bad guy wasn't him? A sensitive bag guy maybe, but he did torture and kill a hell of lot of people in the movie didn't he? In what way did "Lust, Caution" defend China's traitors? Which movie did they watch?

What's even funnier was that they punished Tang for the movie...and she was the patriotic heroine of the movie! Tang plays the student activist who gave her all to seduce Leung's Japanese-allied Chinese spy during the Japan's World War Two occupation of Shanghai. I mean what sense does it make to punish her?

After all the effort China has put into the Summer Olympics, I would strongly suggest they don't do anything else from now to the end of the Olympics; that way maybe they can stop scoring own goals.

Are you kidding me?

If you had read this blog anytime within the past 2 weeks, you would have known about my bitching on how little we normal Singaporeans knows about the Mas Selamat bin Kastari’s escape. And that the government should tell Singaporeans as soon as possible on how the escape took place.

At least now know why there was no information. They don't know! Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has finally come out and said, "How did it happen? We're not absolutely sure yet." Are you kidding me? Didn't the government just said that no one helped Kastari escaped? How in the world would you know that if you don't even know how the escape took place? Someone explain that one to me please?

Personally I thought it was a little admirable that Wong Kan Seng (Singapore's Minister for Home Affairs) came out in Parliament and took the hit for the government. But 2 weeks in, and they still don't know how it took place? That I (and I believe most Singaporeans) find unacceptable!